A festival of hospitality, architecture & dialogue on the future, where global visionaries & local perspectives meet, exchange & inspire.
This first edition of the festival - “Bread & Heart | Bring some salt, please” - sets the stage for what might become a yearly event—one that celebrates Albanian hospitality (ALBAN-ITY) and its steady development, honors architectural achievements, and fosters critical reflection on the past and present to shape a better future for our cities and environment. More than just a celebration, this festival invites meaningful critique, self-reflection, and open dialogue.
It is also a rare opportunity to connect—bridging the gap between foreign architects shaping Albania and the local audience. Through encounters and discussions, especially on the Open Day, we aim to create a more direct and active exchange of ideas.
Currently, around 150 international architecture teams are contributing to projects across Albania, through both competitions and direct commissions. More and more architects are showing interest in working here, collaborating also with local teams. To acknowledge and expand this growing network, the festival organizers are inviting these international architects—each bringing along a guest of their choice, a new friend of and for Albania (hence, ‘bring some salt’).
For those who don't want to miss a heartbeat.
This is the most immersive way to live the "Bread & Heart Festival | Bring some salt, please!", from the first welcome toast to the final farewell. The Full Journey Pass gives you access to every moment: the morning rituals, the intimate dinners, the talks behind closed doors, the open-air conversations, the festival parties, and the private spaces in between. Ideal for architects, artists, thinkers, and friends of the festival who want to be fully present throughout the four-day unfolding of hospitality, heart, and space.
Included Access & Experiences:
5 June - Tirana, PM Courtyard
✅ Welcoming Dinner Ceremony - a warm start under the summer sky
6 June - Tirana, Book Building
✅ Full access to the Conference Venue (Ground floor)
✅ Outdoor installations & gathering spaces
✅ Terrace lunch & rooftop views (4th Floor)
✅ Model Exhibitions (2nd & 3rd Floor)
✅ Historic Tirana Clock Tower access
✅ Dinner at Vila No. 30
7 June - Elbasan, Fish City
✅ Workshops & Presentations: Brainstorming & reflecting with invited architects and guests
✅ Albanian hospitality at its finest – from shared dishes to a poolside celebration
8 June - Tirana
✅ Survivor's Lunch – a parting table of food and reflection at Vila Number RED