Korçë International Carnival FestivalFestivali Ndërkombëtar i Karnavaleve

Korçë’s International Carnival Festival (Festivali Ndërkombëtar i Karnavaleve) is an annual street parade event held in early June to mark the start of the summer tourist season 1. Dozens of local and Balkan carnival troupes perform in front of the cathedral and along Tirana Boulevard, showcasing elaborate costumes, folk dances, and humor. The parade draws participants from across Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro and beyond, reviving the historic flair of Korçë’s old carnival traditions and celebrating the city’s cultural identity as the “festival city.”

Carnival traditions were long suppressed during the communist era, but Korçë historically had a lively tradition of processions and masquerades. The modern festival re-introduced these customs to share Balkan carnival culture, combining Western carnival masks and Albanian serenata. It reflects Korçë’s identity as a festival hub ("Korçë, city of festivals") and promotes a family-friendly folk atmosphere at a large public square and streets near the Orthodox Cathedral.