On Monday 23rd November 2026, Edinburgh will welcome a celebration of Albanian music, dance, poetry and cultural identity. Albania’s National Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances will appear at the Assembly Rooms in a performance called “Albania Through Byron’s Eyes”.
About the Event
Presented by Empowered Women of Diaspora (EWD) as part of “Voice of Heritage 2026” (“Zëri i Trashëgimisë 2026”), the event seeks to strengthen cultural connections between Albania, Scotland and the wider United Kingdom. It also offers an opportunity for Albanian families, friends and audiences from different backgrounds to come together through a shared experience of live performance.
The production takes inspiration from the British Romantic poet Lord Byron, whose travels in the region in the early nineteenth century helped bring images of Albanian landscapes, dress and hospitality to a wider British literary audience. His encounter with Ali Pasha at Tepelena became part of the enduring cultural story linking Britain and Albania. By revisiting that encounter through contemporary performance, “Albania Through Byron’s Eyes” places a historic literary connection at the heart of an evening of living tradition.
Music and Dance
Audiences will be taken on a journey through the distinctive rhythms and movement traditions of Albania.
The programme draws on the historic setting of Tepelena and Ali Pasha, the energy and agility associated with the Tropoja Dance, and the strong, expressive rhythms of the Kukës Dance. Traditional costumes, live music and choreographed ensemble performances will bring these regional expressions to the stage, revealing how different communities have contributed to the richness of Albanian folklore.
These dances are more than artistic displays: they carry memories of places, celebrations and community life.
Their patterns, gestures and musical accompaniment form part of a heritage passed from one generation to the next. Seen together on a major Edinburgh stage, they offer audiences both a performance and a window into the diversity of Albanian cultural identity.
Performers and Hosts
The evening will also create a dialogue between Albanian performance and British literary storytelling.
British actor, poet and author Robert Wilton will contribute dramatic narration and poetry, bringing a spoken-word dimension to the production’s exploration of Byron’s journey. Albanian television presenter Suela Demiri will guide the audience through the programme. Under the artistic direction of Sokol Marsi, the National Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances will perform a repertoire celebrating the expressive range of Albanian music and choreography.
Why It Matters
For the Albanian diaspora, the occasion carries particular emotional significance. It is an opportunity to hear familiar melodies far from home, to share traditional dances and costumes with children growing up in the United Kingdom, and to introduce friends and neighbours to an important part of Albanian heritage. For Scottish and international audiences, it offers a distinctive encounter with a European cultural tradition that has long had connections to British literature and history.
The event is organised by Empowered Women of Diaspora (EWD), in cooperation with the National Diaspora Agency and the National Theatre of Opera, Ballet and Folk Ensemble (TKOBAP), with official support from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Albania. Through “Voice of Heritage 2026”, the organisers aim to give Albanian cultural expression a visible place on the international stage and encourage further exchanges between communities.
Date and Booking
The performance takes place on Monday 23rd November 2026, at The Assembly Rooms, 54 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2LR, Scotland. Doors open at 6 pm and the performance begins at 7 pm.
Albanians living across Scotland and the United Kingdom, alongside families, arts enthusiasts and friends of Albanian culture, are invited to attend.
More information and tickets are available on the official event page.
