International Festival of Dance and Songs
International Competition and Festival of Arts Summer Stars of Durres
Durres, Albania
05 July - 10 July
Overview
International Competition and Festival of Arts "SUMMER STARS OF DURRES" welcomes you to
Albania and to city Durres.
Albania is comfortably located on the Adriatic Sea coast between Greece and Montenegro. Durres is a large city on the Adriatic coast with a population of 200 thousand people. Durres is often called as “Balkan pearl of the Adriatic coast” and “Albanian Italy in miniature”. Famous cultural and art workers are invited as members of the international jury.
The main purpose of the International Competition and Festival "SUMMER STARS OF DURRES" is
to search for new talented performers, to present their skills and multicultural traditions to the audience and public of Durres, to make new friends with the same interests, to enrich of the multinational culture on the basis of mutual respect for the cultural traditions of all the countries and nations of the world, to popularize the children’s and youth creative work, to improve
professional skills and qualifications of teachers and art leaders.
Participation in the International Competition and Festival "SUMMER STARS OF DURRES" gives the
an opportunity not only to perform on stage in front of the international jury and public but also to tan and swim in the gentle Adriatic Sea and to see the historical and cultural monuments, such as the Roman amphitheater and baths, the ancient aqueduct and the 500-year-old Fatiha Mosque.
The city is only 38 km from the capital of Albania - Tirana. Excursions to Berat, Shkoder, Vlora, Lake
Coman, Niklä canyon, Pelumbas cave, and the ancient city of Apollonia are very popular in Durres.
Trip Planner
It will be our pleasure to make your trip an unforgettable experience!
We can provide the following services for your group:
- accommodation during the trip (in case you need a sleepover on your way to the chosen destination)
- accommodation during the festival event you attend
- travel and transportation tips and assistance
- purchasing airplane and bus tickets
- organizing transportation for a group or individuals
- assist and advise in the procedure of issuing visas (if needed)
Accommodation
PRICES AND FEES:
FESTIVAL PACKAGE PRICE:
HOTEL 3* - 205 EURO per person / 5 nights on HB
HOTEL 4* - 265 EURO per person / 5 nights on HB
Including:
- 5 overnights in DURRES in hotel (breakfast and dinner)
- Accommodation for participants – in MULTI-BEDDED (QDRPL, TRPL) rooms and few DBL/TWIN (max. 2 rooms per group 42 persons) for group leaders and drivers
OBLIGATORY PARTICIPATION FEE:
- MEMBERS OF ART GROUPS – 15 EURO per participant / main discipline
- SMALL FORMS (up to 10 performers) – 20 EURO per participant / main discipline
- TRIOS and QUARTETS – 30 EURO per participant / main discipline
- SOLOISTS and DUETS – 50 EURO per person / main discipline
- VISUAL ARTS participants – 10 EURO per participant
FOR PARTICIPATION IN ADDITIONAL DISCIPLINES:
- ART GROUPS pay extra 5 EURO per participant / 1 additional discipline
- SOLOISTS and DUETS pay extra 20 EURO per participant / 1 additional discipline
PARTICIPATION FEE INCLUDES:
- OFFICIAL LETTER OF INVITATION and other documents
- PERFORMACE IN COMPETITIVE & FESTIVAL PROGRAM
- DIPLOMAS, PRIZES
- MEDALS FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS
EXTRA PAYMENT:
- ADDITIONAL NIGHTS: HOTEL 3* - 42 EURO / person a night on HB HOTEL 4* - 55 EURO / person a night on HB
- EXTRA PAYMENT for DBL/TWIN accommodation: +50 EURO per person to Festival price
- EXTRA PAYMENT for SNGL accommodation: +100 EUR per person to Festival price
Travel expenses (transportation of participants, transfers, lunches and other meals, entrance tickets to sightseeing objects, tickets to public traffic, optional excursions
DISCOUNTS: every 25th person in the group is free of charge (24 paying participants + 1 free)
Dates
- 05/07/2026 - 10/07/2026
Pricing
05/07 - 10/07
- 6 days (5 nights) = 205 € per person
Itinerary
The competitive program of the participants is approved by the Organizing Committee on the basis of applications received. The schedule of the competitive programme for all participants is determined in advance and depends on the age of the participants. All participants should prepare a competitive program within the time limits specified for each competitive discipline: 4 minutes for soloists and duets, 6 minutes for small formations (up to 10 persons) and 8 minutes for ensembles and art groups.
PERFORMANCE TIME LIMITS:
FOLKLORE GROUPS – up to 8 minutes for 1 performance in main competitive discipline DANCE GROUPS – up to 8 minutes / max. 3 dances
VOCAL GROUPS / CHORAL FORMATION / CHOIRS – up to 8 minutes
ORCHESTRAS / MUSIC BANDS – up to 8 minutes
THEATERS – up to 8 minutes for 1 performance in main competitive discipline
FASHION THEATERS & MODELS SCHOOLS – up to 8 minutes
SMALL FORMS (up to 10 performers) – up to 7 minutes
TRIOS & QUARTETS – up to 5 minutes in main competitive discipline
SOLOISTS & DUETS – up to 4 minutes in main competitive discipline
AGE CATEGORIES:
- MINI KIDS – from 6 to 8 years
- CHILDREN – from 9 to 12 years
- JUNIORS 1 – from 13 to 15 years
- JUNIORS 2 – from 16 to 18 years
- ADULTS 1 – from 19 years to 25 years
- ADULTS 2 – from 26 years and older
- SENIORS – from 50 years and older
- MIXED AGE GROUPS
The jury evaluates the skills of the participants during the competitive performance in each competitive discipline and in each age category in accordance with the 10-points evaluation systems. Results of the art competition and festival are being summed up by the end of all competitive performances.
AWARDS: The Organizing Committee awards diplomas of participation, diplomas of Laureate of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades, Winner of the Grand Prix and festival medals to all participants. Ensembles and groups of 3 or more persons receive one big cup or trophy of the festival and Diploma, soloists and duets receive one small cup or trophy of the festival and Diploma. The absolute Winner of the festival receives the Grand Prix of the festival and Diploma Grand Prix. All teachers, choreographers, group and ensemble leaders also receive the Diplomas of Festival.
THE MAIN TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:
ALL AUDIO SOUND RECORDS FOR THE COMPETITIVE PROGRAM MUST BE SENT TO THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE BY EMAIL at least 14 days before arrival. All audio sound records for the competitive program must be recorded only in the usual audio format. All audio sound records must be of high quality, with clean editing and cuts. The participants must inform the Organizer if the music stops and starts again after pause or contains silence within the musical composition.
DRAFT FESTIVAL PROGRAM:
1st day, JULY 05, 2026
- Arrival to Durres (Albania).
- After 15:00 – check-in and accommodation in the hotel.
- Free time and relax on the beach.
- Dinner in the hotel. Overnight in Durres.
2nd day, JULY 06, 2026
- Breakfast in the hotel
- Free time and relax on the beach
- Dinner in the hotel. Overnight in Durres.
3rd day, JULY 07, 2026
- Breakfast in the hotel. FESTIVAL DAY PROGRAMME: stage testing, sound check, general rehearsals. OPENING CEREMONY, performances of the participants.
- Dinner in the hotel. Overnight in Durres.
4th day, JULY 08, 2026
- Breakfast in the hotel. FESTIVAL DAY PROGRAMME: GALA CONCERT of WINNERS AWARD CEREMONY PARADE OF PARTICIPANTS
- Dinner in the hotel. Overnight in Durres.
5th day, JULY 09, 2026
- Breakfast in the hotel. Relax on the beach.
- Dinner in the hotel. Overnight in Durres.
6th day, JULY 10, 2026
- Breakfast in the hotel. Check out from the hotel.
- Departure from Durres.
*** The organizer reserves the right to alter the festival day within the set festival program. The organizer reserves the right to make changes to the event program***
If necessary, changes may be made to its content, method and organization before or during the event, insofar as these changes do not substantially diminish the described benefits of the event for the participant(s).