Bread & Heart Festival 2026: International Architects Explore Albania's 'Landscapes of Abundance'
From June 3 to 5, 2026, Tirana, Albania, will host the Bread & Heart Festival for its second year. This festival is put together by the Bread & Heart Foundation in partnership with ETH Zürich's NEWROPE Chair of Architecture and Urban Transformation. Located at the Book Building on Skanderbeg Square, it will showcase famous architects like Francis Kéré, Jeanne Gang, Ma Yansong, and Sumayya Vally, along with local creators. The focus, 'Landscapes of Abundance,' highlights ecosystems rather than just individual buildings. Around 200 international firms are currently working on diverse projects in Albania. The agenda features discussions, workshops, exhibitions, and a special day for developing new landscape and development guidelines. Prime Minister Edi Rama and other leading architects will also attend. This event follows the 2025 festival, which centered on the theme 'Bring some salt, please,' inspired by Albania's Besa code.
Key facts
- Bread & Heart Festival 2026 runs June 3–5 in Tirana, Albania.
- Organized by Bread & Heart Foundation and co-curated with ETH Zürich's NEWROPE Chair.
- Theme is 'Landscapes of Abundance,' shifting focus from buildings to ecosystems.
- Held at 51N4E's Book Building on Skanderbeg Square.
- Participants include Francis Kéré, Jeanne Gang, Ma Yansong, Sumayya Vally, Edi Rama, and many others.
- Approximately 200 international offices are active in Albania.
- Programme includes talks, exhibitions, workshops, performances, model exhibition, and pavilions.
- Private workshop day to develop guidelines for landscape and development.
Entities
Artists
- Francis Kéré
- Jeanne Gang
- Ma Yansong
- Sumayya Vally
- Edi Rama
- Manuel Aires Mateus
- Johan Anrys
- Iwan Baan
- Petra Blaisse
- Stefano Boeri
- Caroline Bos
- Minsuk Cho
- Kersten Geers
- David Van Severen
- Reinier de Graaf
- Christele Harrouk
- Bjarke Ingels
- Pierre de Meuron
- Charles Renfro
- Saskia van Stein
- Benedetta Tagliabue
Institutions
- Bread & Heart Foundation
- ETH Zürich
- NEWROPE Chair of Architecture and Urban Transformation
- 51N4E
- Aires Mateus
- Inside Outside
- Stefano Boeri Architetti
- UNStudio
- Mass Studies
- Studio Gang
- OFFICE
- OMA
- ArchDaily
- BIG
- Kéré Architecture
- Herzog & de Meuron
- Diller Scofidio + Renfro
- International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam
- Counterspace
- MAD Architects
- World Urban Forum
- Pan-African Biennale
- Kenyatta International Convention Centre
- Concéntrico Festival
- Bread & Heart Festival
Locations
- Tirana
- Albania
- Skanderbeg Square
- Book Building
- Adriatic coast
- Ionian coast
- Baku
- Azerbaijan
- Nairobi
- Kenya
- Logroño
- Spain
- Europe
- Americas
- Asia