The National Tourism Agency (AKT) has announced the winners of the 2nd Edition of the International Photography and Reels Video Competition: WANDERLUST IN ALBANIA 2: Photo and Reels International Competition. The goal of this competition is to promote the natural and cultural beauties of Albania through photography and short videos, which have become an increasingly popular way to tell visual stories on various social media platforms.

The awards ceremony took place at a Gala Evening held at the Palace of Brigades, a venue that perfectly suited the prestige and importance of this event.

The winners were honored for their creations that captured the natural beauty, culture, and traditions of Albania, showcasing tourist attractions that spark curiosity and interest in visiting the country.

The General Director of the National Tourism Agency, Zana Çela, described the competition as a fascinating journey narrated by the visitors themselves, the most authentic storytellers of Albania. “Tonight and beyond, we will begin an unfiltered and visually documented story of our tourism in Albania. Certainly, tonight is not just an evening of awarding prizes, but also a celebration of the power of tourism to build bridges, bring cultures closer, and tell the story of Albania’s tourism with new methods of the digital age,” Çela stated.

During the ceremony, 33 winners were announced, selected by a jury led by renowned photographer Albes Fusha. Additionally, 3 public winners were chosen through voting on the official Visit Albania Facebook page, as well as 4 ambassadors for promoting Albanian tourism.

The competition attracted participants from around the world, offering creators the opportunity to express their creativity and document Albania from different perspectives, ranging from stunning views of natural landscapes to everyday moments of Albanian life and culture.

Participants uploaded 5,504 materials to the official competition website, www.wanderlustinalbania.al, in 11 categories as follows:

• Landscapes (natural, mountainous, coastal)
  • Panoramic Photography (cities of Albania, tourist villages)
  • Monuments & Archaeological Sites (cultural monuments, castles, amphitheaters, museums, UNESCO sites)
  • Folklore (ethnography, dance, rituals, traditions)
  • Handicrafts & Crafts
  • Agrotourism & Culinary (traditional foods, guesthouses, agrotourism)
  • TEA Application Events (festivals, local celebrations, concerts, artistic events, exhibitions, etc.)
  • Ecotourism & Sports Tourism (flora & fauna, trails, parks, hiking, diving, mountaineering, kayaking, skydiving, etc.)
  • Architecture (mosques, churches, medieval and modern urban architecture)
  • Photo-Reportage (news photography that tells stories from life)
  • 3D Animation (CGI)

The participants, both professional and amateur photographers and videographers, came from Albania as well as 36 countries around the world, making this edition highly impactful in promoting Albanian tourism and culture on the international stage.

The evening, hosted by Enxhi Nasufi and attended by prominent personalities, concluded with the sounds of Albanian music, accompanied by the emotions conveyed by singer Kamela Islamaj and Ritual the Band.