Prishtina, 14 October 2026
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, together with the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Saranda Bogujevci, attended the celebration marking the 80th anniversary of the National Theatre of Kosovo.
Prime Minister Kurti said that the National Theatre, whose history began in Prizren in 1946 before continuing in Prishtina, is an institution that has secured an important place in the cultural life of our country and in the history of performing arts in Kosovo.
The Prime Minister said that “over eight decades, this stage has presented works and performances that have left their mark on our culture and forged a special bond with the audience.”
“We are investing more than seven million euros in the National Theatre of Kosovo. Once the works are completed, our aim is to give the institution a renovated appearance and much better conditions while preserving its authenticity. The National Theatre is not merely a home for the arts, but also part of our cultural heritage,” Prime Minister Kurti said.
He emphasised that the Government of the Republic of Kosovo would continue to support artistic creativity and the development of cultural institutions, with the aim of keeping the theatre an open stage for new ideas, young artists and the public.
“By making culture as artistic as possible and making art part of society’s culture, the public sphere emerges as an open school for the aesthetic education of citizens and theatre is at its centre. Theatre, as an art form, teaches us and examines, better than any other, each person’s relationship with others and the return to oneself,” he added.
Full Speech by Prime Minister Kurti:
Honourable Director of the National Theatre of Kosovo, Mr Kushtrim Mehmeti,
Honourable Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ms Saranda Bogujevci,
Honourable Chief Executive Officer of Kosovo Post, Ms Nora Raci,
Distinguished representatives of institutions,
Dear artists and members of the theatre community,
Distinguished guests,
Today, we mark the 80th anniversary of the National Theatre of Kosovo, an institution that has secured an important place in the cultural life of our country and in the history of performing arts in Kosovo.
Its history began in Prizren in 1946 before continuing in Prishtina, where an important theatrical tradition was built, carried forward and enriched by generations of artists. Over eight decades, this stage has presented works and performances that have left their mark on our culture and forged a special bond with the audience.
This history has also seen difficult periods. During the 1990s, the exclusion of Albanian artists from institutions and restrictions on creative freedom placed the theatre in the face of major challenges. Nevertheless, the will to create and keep cultural life alive never faded.
Today, as we mark this anniversary, we honour not only the institution’s history but also the people who built and developed it, kept it alive and continue to advance it.
I would like to express my gratitude to the entire theatre community of Kosovo: actors, directors, playwrights, set designers, costume designers, musicians, and all technical and administrative staff. Thank you for your talent and inspiration, your work and dedication, which have ensured the continuity and advancement of theatre over the years.
It is our responsibility to preserve this heritage and ensure that the theatre has the conditions it needs to move forward. We are investing more than seven million euros in the National Theatre of Kosovo. Once the works are completed, our aim is to give the institution a renovated appearance and much better conditions while preserving its authenticity. The National Theatre is not merely a home for the arts, but also part of our cultural heritage.
As the Government of the Republic and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, we will continue to support artistic creativity and the development of our cultural institutions, with the aim of keeping the theatre an open stage for new ideas, young artists and the public. By making culture as artistic as possible and making art part of society’s culture, the public sphere emerges as an open school for the aesthetic education of citizens. And theatre is at its centre. Theatre, as an art form, teaches us and examines, better than any other, each person’s relationship with others and the return to oneself.
Eighty years represent a valuable history, but also a responsibility for the future.
Congratulations on the 80th anniversary of the National Theatre of Kosovo! I wish you many more decades of achievement ahead.
I wish you great success, artistic excellence and countless wonderful encounters with your audience, whom you humanize, and with the people whom you bring into the public eye.
Congratulations, and thank you!
