18th-20th June 2025
Tirana, Albania
ALForum: Where your Voice and Knowledge Matter Most
TRAVEL INFORMATION
If you are a non-European citizen travelling with Turkish Airlines and transiting through Istanbul International Airport (IST), please be aware that upon arrival at the airport, you must stop at the airline’s counter operating your connecting flight to Tirana within the international terminal. You should not exit the airport. An officer will review and verify your e-visa or Schengen visa. This process can take from a few minutes to one hour. To facilitate this, the ALF Secretariat is sharing the list of all ALForum participants with the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania.
ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES
Shuttle bus services will be available on June 17, 21, and 22. On 17 June, these shuttles will transport participants from Tirana International Airport to designated locations in Tirana near the assigned hotels. On 21 and 22 June, shuttle buses will operate from these pick-up points back to Tirana International Airport. The exact timetable and routes will be shared shortly. Upon arrival, an ALF welcome booth will be situated just outside the airport terminal, where a team member will assist you and guide you to the shuttle pick-up area. The journey from the airport to the city centre usually takes 30 to 35 minutes, but due to ongoing roadworks, it may take up to 45 minutes.
Other means of transportation: Official yellow taxis are also available outside the terminal, with a fixed airport transfer rate of 22 euros. A public shuttle service is also available: Public Shuttle Service.
VENUES
ALForum Venues:ALForum Venues: The ALForum 2025 will take place in 3 main venues in Tirana, each selected for both functionality and alignment with the Forum’s slogan: Inspiring Knowledge, Driving Action, Uniting Cultures.
1- National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania (Skanderbeg Square 9, 1001 Tirana)
The Forum’s primary venue and daily starting point. It will host all Plenaries and some parellal sessions.
2- International Hotel of Tirana (Skanderbeg Square 8, 1001 Tirana)
Located just one minute from the Opera House, the hotel will host most of the parallel sessions and lunches. It represents the “Inspiring Knowledge & Driving Action” dimension of the Forum’s sloga
3- Skanderbeg Square (Plaza Tirana, 1001 Tirana)
Skanderbeg Square is the center of the ALForum, where cultural and musical performances will take place every evening, symbolizing the “Uniting Cultures” dimension of our slogan.
Venue Proximity: Skanderbeg Square is the central point of the ALForum, with all venues located within a short walking distance of one another. A venue map is provided to help you navigate between locations with ease.
REGISTERATION & ACCESS
Before Arrival
1- Download an app called “Azavista Event Management”, available on both iOS and Android
2- Two to three days before the Forum, you will receive an email that includes a personalized access code to the app
3- Open the Azavista app, enter your email address and the access code
Note: Make sure to use the same email address where you received the code
4- The app will ask you to create a password to complete your login
5- Once logged in, you will see “ALForum” on the homepage. Tap it and you will be in the ALForum space
6- At the bottom of the screen, you will see QR code. This code is your unique code and will be used for registration on site
Your app is your personal guide, giving you access to the daily sessions, plenaries, and artistic performances happening.
When you click on participants, you get to see the list of all participants and you can get to chat and connect with anyone you want.
Make sure to enable notifications to receive real-time updates, important announcements, and last-minute changes
On Site Registration
The registration process will begin on the evening of 17 June from 6.30 pm at the main entrance of the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania and will continue on the morning of 18 June from 8 am. To register you must bring the QR code you received in advance by email and an identification document with picture. The registration Process takes around 1 minute per every person and a personalized badge will be printed out on the spot and it will include your name, and affiliation.
Participants are strongly encouraged to register on 17 June in the evening or to arrive early on the morning of 18 June to complete registration in a timely manner.
Security Checks: Please also be advised that security checks will be conducted daily at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet due to the participation of high-level officials and VIP guests. We recommend arriving early each morning to allow sufficient time for security procedures.
Badge Policy: Your Forum badge serves as your official access pass to all ALForum venues and activities so it must be worn at all times throughout the Forum along with an identification document with picture.
You will notice three different lanyard colors used for badges. Here’s what each color represents:
Participant
Organiser
Media
Agenda Overview
Mornings begin at the ALForum primary venue, the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet, with plenary sessions, followed by Parallel Sessions taking place simultaneously at both the National Theatre and the Hotel of Tirana. These sessions are complemented by networking breaks held in both venues and followed by lunch at the International Hotel of Tirana. The afternoon continues with rounds of Parallel Sessions. While evenings are dedicated to cultural activities and musical performances at the Skanderbeg Square, bringing participants and the local community together.
Daily Overview:
Day 1: 18 June 2025 – Starts 08:00 | Ends: 22:30
Day 2: 19 June 2025 – Starts 09:00 | Ends: 22:30
Day 3: 20 June 2025 – Starts 09:00 | Ends: 18:00
LANGUAGES AND INTERPRETATION
Simultaneous interpretation into Arabic and French will be available during all Plenary sessions and selected parallel sessions. The language of each parallel session will be indicated next to its title in the programme and whether interpretation is provided to this session or not so participants will get to know in advance.
There will be no interpretation booths as interpretation will be provided via your personal device (smart phone, tablet, or laptop). You will connect to it by scanning a QR code and using your device.
The QR code will be clearly displayed at multiple locations across the Forum venues. Once scanned, it will direct you to a webpage where you can:
1- Select the language you wish to hear
2- Click “Play” to start listening to the interpretation
Important Note:
Please ensure your devices are fully charged and bring your headphones with you to access the interpretation through your personal device.
NETWORKING & CATERING
ALForum 2025 strongly emphasizes networking as a core part of the participant experience. We encourage you to make the most of lunch and networking breaks as spaces for meaningful interactions and knowledge exchange. Throughout the ALForum, a number of interactive networking activities will take place during breaks to help you connect with others in creative and engaging ways.
Dietary Considerations: All dietary needs and restrictions have been taken into careful consideration. A variety of meal options will be available through a buffet service, ensuring that all participants with different preferences and requirements are well accommodated. All the meat served is halal.
Coffee Breaks: Coffee, simple refreshments and water breaks will be served during all scheduled networking breaks throughout the three days of the ALForum.
Lunch: Lunch will be provided daily for all participants at the International Hotel of Tirana, served from 13:15 to 14:30 on the 18th and from 13:30 to 15:00 on the 19th and from 14:30 to 16:00 on the 20th June.
Receptions:
18 June 2025 | Location: Pyramid of Tirana Hosted by the Municipality of Tirana
19 June 2025 | Location: Sheshi Skenderbej Hosted by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania
WEATHER & DRESS CODE
Weather: The weather is expected to be hot, with daytime temperatures typically ranging between 28–32°C. All plenaries and parellal sessions will take place indoors during the day, while the cultural and musical performances will take place outdoors each evening.
Dress Code: There is no particular dress code for the Forum. What matters most to us is that all participants feel comfortable and free to be themselves. We encourage you to dress in a way that reflects who you are and allows you to fully engage in the experience.
WIFI & CONNECTIVITY
Free Wi-Fi will be available in all indoor Forum venues. Network details and passwords will be provided at the registration desk. Wi-Fi may not be available at Skanderbeg Square or during the evening receptions.
PHOTOGRAPHY, SOCIAL MEDIA & COMMUNICATION
Photography and video recording will take place throughout the Forum for documentation and communication purposes.
By attending, you consent to the use of images or recordings in Forum-related materials. If you prefer not to be photographed or recorded, inform an organiser upon arrival. Organisers can be identified by their orange lanyards.
You are encouraged to share your participation using the hashtags #ALForum2025 and #TheDialogueEffect and by tagging our official social media accounts. A dedicated social media spot will be available at one of the venues for your use.
Institutional partners can access the official communication toolkit, including guidelines and logos, through the Forum’s platform: here
Promoting Your Participation
Whether you are a partner, speaker, artist, or attendee, you are very welcome to share your participation in the ALForum before, during, and after the event. Please use the official hashtags #ALForum2025 #TheDialogueEffect and tag our official social media accounts when posting.
We have also created a dedicated social media spot at one of the Forum venues so you can capture your glamorous moment and share it with your audience. Stay tuned!
If you are an institutional partner, you can find the official ALForum communication guidelines and logos
CODE OF CONDUCT
We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful space for all participants. All participants are expected to uphold the values of the ALF. Equality and Respect for Diversity, Solidarity and Empathy, Accountability and Transparency, contributing to a positive and engaging environment. Link to review the values
EMERGENCY CONTACTS & HEALTH
Your health, safety, and well-being are our utmost priority. We are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all Forum participants.
In case of an emergency happening on site, you can reach out to one of the ALForum organizers. They will be easily identifiable by their lanyards colored in orange and are available to assist you at any time.
Also, each group of participants will be assigned to a specific ALF staff member who will serve as their main point of emergency contact. You will receive the name, email address, and phone number of your ALF emergency contact in a separate communication before your arrival.
Reporting an Incident:
If you experience or witness an incident, please report it by sending an email to alf.forum@alfsecretariat.org with the subject: Reporting an Incident.
FAQs
1- Registration & Access
– When and how will I receive my QR code?
You will receive it 3 days before the Forum on your email
– What should I do if I didn’t receive my registration email?
If you didn’t receive your registration email by June 16th, please send us an email at alf.forum@alfsecretariat.org
– How can I register on-site if I arrive late?
A registration kiosk will be available on the morning of June 19th
– Do I need a badge to attend the Lunches and Receptions?
Yes, your badge must be worn at all times in order to be able to access the sessions, lunches and the receptions
2- Programme & Sessions
– Do I need to register for the parallel sessions in advance?
No pre-registration is required for the sessions. Attendance is on a first-come, first-served basis. If a session reaches full capacity, you will need to attend a different one. All sessions are located very close to each other so it is easy to move between them. You can check the sessions here
– How can I choose which sessions to attend?
With over 100 parallel sessions, we understand it can be overwhelming. To help you navigate the sessions, we classified them under 10 key focus areas. We recommend starting by exploring the topics that interest you most.
You can also check out the Speakers section that will be published soon which is also organised by focus area, to see who is speaking and decide which sessions you would like to join based on the speakers and themes that inspire you.
– If I’m a speaker, how can I promote my session?
Sessions are exclusive to registered participants and not open to the public so we encourage speakers to use the Networking breaks as the best opportunity to share details about their sessions and when they are happening.
– What is the number of attendees allowed per session?
The capacity of the rooms differ from one room to another. When speakers are informed about the location of their sessions, they will be also be provided with capacity of the room.
– Will sessions materials or recordings be available after the Forum?
Yes. After the Forum, an open drive will be shared with all participants where materials and presentations can be uploaded and accessed. Participants are encouraged to share their sessions’ content freely if they wish.
Also, participant emails are available through the event app, so you can connect directly and exchange materials with others.
– What if I’m a creative arist and want to promote my artistic performance?
If you are an artist and your performance or activity is taking place at the Skanderbeg Square, your activity is accessible to both the general public and Forum participants. You are encouraged to promote your activity or performance among the Forum attendees as well as the local community of Tirana to engage a wider audience.
3- Accessibility
– Are the venues accessible to people with disabilities?
The International Hotel of Tirana and the Skanderbeg Square are accessible in addition to the main hall where the plenaries will take place and entrance of the Opera House. Please note that there is no elevator access to the second and third floors of the Opera House, where only a limited number of parallel sessions will take place. We recommend checking the programme in advance to plan accordingly.
– Who can I contact for specific accessibility support?
The ALForum organizers are available to assist you at any time. They are easily identifiable by their orange colored lanyards