France to mark Ismail Kadare’s 90th birthday

The French Academy will honour Albanian writer Ismail Kadare with a tribute event in Paris on January 29, marking what would have been his 90th birthday.

The ceremony, held at the Institut de France in cooperation with the Albanian Embassy, will bring together prominent figures from French cultural life, including filmmaker Costa-Gavras and choreographer Angelin Preljocaj. Kadare’s family is also expected to attend.

Kadare, who died in July 2024 aged 88, is Albania’s most internationally known author. His novels have been translated into more than 45 languages, and he was a long-standing member of France’s Academy of Moral and Political Sciences.