The festival was first held in 1968 and is regarded as the most important event in Albanian culture.

[1][2] The festival showcases Albanian traditional music, dress and dance from Albania, the diaspora, and Albanian inhabited lands throughout the Balkans and Southern Italy.

[1][2][3] The Gjirokastër National Folk Festival was preceded by the National Festival of Song, Music and Dance held in Tirana, capital of Albania in 1949[3] and subsequently on November 25–27, 1959.

Ten years later, on October 8–16, 1968, the first National Folklore Festival was held in Gjirokastër to celebrate the birthday of Enver Hoxha, the communist leader of Albania and native of the city.

[8] Traditional Albanian clothing, dances, and folklore are showcased in several other festivals including Sofra Dardane every June in Bajram Curri, Oda Dibrane in Peshkopi, Logu i Bjeshkeve every August in Kelmend, Cham Dance Festival in Saranda and Konispol, and other festivals in various Albanian cities.