The current final balance date is set for the end of May which is still some time away. The final balance date can’t be extended as this is in line with deposits that need to be paid to all hotels and suppliers across the trip. It is important that deadlines are maintained to ensure our guests have a smooth trip and experience.

If the FCO travel restrictions continue then you will be given a refund or the chance to move your package to 2021. If this is the case we will be back in 2021 even stronger and hope you can join us then. If you booked a flight package with ION then you will be given a refund for your flight too. If you booked flights directly then you would need to contact the airline or check their website for further updates. All airlines operate their own policies so we would advise to follow guidance on their sites.

If you are no longer able to attend due to any of your own or groups circumstances, then the standard cancellation terms will apply. Please check the T&C’s in your confirmation email for further information.

The safety of our guests, crew, artists, and the residents of Dhërmi is our number one priority.. We will be consistently reassessing the global situation and will keep all our guests up to date.

If by the end of May we do not feel that we can ensure a safe or stable event for our guests, ION 2020 will be cancelled and guests will receive the choice to either move their trip to 2021 or be given a full refund minus fees. These fees will be very low and are to cover the bare minimum of running costs to ensure all staff that have worked on the project can get paid and that the event can go ahead next year.

This will be done before the final balance date to ensure that guests do not have to pay any more money before this decision is made.

There are several reasons why currently we feel we should go ahead with ION. We feel a sense of responsibility to our customers who have bought a ticket in good faith to go on this journey with us. We also feel a sense of responsibility towards the hundreds of employees, contractors, freelancers, suppliers, and local businesses that depend on us for income.

Additionally, as you will all be very aware, the global situation is changing rapidly. Therefore we want to give you, and ourselves, as long as is possible and fair before making a decision.

We have been pouring our hearts and souls into this new festival for almost a year and hope that this hard work will come to fruition and be shared with you in September.

Yes - our Event Management team is following the recommendations of scientific and health agencies and will be putting additional measures in place to minimise the risks, as well as distributing additional guidance commensurate to the situation at the time of the event.

There is still potential for circumstances to change further down the line and we will continue to monitor and make assessments as best we possibly can with all the relevant authorities. We currently feel confident that we can run a safe trip in September.

The global situation has changed dramatically over the past month and there is every chance that it could change for the better between now and the end of May. We hope that this happens and that everyone can experience the first ION Festival. We are hoping that we can have a much needed holiday after being locked in for so long. For now, we will stay positive and work hard to be able to deliver a magical week on the Riviera.

The safety of our guests, crew, artists and the residents of Dhërmi is our number one priority. We will be reassessing the global situation every few weeks going forward and will keep all our guests up to date. If by the end of May we do not feel that we can ensure a safe event for our guests, ION 2020 will be cancelled and guests will receive a full refund. This will be done before the final balance date to ensure that guests do not have to pay any more money before this decision is made.

No, all ION tickets are sold with accommodation. This is to avoid over-inflated rates during the festival week and to ensure sustainable prices for ION for this year and beyond. We aim to provide the best festival experience and being able to manage the accommodation for our guests enables us to deliver a smoother festival. We charge hotels and apartments the same commission as Airbnb so this only makes your price better.

Local tickets and packages will be available via our partner Rave Travel. You can email us on info@ionalbania.com to join the waiting list for local tickets and we will notify you when these go on sale.

ION takes place in Dhërmi, a coastal village on the Albanian Riviera located between the cities of Sarandë and Vlorë. It is the most beautiful spot on the entire coastline and a true hidden gem.

We recommend coming in via Corfu, which offers lower flight prices and an easier, more picturesque journey to Dhërmi. We organise boat transfers from Corfu port to Himarë or Sarandë for passport control, then the final leg of the trip is by bus. The bus, which is included in the price, will drop you off at a location near your accommodation in Dhërmi.

Alternatively, you can fly to Tirana but you would have to arrange your own transportation to ION. Taxis from Tirana cost around 70€-100€ per journey.

The best option is to take a taxi from the airport to Corfu Port (Kerkira). It takes about 15 min.

You can see the transfer timetable during the booking process.

No, transfer tickets can only be purchased during the booking process.

We will let you know when we need these and details, as well as how they need to be inputted.

You can come for the full week Wednesday-Wednesday, from Friday-Monday or anytime in between! We have three arrival days (Wednesday 2nd, Thursday 3rd, Friday 4th September) and three departure days (Monday 7th, Tuesday 8th, Wednesday 9th).

All accommodation options are shown during the booking process, based on how may are in your party.

Yes. Name changes incur an admin fee of £20 per name. Changes of flight times or dates should be dealt with directly with the airline. Please be aware that airlines may also charge their own fees. We allow name changes until a few weeks prior to the event. Accommodation and date changes are also possible, these also incur an admin charge of £20pp. please contact us in info@ionalbania.com with any questions.

Absolutely, we strongly recommend going out and exploring the country. To do this you will need to book a package without flights (ticket & accommodation only). This way you can book your own travel arrangements to Dhermi and explore where you would like. Please note that there is no car hire available in Dhermi, but you can get a taxi to Saranda after the festival to hire a car and explore further.

There are only 3000 tickets available this year.

Many hotels are within walking distance of ION, there will also be a regular shuttle bus running to and from the festival for any guests staying in Drymades or Dhërmi town. Tickets for the shuttle bus are available via the ticket page or manage booking.

Dhërmi is a small coastal village, there are medical services, bars, restaurants and several small shops. There is only one ATM in Dhermi and another in Drymades. You will need cash for restaurants and local shops but the festival area (bars, festival market) are contactless and you can use your RFID wristband to pay there.

Restaurants are cheap and a meal will cost between £5 - £15. It's hard to say if places will increase prices during ION as this happens at a lot of festivals in Croatia from experience but customers will still be able to get cheap meals. Supermarkets are limited but do sell alcohol. Drink prices will vary from bar to bar ranging from €4-€8 depending on the selected drink.

The festival program is designed to allow for days to party, relax and explore the incredible surroundings. Besides the music events, we also offer a roster of fun-filled activities and wellbeing content, from yoga and beach massages to kayaking, snorkelling, paragliding and day excursions to explore the natural wonders of the Albanian Riviera.

The festival takes place between Wednesday 2nd and the early hours of Wednesday 9th September. There will be smaller venues and stages open every day, although the main acts perform between Thursday and Monday.

Running times vary during the week. Some stages are open only during the day, while others will host sunset sets and some will run through the night till sunrise. The full schedule will be released closer to the event. A lot of thought has been put into programming each stage in careful balance to each other. There will be peaks and crescendos, as well as adequate time for decompression and restoration. To round out our time together, the week will come to an end with a unifying closing party.

Our Restoration program includes yoga, meditation, sound journeys and beach massages, inviting you to decompress, soothe aching limbs and reconnect with your surroundings as you move between festival and holiday modes.

No. Restoration sessions and treatments at a charge of €8 each, to discourage drop-outs. Places are limited, make sure to reserve your spot via this website once the Restoration timetable is announced. This year we are donating the proceeds of the Restoration program to national Albanian charity, Fundjave Ndryshe, who build houses, schools and hospitals for those living in poverty across Albania, as well as providing earthquake relief.