Welcome to the This is Athens City Festival, the city’s biggest celebration and your invitation to experience Athens at its most vibrant.

Our festival is a month-long celebration of our city, full of music, art, food, culture, and unexpected encounters. From iconic landmarks to hidden neighbourhood corners, the festival transforms the entire city into a stage, bringing people together through hundreds of free events and experiences.

We believe culture belongs outside, not behind closed doors, but in the streets, squares, parks and neighbourhoods where the city truly comes alive.

From Plato’s Academy and the National Garden to Varvakios Market, Lycabettus Hill and countless hidden gems across the city, the festival creates moments that connect us to Athens and to one another.

What to Expect

With free entry to every event, the festival programme is packed with experiences for every interest and every age.

• Music & Street Parties: Live concerts, DJ sets, traditional ensembles, emerging artists, international collaborations, and legendary street parties that turn the city into one giant dancefloor
• Open-Air Cinema & Performance: Film screenings beneath the stars, contemporary dance, theatre, immersive performances and creative pop-up experiences in unexpected locations.
• Urban Adventures: Guided walks, food experiences, wellness activities, neighbourhood explorations and beloved festival traditions, including the annual May Day Picnic.
• Family Activities: Creative workshops, storytelling sessions, hands-on activities, and plenty of opportunities for children and families to join the fun.

Athens in Numbers

The festival continues to grow year after year, thanks to the enthusiasm of the people who make it what it is.

In May 2026, the festival welcomed:

• 350,000+ visitors and residents
• 380+ free events
• 186 locations across Athens

For one month, every corner of the city became a place to gather, celebrate, and explore.

Behind the Festival

The This is Athens City Festival is produced by Develop Athens on behalf of the City of Athens, with a simple ambition: to create an accessible, high-quality and inspiring cultural experience for everyone.

But the festival is about far more than the programme itself. It’s about feeling part of the city and becoming one of the people who make this festival what it is, whether you’ve lived here all your life or you’ve only just arrived.

Because this isn’t just our festival.

It’s your city. Your festival.

See you on the streets of Athens in May 2027.