This is Athens City Festival

Athens Urban Picnic 2025
2025-05-01 12:00 - 20:00 (Europe/Athens) | Plato’s Academy Park, Monastiriou 138, Athens, Athens, 104 42, Greece
Athens Urban Picnic returns on May Day at Plato’s Academy Park—and entry is free! A one-of-a-kind city event blending learning, entertainment and live music for the whole family.
With kids’ activities, creative workshops, theatrical performances and music under the spring sky, it’s a joyful day in the park where all ages can enjoy nature and celebrate the season.
An ideal way to spend quality time together—full of fun and discovery.

Group Exhibition: Abandoned Cartographies and Other Odd Hours
2025-05-02 11:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-03 11:00 - 16:00 | CAN Christina Androulidaki Gallery, Chalkokondyli 19, Athens, Athens, 104 32, Greece
The exhibition Abandoned Cartographies and Other Odd Hours explores uncharted regions of the subconscious, forming a constellation of inquiries that defy rationality, order and narrative coherence. It focuses on lived experiences that elude conscious perception and information, opening up pathways to introspection and revealing hidden layers of the psyche. At the same time, it activates stimuli that unearth buried memories and latent anxieties.

Curated by: Dinos Chatzirafailidis

Participating artists: Elli Antoniou, Giorgos Yiatromanolakis, Konstantinos Lianos, Stefania Strouza, Dimitris Tampakis, Sokratis Fatouros, Despina Charitonidi, James Fuller, Shambhavi Kaul, Louis-Philippe Scoufaras, Sasha Streshna

Opening hours: Tuesday – Friday: 11:00–15:00 & 17:00–20:00 Saturday: 11:00–16:00

Three-Star Architectural Crown: The Neoclassical Trilogy of Athens
2025-05-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Athens Trilogy, Panepistimiou 39, Athens, Athens, 105 64, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek.

Archaeologist and guide Michalis Giohalas leads a tour through the Athenian Trilogy, in collaboration with the This is Athens City Festival.

Comprising the University, the Academy and the Library, this neoclassical ensemble—designed by brothers Hans Christian and Theophil Hansen—was hailed by Alexandros Philadelpheus as “the architectural triple crown of our city.” Since its completion, it has stood as one of Athens’ most iconic landmarks.

At the heart of the city’s urban fabric, these buildings weave visual and literary references to ancient history and mythology into the prevailing ideologies of their time—where the recent past engages with antiquity, reflecting the spirit, aspirations and ideals of a bygone era.

Evi Papagianni: A Finding Place
2025-05-02 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-05-03 11:00 - 15:00, 2025-05-05 18:00 - 21:00 | Mosaico Fine Art Studio, Kesarias 18-20, Athens, Athens, 115 27, Greece
Mosaico Fine Art Studio presents the exhibition “A Finding Place” by artist and art therapist Paraskevi Papagianni.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 18:00–21:00, Saturday: 11:00–15:00, Closed on Sunday

Omonia Street Party
2025-05-02 19:00 - 23:00 | Omonia Square, Omonia Square, Athens, Athens, 104 31, Greece
Omonia Square gets a full cultural takeover as Reverb Sessions take centre stage at the heart of Athens, inviting some of the city’s most active DJs and producers for an afternoon of standout sounds.

A live musical collage becomes the soundtrack of the cosmopolitan capital—broadcasting symbolically from kilometre zero. Locals and visitors alike are invited to join in and celebrate with quality electronic dance music in one of Athens’ most iconic urban settings.

Skiadareses Live
2025-05-02 20:00 - 23:00 | Koumoundourou Square, Πλ. Κουμουνδουρου, Athens, Athens, 105 53, Greece
The Skiadareses—twin sisters Olga and Niki—take over Koumoundourou Square for a one-off live show. From the moment they began writing songs in a small bedroom, it seemed destined that their music would find its way online and strike a chord with thousands.

Their songs are raw, honest and refreshingly unfiltered—stories of love, heartbreak, joy and sorrow that resonate far beyond personal experience. Capturing the emotional uncertainty not just of their own generation, but of anyone who’s ever felt deeply, they bring authenticity to the stage, one lyric at a time.

EXIS Inclusive Dance Group
2025-05-02 20:30 - 21:30 | Kotzia Square, Kotzia Square, Αθήνα, Athens, 105 51, Greece
InDance: Exploring Accessibility through Inclusive DANCE brings together five individuals from different European backgrounds, each with expertise in both dance and accessibility. The collective EXIS choreographs a site-specific outdoor performance on the theme of Accessibility in the City, guiding audiences through various urban spaces in Athens to highlight the importance of accessible public environments.

EXIS is a dance collective focused on inclusion, bringing together disabled and non-disabled dancers within the Greek dance community. Its mission is to foster access to artistic expression for disabled individuals and to cultivate a space where every body is welcome. Through performances and educational initiatives, EXIS champions equality and advocates for the rights of disabled people in professional dance training and employment.

Painting Flowers
2025-05-03 11:00 - 12:30 | Theocharakis Foundation, Vas. Sofias 9 & Merlin 1, Athens, Athens, 106 71, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek.

Come celebrate the month of flowers with sustainable art activities!

Inspired by the unexplored forests in Vasilis Theoharakis’ artworks, we discover the nature of the National Garden. On paper leaves, we imprint the infinite shapes of tree bark and explore the unique patterns of nature around us.

Did you know that nature can paint? We create colors from natural materials and color our own compositions. A fascinating activity that stimulates our senses, developing a new perspective on everything around us.

This activity is aimed at children aged 4-7.

Anything but Marble
2025-05-03 11:00 - 13:00 | Museum of Cycladic Art, Neofytou Douka 4, Athens, Athens, 106 74, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek.

For nearly 60 years, British artist Phyllida Barlow created monumental installations that were both threatening and playful. She made large-scale sculptures using cheap, humble materials such as cardboard, fabric, plywood, gauze, and plaster. As she herself states, “In the past, sculpture carried historical narratives. Marble dominated and celebrated individuals.” One of the individuals traditionally celebrated in sculpture was Darwin, who was a distant relative of hers—something she carefully concealed to avoid being seen as “privileged” because of her lineage. By rejecting traditional sculpture, she renounced her own past through her work, forging her unique artistic identity. Drawing inspiration from her practice, we will work with humble materials and create small-scale hanging sculptures. Workshop leaders: Vivian Emmanouilidou, Visual Artist – Museum Educator & Magda Athanasiou, Educator – Museum Educator.

The workshop is aimed at children aged 7-11.

Fairy Tales in the Museum Courtyard: Electra Nega
2025-05-03 11:00 - 13:00 | Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments “Fivos Anoyanakis” – Centre for Ethnomusicology, Diogenous 1, Athens, Athens, 105 56, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek.

Shh… A story is about to begin…
Outside the window of my childhood room, in the backyard of the house where I grew up, my grandfather had dug a huge well. It wasn’t covered, only carefully fenced with wire mesh by my father, “so no child falls in,” as he used to say. I never got close to the well, I was afraid. Not because “I might fall in,” but because I knew that at the bottom of the well lived a large water snake with a golden crown on its head. I could hear it singing at night with the frogs…

I am Ilektra Nega, a storyteller of the oral traditions of the world’s peoples.
Come and join us for storytelling, about small and large heroes, who, with faith in themselves and love in their hearts, achieved what seemed impossible to all.

Alexander Kontogeorgakopoulos is an academic and artist, whose interdisciplinary work bridges art, science, and technology. He is an Assistant Professor of Interactive Arts at the Department of Digital Arts and Cinema of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Storytelling by: Ilektra Nega
Music by: Alexander Kontogeorgakopoulos

First Cemetery of Athens: An Open-Air Sculpture Gallery
2025-05-03 11:00 - 13:00 | First Cemetery of Athens, Logginou 3, Athens, Athens, 116 36, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek.

Archaeologist and guide Michalis Giohalas leads a tour through the sculpture garden of the First Cemetery of Athens, in collaboration with the This is Athens City Festival.

Described in the early 20th century by sculptor Thomas Thomopoulos as encompassing “the entire movement of modern sculpture,” the cemetery stands as an open-air museum where art, memory and history coexist.

From the great names of Greek sculpture to the personal stories behind the graves, this walk offers a fascinating journey through time. It reveals little-known aspects of funerary art in modern Greece—along with very human tales of vanity, greed, artistic rivalries and unfulfilled love.

Screening of Historical Documentaries
2025-05-03 11:30 - 14:00 | War Museum, Rizari 2-4, Athens, Athens, 106 75, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek.

The “Adamantios Korais” Hall at the War Museum will host the screening of five historical documentaries, featuring rare archival footage that brings to life pivotal moments in military history—from the Balkan Wars (1912–13) and the Battle of Gallipoli (1915), to the victorious Battle of Skra (1918), the dramatic Battle of Crete (1941) and the Normandy Landings (1944).

These key events are presented through original footage, highlighting their strategic impact and the courage of those who took part.

Programme:
– The Balkan Wars 1912–13: Filming History (52′)
– The Battle of Gallipoli 1915: ANZAC (27′)
– The Battle of Skra, 1918 (22′)
– The Battle of Crete, May 1941 (25′)
– The Normandy Landings, June 1944 (5′)

Full Circle presents Looking for a Crib
2025-05-03 16:00 - 23:00 | Zappeion Megaron, Zappeion Hall, Athens, Athens, 105 57, Greece
Last year, Full Circle pulled off the ultimate sold-out show at the This is Athens City Festival, hosting &ME—one of the biggest names in global electronic dance music—and drawing over 12,000 fans to Agion Asomaton Square.

This May, they’re back—this time at the Zappeion Hall—welcoming leading Turkish DJs and producers Avangart Tabldot, the duo behind the iconic “Looking for a Crib” parties, promising an even more spectacular event.

Collage Journeys: Imaginary Cities
2025-05-03 18:30 - 20:30 | Mosaico Fine Art Studio, Kesarias 18-20, Athens, Athens, 115 27, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek.

Participants are invited to take part in the Collage Journeys: Imaginary Cities workshop. Using the flexible medium of collage and a variety of materials, attendees will explore the idea of travel and create their own imagined cities—visualising dreamlike places and routes. The workshop is led by artist and art therapist Paraskevi Papagianni, who will provide inspiration and gentle guidance throughout the process.

My Colourful Flowers Inspired by Andy Warhol
2025-05-04 10:30 - 12:00 | Museum of Greek Children’s Art, Kdrou 9, Athens, Athens, 105 58, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek.

A creative workshop for children aged 6–12, held at the Museum of Greek Children’s Art and inspired by the work of Andy Warhol.

Young participants will explore the museum and create their own unique artworks, drawing inspiration from Warhol’s iconic style. Using a variety of materials and painting techniques, they’ll tap into their imagination and expand their expressive abilities—all through play and artistic discovery.

Remembrance Route 40 - 44
2025-05-04 11:00 - 12:30 | Third Cemetery of Athens, Thivon & Kotyoron, Athens, Athens, 184 54, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek.

The Memory Route is a tribute to the thousands of anonymous victims of hunger during the occupation, as well as the victims of executions by the occupying forces. As we search for the past in the present, stories of the place and its people unfold. At the same time, the 3rd Cemetery is reintroduced to the public as a historical site of memory for those who “didn’t live” to see our country free. The tour will be conducted by Zetta Antonopoulou, Historian-Archaeologist, and Eliza Neofytou, Architect-Museologist.

Timothea at the City Dionysia
2025-05-04 11:00 - 12:30 | Epigraphic Museum, Tositsa 1, Athens, Athens, 106 82, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek.

An activity for primary school children, inspired by an inscription from the Epigraphic Museum, featuring two decrees of the Church of the Municipality. The activity will be led by the museum’s archaeologist and artist.

This activity is aimed at children aged 7-11.

The Athens of Protest: Struggles for Democracy in the 1960s
2025-05-04 11:00 - 13:00 | Omonia Square, Omonia Square, Athens, Athens, 104 31, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek.

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the July Events (1965), the This is Athens City Festival organizes a historical walk through the city centre, dedicated to the struggle for democracy.

Starting from Chavteia and ending at Syntagma Square, the walk traces the post-war history of the country, “re-reading” key landmarks of the city, such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Propylaea, while also discovering lesser-known sites where significant events of a turbulent decade took place.

The walk will be led by Vangelis Karamanolakis, Professor of History at EKPA, Zisis Synodinos, Archivist and Scientific Officer at EMIAN/ASKI, and Angeliki Christodoulou, Scientific Collaborator at ASKI.

Meeting point: Omonia Square

First Cemetery of Athens: An Open-Air Sculpture Gallery II
2025-05-04 11:00 - 13:00 | First Cemetery of Athens, Logginou 3, Athens, Athens, 116 36, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek.

Archaeologist and guide Michalis Giohalas leads a special tour through the sculpture garden of the First Cemetery of Athens, in collaboration with the This is Athens City Festival.

Beyond the “Sleeping Female Figure”
The memorial of Sofia Afentaki—widely known as the “Sleeping Female Figure” by Yannoulis Chalepas—is perhaps the most iconic sculpture in the cemetery. But it is far from the only one of artistic significance.

This alternative route leads visitors off the main thoroughfares and into quieter paths that reveal a lesser-known, yet equally remarkable, side of Athens’ open-air sculpture garden. Along the uphill lanes, we encounter mausoleums of celebrated dead, where mortals meet immortals—and grand aspirations for remembrance coexist with overwhelming silence.

Guided tour at the EMST in the exhibition WOMEN TOGETHER
2025-05-04 11:30 - 13:00 | National Museum of Contemporary Art, National Museum of Contemporary Art Αthens (ΕΜΣΤ), Athens, Athens, 117 43, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek.

The exhibition “WOMEN, TOGETHER” features works exclusively by women artists and takes a clear stance on a critical issue in both art history and contemporary society: the underrepresentation of women and the urgent need for action towards gender equality. While most of the works do not focus explicitly on womanhood, they raise pressing questions around equality, oppression and otherness. They engage with contemporary and historical sociopolitical narratives, as well as aspects of personal and collective memory and identity.

Wedding Songs-Music-Dances from Karoti Thrace
2025-05-04 13:00 - 15:00 | Mitropoleos Square, Mitropoleos Square, Athens, Athens, 105 63, Greece
In traditional communities, marriage was the most important social event—an occasion that brought everyone together through a shared ritual passed down through generations.

On a spring Sunday morning, in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, the Dora Stratou Dance Theatre presents wedding songs, music and dances from Karoti in Thrace. This performance offers a vivid glimpse into a borderland village that keeps its customs alive—and knows how to celebrate.

Santaroza Beat 2025
2025-05-04 17:30 - 23:00 | Dikaiosinis Square, Panepistimiou & Santaroza, Athens, Athens, 105 64, Greece
_&beyond and the City of Athens Festival present:

SANTAROZA BEAT 2025

Sunday, May 4
17:00 – 23:00
Santaroza Square (Plateia Dikaiosynis)
Free entrance

Live acts: Billie Kark, Metaman ft. Sci-Fi River
DJ sets: Katia x Myrto, Chevy x Discojuice

_&beyond returns to the heart of the city with full force, breathing new life into one of Athens’ most iconic squares—transforming it into an open-air dancefloor for the third year in a row!

In collaboration with the City of Athens Festival, we invite you to a massive open-air music event bursting with rhythm, energy, and raw urban vibes. Six hours of electronic, dance music and beyond—with some of the city’s finest local heroes behind the decks and the mic.

Get ready for a night full of music, beats, and good vibes—right in the heart of the city.

See you at Santaroza Square!

E MC2
2025-05-04 17:30 - 23:00 | Amerikis Square, Patission 167, Athens, Athens, 112 52, Greece
A full-blown celebration of urban culture and street arts! For the sixth year running, Amerikis Square comes alive with E=MC²—a one-of-a-kind street party bringing together the urban tribes of Athens.

Top breakdancers, DJs, beatboxers and MCs join locals and visitors for an unforgettable experience. With no tickets and no barriers, we reclaim public space and celebrate Hip Hop as a force for connection. We dance, we listen, we meet new people—and we honour diversity.

PROGRAM

18:00-19:00 B-Bop aka Digga presents DEEP FRIED DIGS (Vinyl Set)
19:00-21:00 Dj Beatstrike presents the DANCE SQUAD SET
19:00 BREAKIN’ But No Damage
19:45 FEELING JAMES Vol. 4 Top Rock Cypher by Top Rock Bunch
20:30 APACHE LINE Rock Dance
21:00-21:30 Beatbox Greece presents a TOP MIC SHOWCASE
21:30 -23:00 Dj MarWax and Dj Sparky T present THE GRANDPA’S SHOW

BREAKIN’ Beast & Host MC – Cameelloco Unbreakable

Climate Change: Too Many Calories
2025-05-04 20:00 - 21:00 | The City of Athens Gallery, Municipal Gallery of Athens, Athens, Athens, 104 36, Greece
This activity is available in Greek only.
The theatre group Noiti Grammi presents a performance on climate change that aims to offer an immersive experience and challenge audiences to rethink their relationship with the environment. A blend of theatre, music, dance and visual art unfolds in a space where viewers become active participants—interacting with actors, animals and natural elements.
Set inside a stunning neoclassical building—one of the first in Athens and now home to the City of Athens Gallery—the piece uses original ideas, soundscapes and improvised rituals to deconstruct stereotypes and explore the deep connection between humans and the natural world. The goal is to make the climate crisis feel both personal and collective, opening up new paths for dialogue.
Under the auspices and with the financial support of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, and the support of OPANDA (City of Athens Cultural, Sports and Youth Organisation).
Concept / Direction / Dramaturgy: Olga PozeliTexts:Sakis Serefas – LimericksDarrah Cloud – How to Deny Climate Change in 5 Easy StepsNoiti Grammi Theatre GroupScenography: Kostis DavarisOriginal Music: Giorgos AndriotisAssistant Director: Georgia TsakouPerformers (in alphabetical order):Goni Louka, Vicky Kyriakopoulou, Olga Pozeli, Stevi FortomaProduction: Noiti Grammi Theatre Group

Inuksuk: Light of the North in the Heart of Athens
2025-05-05 17:00 - 19:00 | Ilisia Park, Dragoumi and Dimitressa, Athens, Athens, 115 28, Greece
The Embassy of Canada invites you to a special celebration at Ilisia Grove, as part of the This is Athens City Festival! We’re coming together to mark one year since the unveiling of the Inuksuk—a powerful symbol of friendship that connects Canada and Greece in the heart of Athens. Dedicated to the Indigenous cultures of Canada, the event offers a unique opportunity to explore the story behind this landmark. We’ll be joined by Inuksuk artist Heather Carroll and a representative of the Inuit community, who will share personal insights into the meaning and creation of the monument. The Inuksuk—a traditional stone marker used by the Inuit peoples of northern Canada to guide travellers and mark sacred places—was gifted to Athens in 2022 by the Embassy of Canada to celebrate 80 years of diplomatic relations. Designed by Heather Carroll, who is of Inuit and European heritage, the sculpture embodies both authenticity and a distinctly Athenian character. Unlike traditional Inuksuit made of irregular stones, the Athenian Inuksuk is crafted from Pentelic marble—the same stone used for the Parthenon—paying tribute to classical Greek art. This material choice symbolises a rich encounter between Greek and Indigenous Canadian heritage. It also resonates with the meaning of the word Inuksuk: “in the likeness of a human.” Its presence in Athens honours both the city’s immense contribution to Western culture and the ancestral cultures of Canada. Join us in celebrating the first anniversary of this modern urban landmark, officially unveiled in May 2023. Come hear the stories behind the Inuksuk from the artist herself and a member of the Inuit community, as we renew the bonds of friendship that this symbol represents.

Polyzogopoulos - Miaris : Mirrors
2025-05-05 20:30 - 22:30 | Byzantine and Christian Museum, Vas. Sofias 22, Athens, Athens, 10 75, Greece
Two of the most distinctive artists on the Greek and international music scene, Alexandros Miaris and Andreas Polyzogopoulos, join forces for a unique concert as part of the City of Athens Festival.

Andreas Polyzogopoulos, one of the most unique trumpeters in European jazz, known for his atmospheric compositions and improvisational skills, meets Alexandros Miaris, a film score composer and frontman of Electric Litany, a band that has left its own mark on the alternative/post-rock landscape.

The two artists, who initially met on stage in London and subsequently collaborated on Electric Litany’s album “Under a Common Sky,” as well as on various soundtracks, will perform as a duo, presenting new material from their upcoming albums for the first time. Together, they will create a captivating sonic experience, with improvisational elements, electronic textures, and melodies that move between lyricism and melancholy.

Andreas Polyzogopoulos: Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Effects
Alexandros Miaris: Piano, Guitar, Vocals, Modular

The Magic of the Serenades in the Streets of Plaka
2025-05-05 20:30 - 22:30 | Holy Church of Saint Catherine, Chairefontos 10, Athens, Athens, 105 58, Greece
The Karaviotis brothers—modern-day troubadours—bring the traditional kantada (serenade) back to the winding alleyways of Plaka.

This nostalgic musical stroll revives the romantic songs of old Athens: melodies that once echoed through the tavernas of Plaka, Psyrri and Omonia. With care and devotion, these passionate performers breathe new life into tunes that have long lived in the city’s memory.

Meeting point: Agia Aikaterini, Plaka
