Theatre Battles in Ancient Athens
2026-05-17 11:00 - 12:30 (Europe/Athens) | Epigraphic Museum, Tositsa 1, Athens, Athens, 106 82, Greece
The This is Athens City Festival invites explorers of all ages to an educational adventure that reimagines ancient Athens through the eyes of two real-life legends. Auteas and Philoxenides, two “choregoi” (the visionary sponsors of the time) from Aexone, today’s Glyfada, are making a symbolic comeback 2,300 years later to guide us through the thrilling world of theatrical competitions.

What exactly was the role of a sponsor back then? How were the city’s massive festivals organised? And why was theatre so much more than just a night out? Taking its cue from a rare honorary decree from 313/2 BC housed in the Epigraphical Museum, this session is specially designed for families with children aged 7 to 10. Through storytelling, discovery, and a hands-on creative workshop, kids will dive into ancient drama and the city’s public life in a way that’s interactive, fast-paced, and fun. It’s a chance to pull the past into the present with imagination, play, and a real connection to Athens’ cultural soul.

This activity is only available in Greek.

Inna Orlik: The Permanent Collection
2026-05-17 12:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-18 12:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-19 12:00 - 18:00 | Orlik Gallery, 3 Palaiologou Benizelou, Athens, 105 56, Greece
Orlik Gallery invites the This is Athens City Festival audience to a distinctive encounter with the visual universe of Inna Orlik. This exhibition brings to the fore a world where contemporary painting enters into a dialogue with mythology, nature, and the human experience, creating an environment rich in symbolism and layers of interpretation.

Defined by bold colours, complex textures, and a singular painterly language, Orlik’s works move between the visible and the suggestive, the personal and the collective. The artist transforms the canvas into a space for narrative and exploration, inviting the viewer to discover forms, symbols, and underlying connections. It is an exhibition tailored for those seeking not only aesthetic intensity in contemporary art but also a substantial, resonant depth.

Opening hours: Daily: 12:00–18:00.

Guided Tour: Dimitra Siaterli’s "Cohesive Networks"
2026-05-17 13:00 - 14:00 | The City of Athens Gallery, Municipal Gallery of Athens, Athens, Athens, 104 36, Greece
We invite you to a special guided tour of Dimitra Siaterli’s solo exhibition, a journey that peels back the deeper layers of a visual world spanning four decades. As we move among intricate meshes, perforated sculptures, and engravings, a whole “labyrinth” of tiny human figures is gradually revealed.

This is a universe that speaks to our fundamental need to connect, to belong, and to communicate. It is a profound, experiential tour that brings the audience closer to the artist’s work, illuminating the importance of the “cohesive networks” that unite us in a shared present.

This activity is only available in Greek.

A Walk through Rizokastro & Anafiotika
2026-05-17 17:00 - 19:00 | Acropolis Metro Station, Makrygianni 9, Athens, Athens, 117 42, Greece
Rizokastro and Anafiotika, two of the most enchanting and singular corners of Athens, become the backdrop for a journey that weaves together history, memory, and the inexhaustible charm of Plaka. Archaeologist and guide Michalis Giohalas invites us on a route that goes far beyond a typical tour; it is a quest for Athenian identity where the layers of time remain vividly visible.

Guided by surviving monuments, the ghosts of lost buildings, and the hidden details we usually overlook, this walk attempts to reconstruct a different Athens, but certainly not a lost one. Even those who believe they know Plaka inside out will have the chance to see it through a fresh lens where myth, legend, and topography collide. It is an experience that bridges academic insight with the evocative, nostalgic power of our capital’s most authentic neighbourhood.

Meeting Point: Acropolis Metro Station, Makriyianni exit.

This activity is only available in Greek.

E=MC²
2026-05-17 18:00 - 23:00 | Amerikis Square, Patission 167, Athens, Athens, 112 52, Greece
Athens’ big celebration of street culture is back for its seventh round, flipping Amerikis Square into a hub of creativity, energy, and community. E=MC² is the ultimate open-air link-up where the city’s “urban tribes” collide through the four elements of hip-hop, reclaiming the streets in the most creative way possible.

There’s no ego, no entry fee, and no competition, just pure culture. The square is set to ignite with heavy beats, live bars, and spontaneous ciphers as DJs, beatboxers, MCs, and breakin’ crews set the pace. This is hip-hop at its purest: a tool for expression, a bridge for connection, and a platform for everyone to be heard.

Consider this your open invite to catch the vibe, meet the fam, and witness the electric energy of a square that stands for the diversity and unifying power of Athens.

Sessions:

18:00 – 19:00: B-bop aka Digga – Cookin’ in da Square. Strictly Vinyl Set.

19:00 – 20:00: Dj Beatstrike – Chessboard Cypher.

20:00 – 20:45: Dj Beatstrike & Top Rock Bunch – Feeling James Vol.5. Get the funk up!

20:45 – 21:15: Dj Beatstrike – Rocking Apache Line. Only the real ones survive.

21:15 – 21:30: BeatboxGreece – Bite That Mic.

21:30 – 23:00: Dj MarWax – Boombox Session. Old school grooves party time!

Hosts: Cameelloco Unbreakable & Loyal T

Athens Cocktails at the Japanese Park
2026-05-17 18:00 - 23:00 | Japanese Park of Athens, Niriidon 12, Athens, Athens, 116 34, Greece
Athens Cocktails returns, bringing with it all the elements that have established it as a seasonal highlight: world-class mixology, adventurous flavours, and a soundtrack that sets the mood from the very first beat. This year, the event takes over one of the city’s most Zen locations, the Japanese Garden, creating a sanctuary that feels worlds away while remaining in the very heart of Athens.

Set against the garden’s exotic, and tranquil backdrop, leading mixologists will showcase signature cocktails that turn a simple drink into a reason for connection, relaxation, and celebration. As the music dictates the rhythm and the sunset completes the scene, the evening takes on an effortless cosmopolitan flair. This is a spring outing that perfectly blends taste, atmosphere, and urban finesse, ideal for those looking to discover a more surprising side of the city centre.

Innersense pres. LTJ Bukem LIVE & Junior SP
2026-05-17 19:00 - 23:00 | Thiseos Square, Athens, 118 51, Greece
This is definitely a headline moment for this year’s This is Athens City Festival. Because when legendary LTJ Bukem steps behind the decks, other DJs listen. This is the man who added layers of cinematic, “intelligent” soul to D&B, proving that 170 BPM could be as atmospheric as a late-night jazz session. This massive billing brings Bukem’s trailiblazing blend and precision to a city ready to vibrate.
Expect a masterclass in sonic world-building: lightning-fast breakbeats anchored by ambient textures and a spiritual freedom that only a true pioneer can command. This isn’t just a night for the dancefloor; it’s a full-body immersion into the sophisticated side of rave culture. It’s about feeling the sub-bass in your chest while your head stays firmly in the clouds.

Joining the icon is Junior SP., a cornerstone of the Greek urban scene since ’92. As the driving force behind Innersense Productions, he’s spent three decades shaping the country’s bass DNA. Having shared stages with everyone from The Prodigy to Wu-Tang Clan, his set promises the kind of raw authenticity and veteran energy that only a true architect of the local scene can deliver.

ATHENS: AM Extended - Beyond the Lens
2026-05-17 20:00 - 23:30, 2026-05-18 20:00 - 23:30, 2026-05-19 20:00 - 23:30 | metacosmoi, 44 Geraniou, Αθήνα, 104 31, Greece
A high-tech, multi-sensory deep dive into the city’s midnight soul with photographer Thanasis Karatzas and multimedia director Byron Nikolopoulos teaming up to breathe life into 88 iconic black-and-white shots of Athens captured between 2008 and 2022. Hosted at the cutting-edge METACOSMOI space right in the heart of the city, they’ve turned static images into a living, breathing digital playground.

Using Augmented Reality (AR), VR, and sleek video projections, the exhibition takes classic street photography and adds movement, sound, and a splash of colour. The project is fresh off international acclaim at Paris Photo and Photo London, so we’re thrilled to bring it back to the very streets that inspired it. You’ll see Athens as a “palimpsest”, a city of layers where ancient history, gritty urban vibes, and the digital future all sit at the same table.

Constantine Xenakis – Dimitris Chiotopoulos: Writing and Trace Two Journeys into the Labyrinth
2026-05-18 11:30 - 20:30, 2026-05-19 11:30 - 20:30 | Gallery Ersi, Kleomenous 4, Athens, Athens, 106 75, Greece
Ersi Gallery hosts a deep and unexpectedly poetic dialogue between two masters of the symbolic: Constantine Xenakis and Dimitris Chiotopoulos.

Writing and Trace explores the moment when a mark, a symbol, or a simple gesture transcends its everyday use to become a language of its own. Dense with meaning and open to endless interpretation. The internationally acclaimed Xenakis employs codes, hieroglyphs, and signals from modern communication to offer a sharp commentary on how meaning is constructed in our digital age. In contrast, Chiotopoulos brings a more interior, tactile search to the gallery, weaving in archetypal shapes and calligraphy elements.

Together, they transform the “Labyrinth” into a space of discovery. This isn’t just an exhibition; it’s an invitation to stroll through a maze of signs and silences, losing yourself in the traces of culture only to find your own way back.

Opening hours: Monday–Friday: 11:30–14:30 & 17:30–20:30; Saturday: 11:30–15:00. Closed on Sunday.

The Journey of the Serenade
2026-05-18 20:00 - 22:30 | Holy Church of Saint Catherine, Chairefontos 10, Athens, Athens, 105 58, Greece
If you’ve ever wondered what Athens sounded like before the hum of motorbikes and the thump of basslines, follow this group of traditional kantadoroi (troubadours). They are taking to the cobbled streets below the Acropolis to revive the lost art of the Athenian serenade.

Love songs and melodies once flooded the city’s historic neighborhoods, serving as the ultimate way to confess a secret or share a moment of collective emotion. As you stroll, following the voices through the shadow of the Acropolis, the city’s past starts to feel incredibly present—a beautiful reminder that some things, like a perfect melody under the stars, never go out of style.

Dimitra Siaterli: Cohesive Networks
2026-05-19 11:00 - 19:00, 2026-05-20 11:00 - 19:00 | The City of Athens Gallery, Municipal Gallery of Athens, Athens, Athens, 104 36, Greece
This solo exhibition by Dimitra Siaterli is presented as a fascinating journey connecting the artist’s past and present. Spanning from the 1980s and 90s right through to her brand-new productions, the exhibition unfolds in three sections that feel like acts in a play. Visitors will wander through a world of strange minerals, fossils, and mythical creatures, eventually arriving at an “anatomy” of the human form through striking sculptures, meshes, and engravings. Tiny human figures seem to leap out from labyrinths and processions, creating a playful tension between myth and reality. This is an experiential journey that reminds us of the vital human need for connection and our place as a precious part of a vast, collective network. It is a study of coexistence, delivered in a visual language that speaks to the heart about the time and space we all share

Nikolas Klironomos: A Retrospective (1985–2025)
2026-05-19 11:00 - 19:00, 2026-05-20 11:00 - 19:00 | The City of Athens Gallery, Municipal Gallery of Athens, Athens, Athens, 104 36, Greece
This major retrospective is a brilliant place to start looking into the work of Nikolas Klironomos, an artist who has spent decades masterfully blurring the lines between fine art and set design.

Klironomos doesn’t just paint; he “directs” his canvases. Think of him as a visual filmmaker who takes the raw, chaotic energy of Athens, our streets, our faces, our light, and filters it through a lens of memory and emotion.

In this exhibition, the mundane meets the dreamlike. You’ll see the changing seasons of the city tangled up with those small, quirky moments that make life in Athens so unique. By playing with vibrant palettes and some rather unusual materials, he creates scenes that feel like they’re in constant motion. It’s a bit like catching a glimpse of Athens from a moving Vespa—everything is fluid, poetic, and strangely alive.

This exhibition is designed to speak directly to your heart and your memory. What’s truly clever is how Klironomos takes “the bits and bobs” of life, those fragmented, everyday moments, and gives them a sense of grandeur and importance. It’s a proper journey into the hidden corners of time and what it actually means to be human.

Opening hours: Tuesday–Saturday: 11:00–19:00; Sunday: 10:00–16:00. Closed on Monday.

Panos Charalambous: COLUMBIA
2026-05-19 11:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-20 11:00 - 16:00 | CITRONNE Gallery, 19 Patriarchou Ioakim, Athens, 106 75, Greece
At CITRONNE Gallery, Panos Charalambous invites us to step into a “sonic room” that speaks directly to the memory of the city. The journey begins in 2006, the year the historic Columbia vinyl record factory in Rizoupoli was demolished, symbolically closing a massive chapter of Greek music history. Columbia was a place where the voices, songs, and moments that shaped our collective soundscape were once etched into wax.

Charalambous transforms the gallery into a visceral, immersive installation. Here, you are invited to walk across a “sound floor,” literally treading on the echoes of a memory that refuses to fade. It is a haunting reminder that music doesn’t vanish with the buildings that once housed it; instead, it survives through emotion, shared experience, and our collective imagination.

In a city that is constantly evolving, COLUMBIA is a profound meditation on decay, remembrance, and our deep-seated need to keep our shared history alive.

Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 11:00–20:00; Wednesday, Saturday: 11:00–16:00. Closed on Monday & Sunday.

Andreas Spiliotopoulos: Heroes of Today
2026-05-19 12:00 - 20:00 | Astrolavos Art Gallery, 11 Xanthippou, Kolonaki, 106 75, Greece
Astrolavos Art Gallery presents the solo painting exhibition of Andreas Spiliotopoulos, titled “Heroes of Today”—a body of work that brings classical art into a direct dialogue with contemporary pop culture. Drawing influence from the allegorical and monumental traditions of painting, as well as the kinetic energy and narrative drive of comic books, the artist creates dense, multi-layered compositions teeming with parallel action.

On his canvases, joy coexists with fear, irony with drama, and the mundane with the hyperbolic. These modern-day “heroes” are not supernatural figures, but characters of contemporary life navigating fragility, intensity, and humour. The exhibition offers a vivid and penetrating look at our world, suggesting that the comic and the tragic are, ultimately, two sides of the same narrative coin.

Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 12:00–16:00 and 17:00–20:00; Saturday: 11:00–15:00. Closed on Sunday & Monday.

Vera Stavrinadi: Pop-Up Frequencies
2026-05-19 12:00 - 20:00 | Astrolavos Art Gallery, 11 Xanthippou, Kolonaki, 106 75, Greece
Astrolavos Art Gallery hosts “Pop-Up Frequencies”, a striking sculptural intervention by Vera Stavrinadi that occupies the gallery space with undeniable presence and style. Monumental sculptures in the form of contemporary totems alternate with smaller floor and wall-mounted pieces, all bathed in the vibrant, fluorescent hues of pop culture and comic- book aesthetics.

With a sarcastic yet playful approach that draws on the world of children’s toys, the artist opens a fragmented dialogue regarding the values of modern society. By casting a critical eye on consumerist tropes and contemporary superficiality, Stavrinadi successfully marries a sharp perspective with an irresistibly joyful dimension. This experience invites us to view the “idols” of our everyday lives through a new, luminous, and subversive frequency.

Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 12:00–16:00 and 17:00–20:00; Saturday: 11:00–15:00. Closed on Sunday & Monday.

Nikos Kalafatis: Primavera
2026-05-19 12:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-20 10:00 - 18:00 | Technohoros Art Gallery, 12 Lempesi, Athens, 117 42, Greece
Nikos Kalafatis presents Primavera, an exhibition curated by Athena Schina, at Technohoros Art Gallery. It is a vibrant, optimistic, and deeply personal tribute to the natural world. For Kalafatis, nature isn’t just a subject; it’s a constant source of daily observation and artistic discovery. Taking the energy of spring as his starting point, the artist creates a world where simple, discarded materials are granted a second life. Driftwood, metals, ropes, feathers, and various objets trouvés are meticulously transformed through painting, sculpture, and engraving into works brimming with poetry, ingenuity, and a subtle touch of wit.
This isn’t just a traditional look at the outdoors; it’s an invitation to adopt a lighter, more observant way of being, one that is open to the “everyday miracles” of the city and beyond. In the heart of the festival, Primavera proves that spring isn’t just a season; it’s a creative state of mind.

Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 12:00–20:00; Wednesday, Saturday: 10:00–18:00. Closed on Sunday & Monday.

Giorgos Louloudis: The Path of Light – The Innate
2026-05-19 12:00 - 21:00 | Genesis Gallery, Ippokratous 121, Athens, Athens, 114 72, Greece
In his new solo exhibition at Gallery Genesis, Giorgos Louloudis places light centre stage, moving beyond its role as a mere physical phenomenon.The artist turns his focus toward the small Greek chapels and their unique relationship with the landscape, transforming them into potent symbols of hope, silence, and internal quest. These works function as quiet stations of contemplation, where physical space and psychological experience are inextricably linked.

Through a powerful expressionist style, Louloudis’s painted surfaces gain emotional intensity and depth. Light becomes an inner necessity, a force that guides the viewer toward a deeply personal reading of the work. This exhibition speaks to the universal need for solace and the enduring power of hope, asserting art’s ability to serve as a point of renewal and reflection in demanding times.

Opening: Thursday, May 7 at 20:00.

Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 12:00–21:00; Saturday: 12:00–15:00. Closed on Monday, Wednesday & Sunday.

Marilia Fotopoulou: Iconostases
2026-05-19 15:00 - 20:00 | Ileana Tounta Contemporary Art Centre, 48 Armatolon-Klefton, Athens, 114 71, Greece
The Ileana Tounta Contemporary Art Centre presents “Iconostases”, a solo exhibition by Marilia Fotopoulou. This visual proposition turns its gaze toward a subject that is deeply familiar yet often bypassed in our daily lives: the roadside shrines encountered across the Greek landscape. The artist approaches these small, metallic markers of memory and faith not merely as elements of the scenery, but as vessels for personal histories, collective sensitivity, and profound cultural continuity.

Using the language of contemporary fine-art photography, the exhibition illuminates the relationship between the individual and the road, exploring themes of loss, memory, and the urban environment. Fotopoulou’s works do not simply document a characteristic Greek sight; they transform it into a field of observation and reflection. This is a show that invites us to look again at what we pass by every day, discovering within these shrines a unique weight of emotion, tradition, and silent witness. The exhibition works well the Eugenia Grigoraki’s exhibition, also on view at the gallery, giving you a broader perspective on this distinctive symbol of the Greek landscape.

Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday: 15:00–20:00; Wednesday, Friday: 12:00–20:00; Saturday: 12:00–16:00. Closed on Monday & Sunday.

Evgenia Grigoraki: Roadside Shrines
2026-05-19 15:00 - 20:00 | Ileana Tounta Contemporary Art Centre, 48 Armatolon-Klefton, Athens, 114 71, Greece
The Ileana Tounta Contemporary Art Centre presents a solo exhibition by Evgenia Grigoraki titled “Roadside Shrines”, a photographic series focusing on a familiar yet often overlooked element of the Greek landscape. Through a personal and direct lens, the artist approaches these shrines not merely as markers of memory and faith, but as small, paradoxical presences that persist in inhabiting public spaces—alongside roads, around bends, and throughout our daily commutes.

The strength of the exhibition lies in this experiential, almost tender observation. Under Grigoraki’s gaze, these shrines are transformed into objects of artistic exploration, highlighting their enduring stability and the specific meaning they continue to hold within Greek society. It is an exhibition that bridges the everyday gaze with folk tradition, inviting us to pause once more before one of the most characteristic and poignant sights of the Greek roadside. Presented alongside Marilia Fotopoulou’s exhibition, the show will offer you the chance to explore two different yet complementary photographic interpretations of the same subject.

Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday: 15:00–20:00; Wednesday, Friday: 12:00–20:00; Saturday: 12:00–16:00. Closed on Monday & Sunday.

Fitness Sessions
2026-05-19 18:30 - 20:30 | Eleftherias Park, Eleftherias Park, Athens, Athens, 115 21, Greece
Parko Eleftherias is being transformed into a sprawling open-air hub of energy and well-being for this year’s This is Athens City Festival. At Fitness Sessions, movement is a celebration; here, exercise isn’t about competition—it’s about self-care, community, and recharging your batteries right in the heart of the city.

Set within one of Athens’ most refreshing green spaces, you’re invited to rediscover the joy of physical activity in a welcoming and supportive environment. Expert instructors and their teams will lead sessions for everyone, ranging from Yoga and Pilates to more high-energy workouts, offering a programme tailored to all fitness levels and needs.

Participation and good vibes are the order of the day, turning this event into a true festival for the body and the city alike. It’s a cracking opportunity to get moving together in one of Athens’ most beautiful outdoor settings.

Algerian Cultural Days
2026-05-20 09:00 - 2026-05-21 23:00 | Klafthmonos Square, Klaftmonos Square, Athens, Athens, 105 61, Greece
For two days, Klafthmonos Square transforms into a vibrant crossroads of heritage, as the Embassy of Algeria and the This is Athens City Festival invite us to experience the immense cultural wealth of Africa’s largest country. The heart of Athens will be filled with the sights, scents, and sounds of a tradition that is as deep and complex as it is vividly alive.

Visitors will have the chance to wander through an impressive cultural showcase featuring authentic handicrafts, exquisite Berber jewellery, and traditional attire. The air will be thick with the aromas of Algerian cuisine, where spices and local delicacies take centre stage. The two-day programme is rounded off with traditional music and dance, alongside the “Study in Algeria” platform—an initiative fostering dialogue around education and research.

This is an open invitation to discover Algeria through its legendary hospitality, its rhythms, and its enduring traditions.
