Gerasimos Galiatsatos: Phi of Light
2026-05-09 18:00 - 22:00, 2026-05-11 18:00 - 21:00 (Europe/Athens) | Mosaico Fine Art Studio, Kesarias 18-20, Athens, Athens, 115 27, Greece
What happens when mathematical perfection meets inner revelation? In “Phi of Light”, an exhibition by Gerasimos Galiatsatos curated by mosaico, art transcends simple representation. It becomes, as the psychologist and author Rollo May might suggest, a “revelation of new forms of being. The artist brings viewers face-to-face with two fundamental forces:

The Golden Ratio: Named in honour of Phidias, the Golden Ratio is the mathematical code of absolute harmony in nature and architecture. For Galiatsatos, phi (φ) is not merely a rule of matter, but the aesthetic imprint of psychological balance.
The Light: The force that reveals and purifies. Drawing inspiration from Jungian thought, the artist treats light as the medium through which “darkness becomes conscious.”

Each work in the collection acts as a luminous mediator, inviting the viewer to discover an internal order within the chaos. This exhibition functions as a ritual, inviting us to look beyond the obvious and seek our own facet of reality through brilliance and geometry.

Opening hours: Monday–Friday: 18:00–21:00; Saturday: 12:30–15:00. Closed on Sunday.

Yucatan pres. Sensory
2026-05-09 18:00 - 23:00 | Zappeion Megaron, Zappeion Hall, Athens, Athens, 105 57, Greece
Yucatan meets Sensory Production for an extraordinary night on the Jacaranda path at Zappeion, one of spring’s most cinematic locations in Athens. Beneath the canopy of blooming purple trees, these two creative powerhouses are setting up an open-air club that blends cutting-edge electronic sounds with a meticulously crafted aesthetic.

The setting, the season, and the soundtrack converge to create an unforgettable backdrop, an evening poised on the edge of fashion, art, and after-hours beats, in what is easily the city’s most spirited springtime clandestine link-up.

For one night, the Zappeion gardens will be transformed into a stage of rhythm and style, showcasing the most contemporary, outward-looking face of Athens. It’s a springtime outing that perfectly pairs natural beauty with urban finesse and high-energy beats.

Queer Movie Nights 2026
2026-05-09 18:00 - 23:30, 2026-05-10 18:00 - 23:30, 2026-05-11 18:00 - 23:30 | Trianon Cinema, Kodrigktonos 21, Athens, Athens, 104 34, Greece
Queer Movie Nights are bringing an open, vibrant, and inclusive celebration of LGBTQI+ cinema right to the heart of Athens. Through a curated selection of queer feature films, shorts, documentaries, and homegrown Greek productions, this event creates a vital meeting point where queer stories find visibility, a voice, and an audience. This initiative has already carved out a permanent spot on the city’s cultural map as a platform for expression, coexistence, and acceptance.

Beyond the silver screen, Queer Movie Nights act as a safe space for dialogue and connection where every viewer can truly be themselves, share experiences, and see the world through diverse, colourful perspectives. It’s a celebration of diversity, cinematic creativity, and the unique power of the big screen to bring people closer together.

Yoga Sessions
2026-05-09 18:30 - 20:30 | Rizari Park, Rizari 5, Athens, Athens, 106 76, Greece
Rizari Park is transforming into the quietest, yet most radiant, spot in the city. Think of it as a lush green sanctuary right in the heart of Athens, where time seems to slow down and the city’s daily hum just fades away behind the trees.

As part of the This is Athens City Festival, our Yoga Sessions are back, inviting you to roll out your mat on the grass and get in sync with your body and breath. Practising under the shade of the trees with the open sky above is a total game-changer, it’s a chance to reconnect with yourself and the city in a whole new way.

We’ve got some fantastic instructors on hand to guide everyone from total beginners to seasoned yogis through a harmonious flow focused on balance, focus, and finding that inner alignment. Every inhale brings a fresh burst of energy, and every exhale lets go of the day’s tension.

It’s that lovely moment when Athens reveals its serene side—a gentle reminder that wellbeing isn’t a luxury, it’s a rhythm we can all find together.

This activity is only available in Greek.

ATHENS: AM Extended - Beyond the Lens
2026-05-09 20:00 - 23:30, 2026-05-10 20:00 - 23:30, 2026-05-11 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.

Nikolas Klironomos: A Retrospective (1985–2025)
2026-05-10 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-12 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.

Giorgos Tserionis: AFTER
2026-05-10 10:00 - 16:00 | The City of Athens Gallery, Municipal Gallery of Athens, Athens, Athens, 104 36, Greece
Through his works, Giorgos Tserionis captures the life cycle of homo urbanus, using a diverse array of materials such as clay, marble, metal, and latex. The artist creates a contemporary “archaeology” from ruins, building skeletons, and debris, highlighting the daily struggle for survival and the eternal search for a better life.

Set within a historic neoclassical building in Metaxourgeio, his work functions as a memento mori that, while underscoring human fragility, is not devoid of hope.

By juxtaposing darkness with light and “hazard yellow” with earthy tones, the creator leads us beneath the surface of things, offering a compassionate look at the hardships of modern man and giving a wink to the future with his own version of “and they lived happily ever after.

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

Fun Vibes Family Festival
2026-05-10 11:00 - 20:00 | Rizari Park, Rizari 5, Athens, Athens, 106 76, Greece
One of the city’s most beautiful green lungs is being transformed into a massive playground for a day. As part of the This is Athens City Festival, Rizari Park is hosting an all-day fest dedicated to kids, families, and the pure joy of getting active.

Think of it as the ultimate outdoor reset. Through a mix of sports, games, and creative activities, this is a chance for families to bond away from the glow of their screens. Whether you’re competing in team games or trying out new wellness activities, the focus is on teamwork, well-being, and all-around joy.

It’s the perfect excuse to grab the trainers, round up the kids, and head to the park for a day of fresh air and high energy. In a city as bustling as Athens, this is a rare moment to slow down (or speed up!) and reconnect with nature and each other through play.

This activity is only available in Greek.

Inna Orlik: The Permanent Collection
2026-05-10 12:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-11 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.

World of Beer Festival 2026
2026-05-10 12:00 - 23:30 | Technopolis City of Athens, Pireos 100, Athens, Athens, 118 54, Greece
The Athens City Festival 2026 meets the World of Beer Festival for a unique three-day event dedicated to those who love great beer, food, and music. From 8 to 10 May, more than 300 beer brands from Greece and abroad will gather at Technopolis: from classic lagers and weiss to original craft beers infused with mastic or lavender.

At the Beer Talks & Tastings, experts will reveal the secrets of the perfect pairing while the experience reaches new heights with delicious street food and an explosive line-up of 9 different concerts: from the rock of Magic de Spell and Dionysis Tsaknis to the traditional Ikarian feasts of Nikos Fakaros.

Laughter takes centre stage with top stand-up shows from Vangelis Charisopoulos, Dimitra Nikitea, and other beloved comedians. With a games area, the Greek Beer Awards 2026, and an atmosphere full of energy, the World of Beer becomes the city’s ultimate meeting point.

Book your tickets now and get ready for a three-day event that has it all—always enjoying responsibly!

Flare the Square 2026
2026-05-10 13:00 - 23:00 | Kotzia Square, Kotzia Square, Αθήνα, Athens, 105 51, Greece
The This is Athens City Festival and Ministry Of Concrete (MOC) are renewing their vows for another epic skateboarding takeover of Kotzia Square. For one day only, the massive plaza in front of City Hall is transformed into a sprawling, state-of-the-art skate park, welcoming a mix of pro riders and local amateurs.

Expect high-speed lines, gravity-defying tricks, and that raw, unfiltered street energy that defines Athenian skate culture. With massive DJ sets pumping through the speakers and the aroma of local street food filling the air, Athens transforms into an urban stage for this celebration of movement, creativity, and the city’s vibrant youth scene.

A Three-Star Architectural Crown: The Neoclassical Trilogy of Athens
2026-05-10 17:00 - 19:00 | Athens Trilogy, Panepistimiou 39, Athens, Athens, 105 64, Greece
The University, the Academy, and the National Library form the absolute crown jewels of our city’s architecture, the ultimate Trilogy that defined the look of modern Athens.

But there’s way more to these marble marvels than just a good photo op. As part of this year’s This is Athens City Festival, we are hitting the pavement with archaeologist and top-tier guide Michalis Giohalas. Michalis won’t just point at statues; he’s here to spill the secrets, symbols, and big ideas hidden behind those famous facades. You’ll discover how 19th-century architects tried to build a “bridge” between the glory of Ancient Greece and the newly formed Greek state. Think of it as a deep dive into Athens’ DNA, explaining how statues, towering columns, and tiny decorative details all played a part in a young nation’s vision.

It’s history, but with a pulse. Whether you’re a fresh arrival to the city or a long-term expat who walks past these buildings every day, this tour will make you see the centre of Athens in a completely new light.

Meeting Point: The Propylaea of the University of Athens (Right outside “Panepistimio” Metro station, University exit).

This activity is only available in Greek.

The Embassy of Bulgaria Presents the Quintet “Seasons”
2026-05-10 19:00 - 21:00 | National Historical Museum, Stadiou 13, Athens, Athens, 105 61, Greece
The Embassy of Bulgaria in Athens and the This is Athens City Festival present the “Seasons” Quintet – one of the most prominent ensembles on the contemporary Bulgarian music scene. Founded in 1996, the group comprises distinguished musicians with international careers and creates an elegant bridge between the mandolin tradition and the high standards of European chamber music. Having released four albums and won awards at prestigious international competitions, the ensemble has performed across Europe, the USA and Asia. They impress audiences with their stylistically rich repertoire, which ranges from classical masterpieces to contemporary works, including original music by the Bulgarian
composer Rossen Balkanski.

In their performances, the musicians combine Bulgarian musical traditions with the latest European trends. Don’t miss this concert, where Evdokia Bobotsova (mandolin), Rossen Idealov (clarinet), Milen Djurov and Rossen Balkanski (guitars) and Ivo Alexandrov (cello) will take you on an unforgettable musical journey!

Athens All Star Party 2026
2026-05-10 19:00 - 23:00 | Lycabettus Theatre Parking Lot, Lycabettus Hill, Athens, Athens, 114 71, Greece
There is nothing quite like watching the sunrise over the Parthenon while the bass is still dropping and the city’s heart starts beating a little faster. On the legendary “city balcony,” suspended between the starlight and the city lights below, the Lycabettus Hill parking lot is transforming once again into the country’s most iconic open-air dancefloor.

This is Athens City Festival invites the city’s top promoters who join joining forces to create a night of pure, unadulterated ecstasy. Imagine thousands of people gathering at the summit for a marathon of electronic beats and an electric atmosphere that you can feel from miles away.

With a panoramic view that literally takes your breath away, this is where high-octane club culture meets the vastness of the Attic sky. It has officially reached must-attend status for May, confirming Athens as the nightlife capital of the Mediterranean.

Athens: Urban Frictions
2026-05-11 10:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-12 10:00 - 18:00 | Macart’s Cultural Space, Lenorman 244, Athens, Athens, 104 43, Greece
The Macart Cultural Space, in collaboration with iFocus Gallery, presents “Athens: Urban Frictions”, a collective photographic exploration of the Greek capital. Thirty contemporary Greek and international photographers attempt to capture the city’s identity through diverse and often conflicting lenses, highlighting its inherent contradictions, tensions, and ongoing transformations.

In this exhibition, Athens is not approached as a singular, static image, but as a field of constant negotiation between memory, lived experience, and change. Black-and-white and colour works, analogue shots, and contemporary digital perspectives weave a narrative where the act of wandering becomes a way of “reading” the city. The show explores Athens in the space between noise and silence, the visible and the suggestive, and the weight of history versus a constantly shifting present. It is an invitation to view the capital not as a mere backdrop, but as a living, complex entity.

Opening hours: Monday–Friday: 10:00–18:00; Saturday: 10:00–14:00. Closed on Sunday.

Constantine Xenakis – Dimitris Chiotopoulos: Writing and Trace Two Journeys into the Labyrinth
2026-05-11 11:30 - 20:30, 2026-05-12 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.

Guided Tour at the City of Athens Museum
2026-05-11 12:00 - 13:00 | The City of Athens Museum, 5-7 loannou Paparrigopoulou, Athens, 105 61, Greece
The City of Athens Museum (Vouros-Eutaxias Foundation) will welcome us for a rather special look at the capital’s modern history. The tour spans two iconic buildings that tell the story of a city finding its feet.
We start at the legendary “Old Palace”, the first residence of King Otto and Queen Amalia. It’s a space deeply intertwined with the very first steps Athens took as a modern European capital. Here, you’ll see the city through the objects and grand rooms that helped define its new, royal identity.

The journey then moves into the second building of the complex, the former home of the Dekozis-Vouros family. This is where things get personal. It offers a much more intimate glimpse into Athenian “high society” life, revealing the aesthetics, the daily habits, and domestic charm of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Through these collections and the stunning architecture itself, you’ll witness the trajectory of a city that was rapidly expanding and shaping its modern self. It’s a tour that beautifully bridges the gap between Athens’ grand political history and its private, everyday heart.

This activity is only available in Greek.

Melachrinos Velentzas: Rebirth
2026-05-11 21:00 - 23:00 | Aerides, Markou Avriliou & Diogenous, Athens, Athens, 105 55, Greece
An abandoned piano, long-silent in a dusty Athenian corner, finds its voice once more. Pianist and performer Melachrinos Velentzas presents Rebirth, blending performance, installation, and collective ritual in some of the city’s most emblematic spaces.

Through a musical ceremony, Velentzas resuscitates an instrument that has endured years of stillness. It is a powerful parallel between the decay of a forgotten object and the quiet frustration of a person who has lost their connection to “play.” But this isn’t just a performance to watch, it’s an invitation to participate. As the notes echo through the air, you are invited to join a collective act of storytelling, leaving your own personal histories on the stools of other “forgotten” pianos from across Athens.

Part of the artist’s long-term research into the materiality of instruments and the memories held within the city’s homes, Rebirth transforms individual loss into a shared, redemptive experience. Come and witness the city’s silent history find its rhythm again.

Panos Charalambous: COLUMBIA
2026-05-12 11:00 - 20:00 | 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.

Costas Ordolis: Cities Made of Paper
2026-05-12 11:00 - 20:30 | Ikastikos Kyklos, Akadimias 6, Athens, Athens, 106 71, Greece
As part of the This is Athens City Festival 2026, Eikastikos Kyklos DL presents “Cities Made of Paper”, a solo photography exhibition by Kostas Ordolis. Through a series of deeply atmospheric works, the artist composes a personal map of cities that ignores conventional geography, following the lines of internal experience, memory, and fleeting impressions.

His images possess a fragile, almost transparent quality, appearing to hover between the real and the dreamlike. Here, the urban environment is stripped of its everyday bustle, presented instead as a realm of silence, poetics, and contemplation. The exhibition serves as an invitation to a different kind of city stroll, one where time slows down and architecture takes on a sense of vulnerability, memory, and emotion.

Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 11:00–14:30 and 17:30–20:30; Wednesday, Saturday: 11:00–16:00. Closed on Monday & Sunday.

Guided Tour at The Maria Callas Museum
2026-05-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Maria Callas Museum, Mitropoleos 44, Athens, Athens, 105 63, Greece
The Maria Callas Museum invites us on a moving tour into the world of the 20th century’s leading soprano. Through a specially designed guided experience, visitors have the unique opportunity to discover the most iconic moments of her career, while exploring the unknown, personal aspects of the journey that established her as a global opera icon.

The narrative brings her path to life beyond standard exhibition texts, illuminating her artistic legacy and complex personality directly and experientially. This is an experience tailored to its audience, offering a deep look at the woman and the artist who changed lyric theatre forever, right in the heart of the city she loved so dearly.

This activity is only available in Greek.
