This is Athens City Festival

E MC2
2025-05-04 17:30 - 23:00 (Europe/Athens) | 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.

Evi Papagianni: A Finding Place
2025-05-05 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-05-06 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-05-07 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-05-08 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

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

Group Exhibition: Abandoned Cartographies and Other Odd Hours
2025-05-06 11:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-07 11:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-08 11:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-09 11:00 - 20:00 | 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

Guided tour at the EMST in the exhibition: WOMEN TOGETHER
2025-05-06 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.

Discover the National Typography Museum - MET
2025-05-07 10:30 - 12:00 | National Printing House Museum, Kapodistriou 34, Athens, Athens, 104 32, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek.

A visit to the National Typography Museum and its historic collection. Visitors will have the chance to closely examine representative samples of the mechanical equipment and printed products of the Typography. Additionally, they will get familiar with traditional printing techniques and the working conditions of the printer profession.

Fitness Sessions
2025-05-07 18:30 - 20:30 | Eleftherias Park, Eleftherias Park, Athens, Athens, 115 21, Greece
A chance to get moving in the lush green setting of Eleftherias Park, where expert trainers and their teams lead sessions focused on health and wellbeing.

At the Fitness Sessions, exercise is all about fun—not competition. Yoga, Pilates and aerobic workouts are adapted to suit all levels, aiming to inspire a lifestyle of movement and balance.

Bring your own mat!

Fairy Tales in the Square: Ermioni Detsika and Lida Xydia
2025-05-07 19:00 - 20:30 | Avdi Square, Giatrakou 9, Athens, Athens, 104 36, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek.

A journey into the wonderful and magical world of folk fairy tales. A unique form of storytelling, rooted in the oral literature of peoples from all over the world. It has accompanied the growth of people throughout the centuries and majestically continues to this day. Ermioni Detsika, a kindergarten teacher and storyteller, transports us into beloved stories filled with grandfathers, radishes, animals that put out fires, and brave girls, all framed by traditional songs, playful tunes, and riddles. The musician Lida Xydia will accompany the storytelling with her kanonaki, creating a unique atmosphere for both young and old.

Lycabettus Sunset Live: Nefeli Fasouli
2025-05-07 20:30 - 22:30 | Church of Saint George of Lycabettus, Lycabettus Hill, Athens, Athens, 114 71, Greece
Nefeli Fasouli—the breakout star of Greece’s new music generation—returns to the This is Athens City Festival with a live performance at the idyllic “balcony” of Agios Georgios on Lycabettus Hill.

Like a figure straight out of the French New Wave, Fasouli moves gracefully across genres, turning each performance into a musical surprise and inviting her audience on a journey through her world of sound.

Menta Live with Babis Stokas
2025-05-07 21:00 - 23:00 | Eleftherias Park, Eleftherias Park, Athens, Athens, 115 21, Greece
On Wednesday, May 7th, at 21:00 in the evening, at Eleftherias Park – in the center of Athens – we spread our mats and towels on the grass and sing together under the stars.
Entrance is free!

We bring our friends, our loved ones, our smiles, our towels, our mats, our drinks, and experience together the magic of companionship, the unique atmosphere of MENTA LIVE, under the Attic sky.

A spring Menta Live by Menta 88, featuring the best moments of Babis Stokas, from his great career with Pyx Lax and the top songs from his solo discography.

1st Athens International Youth Theatre Festival
2025-05-08 10:00 - 14:00 | Plato’s Academy Park, Monastiriou 138, Athens, Athens, 104 42, Greece
In the Park of Plato’s Academy, a place of particular significance, the Athens International Youth Theatre Festival “City-Citizen-Culture” will take place for the first time from May 8th to 9th.

Initiated by the Festival of the Municipality of Athens and supported by the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, Athens is transformed into a living monument, inviting participants to reflect on the contemporary challenges for Democracy, the State, and the Citizen.

More than 250 students from Athens, Kallithea, Acharnes, Glyfada, Nea Propontida, and Syracuse, using Ancient Drama as an educational tool, will present theatrical performances. Through this creative coexistence, they will exchange thoughts and emotions, experiencing Athens as a global symbol of Democracy.

“Polis-Citizen-Culture” marks the birth of an institution that will promote Athens as a tourist destination, highlight the value of ancient drama, and emphasize the importance of safeguarding fundamental concepts such as the Citizen and Democracy, which are being tested in our times.

Thursday, May 8th
10:00 – 10:40 Voices Without Borders / 7th General Lyceum of Acharnes
11:00 – 11:40 The Appearances of Dionysus / Liceo Tommaso Gargallo
12:00 – 12:40 Changing Democracies – The Greek Case / 7th Gymnasium of Kallithea
13:00 – 13:50 Signature Name in Holograph / Big Bang School, Nea Propontida

Vassilis Papageorgiou - Painting and Sculpture: Lignea Creatura Stans
2025-05-08 11:30 - 20:30 | Gallery Ersi, Kleomenous 4, Athens, Athens, 106 75, Greece
The worlds of plants, animals and humans—along with legend, myth, imagination and dream—form the basis of Vassilis Papageorgiou’s new artistic exploration. His paradoxical heroes and hand-crafted wooden creatures inhabit both two- and three-dimensional space in a state of perpetual whirling. Through an aesthetic lens, Papageorgiou reflects on the consequences of humanity’s destructive impact on the natural world. From this meditation, he generates new values—drawn from the cultural references of nature and tradition—that define the conditions for coexistence.

Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 11:30–14:30 & 17:30–20:30 Saturday: 11:30–15:00

Queer Movie Nights
2025-05-08 18:00 - 23:30 | Trianon Cinema, Kodrigktonos 21, Athens, Athens, 104 34, Greece
Queer Movie Nights is a one-of-a-kind celebration of LGBTQI+ cinema in Athens. Launched in May 2022 to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia and Interphobia, the series has since evolved into a dedicated platform for screening queer short and feature films, as well as documentaries. Its mission is to create a safe, expressive space where queer stories from around the world can shine through the powerful lens of cinema.

An Athenian Society Tour and Lecture on the Topic: Athenian Relocation
2025-05-08 18:30 - 20:00 | Association of the Athenians, Kekropos 10, Athens, Athens, 105 58, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek.

Enjoy a guided tour of the Athenian Society and the Athenian Museum, followed by a talk from President Eleftherios G. Skiadas, marking the release of his new book on Athenian Relocation.

CONQUISTADORS
2025-05-08 19:30 - 23:00, 2025-05-09 10:00 - 18:00 | Macart’s Cultural Space, Lenorman 244, Athens, Athens, 104 43, Greece
Nikos Kyriakopoulos and his conquistadors disembark on Lenorman Street.

Dragons and wild beasts, locals and conquistadors—and even Death himself—battle deep in untrodden jungles.

The thirty-six works in this exhibition are not intended to serve History or the historical genre of painting. Instead, the artist draws his material from the mythos surrounding the Age of Discovery, crafting images that move beyond naturalism, both in form and content. Created using monotype, a technique dating back to the 16th century, the works gain added resonance when paired with the fantastical stories they depict. The adventures of the characters serve as a point of departure—not only for the adventures of line and colour, but also for reflection on themes such as desire, fear, conflict and illusion.

Opening: Thursday 8 May 2025, 19:30–23:00

Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 10:00–18:00 Saturday: 11:00–15:00 Closed on Sunday

Midnight Express: Μad Μax
2025-05-08 19:30 - 23:00 | National Observatory of Athens, Lofos Nymphon, Athens, Athens, 118 10, Greece
Midnight Express is the ultimate creation of our resident film guru, Akis Kapranos. After countless hours spent at the legendary midnight screenings of Alphaville and Cine Dexameni, he set out to bring that magic back to life. A chance for older generations to reminisce, for younger ones to discover, and for all of us to share in a peak cinematic experience. What could be better?

This time, Midnight Express steps out of the dark and under the stars. In the beautiful garden of the Athens Observatory, the cult classic Mad Max takes us back in time and reminds us what groundbreaking cinema is all about.

Booking required.

Agia Fanfara and DJ Spery
2025-05-08 19:30 - 23:00 | Monastiraki Square, Moanstiraki Square, Athens, Athens, 105 57, Greece
Agia Fanfara, the 25-piece brass, woodwind, and percussion band, is more than just a musical ensemble—it’s a phenomenon! Humble in nature, they have captured the hearts of the Greek public and, unwittingly, become superstars.

Get ready for another unforgettable musical experience! Agia Fanfara kicks off their parade at Monastiraki Square, winds its way through Adrianou Street, and ends at Theseion Square, bringing an unforgettable musical celebration. Joining them, DJ Spery will elevate the night with her Balkan music collection.

Vassilis Karakatsanis: Urban Tools
2025-05-08 20:00 - 23:00 | Genesis Gallery, Ippokratous 121, Athens, Athens, 114 72, Greece
Vassilis Karakatsanis invites us on a journey through the spectrum of contemporary existence—a complex, ever-evolving interplay of memories, collective narratives and social dynamics. His exhibition Urban Tools unfolds as a compelling dialogue between past and present, the personal and the monumental. Seven large-scale paintings, accompanied by numerous smaller works—created using acrylic, oil and gouache on canvas—invite a deep exploration of life in all its textures and tones. At the heart of Karakatsanis’ practice lies a transcendent inner process shaped by memory and materiality. The exhibition title hints at the hidden mechanisms that define a place’s essence: the subtle, often invisible tools that help us navigate, define and interpret the environments we inhabit—as well as those that shape and compose our very being. The urban landscape is not only his subject matter; it becomes his medium. Each brushstroke reveals the layered relationship between its singularity and the stories it holds. Symbols of personal and collective identity, ideology and emotion are interwoven into the fabric of daily life.

Opening night: Thursday 8 May 2025, 20:00

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

1st Athens International Youth Theatre Festival
2025-05-09 10:00 - 14:00 | Plato’s Academy Park, Monastiriou 138, Athens, Athens, 104 42, Greece
In the Park of Plato’s Academy, a place of particular significance, the Athens International Youth Theatre Festival “City-Citizen-Culture” will take place for the first time from May 8th to 9th.

Initiated by the Festival of the Municipality of Athens and supported by the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, Athens is transformed into a living monument, inviting participants to reflect on the contemporary challenges for Democracy, the State, and the Citizen.

More than 250 students from Athens, Kallithea, Acharnes, Glyfada, Nea Propontida, and Syracuse, using Ancient Drama as an educational tool, will present theatrical performances. Through this creative coexistence, they will exchange thoughts and emotions, experiencing Athens as a global symbol of Democracy.

“Polis-Citizen-Culture” marks the birth of an institution that will promote Athens as a tourist destination, highlight the value of ancient drama, and emphasize the importance of safeguarding fundamental concepts such as the Citizen and Democracy, which are being tested in our times.

Friday, May 9th
10:00 – 10:40 The Birds / Music School of Athens
11:00 – 11:40 With Branches of Supplication / Varvakeio Model Gymnasium
12.00-12.40 Nekyia 2015 AD In Memory Of / 3rd Vocational High School of Acharnes
13.00-13.40 Thesmophoriazusae / 5th Lyceum of Glyfada

Welcome to Our Community - Guided Tour at the Jewish Museum of Greece
2025-05-09 11:30 - 12:30 | The Jewish Museum of Greece, Nikis 39, Athens, Athens, 105 57, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek. Themed Tour: Welcome to Our Community This guided tour offers an exploration of the cultural heritage of the Greek-Jewish communities, through their religious art, music, customs, and traditions. Visitors will discover sacred objects, Torah scrolls, and other traditional artefacts, uncover musical traditions and songs that accompany religious ceremonies, and learn about the distinctive recipes and flavours connected to Jewish festivals and customs. The tour provides a vivid glimpse into Jewish life in Greece, expressed through art, music, and everyday practices.
