Fun Vibes Family Festival
2026-05-17 11:00 - 20:00 (Europe/Athens) | 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.

1945: The End of the War
2026-05-17 12:00 - 13:00 | Public Tobacco Factory, Lenorman 218, Athens, Athens, 104 43, Greece
The exhibition “1945: The End of the War” opens its doors for a specially designed guided tour, tailored for families with children over the age of 10. Through a journey across the landmark year that sealed global history, visitors will have the chance to discover the dramatic moments that led from the horrors of war to the explosion of joy at the victory of the free nations.

With the help of rare photographic material and authentic documents, the tour narrates major events in an accessible and meaningful way: from the liberation of the camps and the fall of Berlin to the historic meetings of leaders at Yalta and the birth of the UN. This is a unique opportunity for parents and children to approach modern history together, to understand the importance of peace, and to reflect on the values that shaped the world we live in today.

This activity is only available in Greek.

7th Agatha Crime Fiction Festival
2026-05-17 12:00 - 20:00 | War Museum, Rizari 2-4, Athens, Athens, 106 75, Greece
The This is Athens City Festival 2026 welcomes the 7th Agatha Crime Fiction Festival, the annual literary rendezvous that transforms Athens into a gripping mystery set. The intrigue kicks off on 5 May with a series of pre-festival pop-ups, culminating in a high-stakes three-day takeover of the War Museum on 15, 16, and 17 May.

This year’s line-up features international titans of the genre, including Spain’s legendary Arturo Pérez-Reverte, alongside B.A. Paris, Kristina Ohlsson, and Hugues Pagan. From deep dives into true crime and interactive mystery games to creative writing seminars and Rebetiko sessions celebrating the city’s “underworld” anthems, the Agatha Festival promises surprises at every turn. Don’t miss the unique theatrical performance starring the authors themselves, or the grand tribute to the “father” of Greek noir, Yannis Maris.

With chapters unfolding from Thissio to Cholargos, the city awakens to a rhythm of suspense and shadows. Whether you’re a seasoned sleuth or a casual reader, it’s a brilliant shout for those wanting to explore the “hidden gems” of the literary world.

This activity is only available in Greek.

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.

Historical Walk Around the National Archaeological Museum
2026-05-17 17:00 - 19:00 | National Archaeological Museum, Patission 44, Athens, Athens, 106 82, Greece
The National Archaeological Museum invites the public to a fascinating evening walk led by archaeologist Dr. Kostas Paschalidis. This guided tour unfolds as a concise chronicle of the modern Greek state, told through the history of a small yet emblematic site in the very heart of Athens.

The route begins in the days when the Museum’s grounds were nothing more than a vineyard, continues through the period when the area served as a club for Bavarian soldiers, and reaches the construction of what would become the largest museum of the ancient world.

Participants will discover the adventures of an entire nation through the stories surrounding the building itself: from the dramatic concealment of antiquities on the eve of World War II and the Museum’s role in the Greek Resistance, to the events of the Polytechnic uprising. A walk that reveals the Museum not only as a repository of ancient treasures, but also as a living witness to modern Greek history and the social transformations that shaped contemporary Athens.

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.

Feidiou Street Takeover
2026-05-17 18:00 - 23:00 | Feidiou Street, Feidiou Street, Αθήνα, 106 78, Greece
Feidiou Street transforms once again into one of the most vibrant and unpredictable destinations in Athens as part of the This is Athens City Festival. “Don’t Be a Dick” joins forces with Mousiko Kafeneio and Frau for an authentic street party that kicks off at 18:00, promising to keep the energy high until late into the night.

The musical journey begins with a hybrid set from Harris Kousos and Angelos Aggelou, wedding electronic sounds with live instruments. Berlin’s Hara Katsiki takes over next with a nostalgic trip through Italo and space disco rhythms. As the night unfolds, the action spills into dedicated stages.

On the “Don’t Be a Dick” main stage, Bill Selfer and Alex Deris appear, while in the well-known and beloved “toilet room,” Luka from Berlin promises an explosive set to raise the intensity. At Mousiko Kafeneio, Roubini Stagouraki presents a special programme bridging the Greek and international scenes, while at Frau, Enke F completes the line-up with his own distinct sound.

With the motto “Come early and stay late,” Feidiou invites us to get lost in a multi-dimensional experience that unites music and communities in one of the centre’s most beautiful narrow lanes.

Piano City Athens: Every Me and Every You
2026-05-17 18:30 - 20:30 | Mitropoleos Square, Mitropoleos Square, Athens, Athens, 105 63, Greece
Mitropoleos Square is transformed into an open and vibrant space of inclusion, where art dissolves every dividing line. On Sunday, May 17, from 18:30 to 20:30, the Alpha Conservatory and the Hellenic Centre for Research in Sound, Music and Speech (E.K.E.I.M.) present a double music programme that powerfully demonstrates how music knows no boundaries, only forms of expression. Professional soloists, students and musicians with disabilities share the same stage, building a bridge between the “I” and the “you” in order to arrive at the essential and precious “we.”
The evening begins at 18:30 with a 40-minute performance by the Orchestra, Music Therapy Group and Choir of E.K.E.I.M. Under the coordination of Michalis Tobler, Sofia Latsinou and Anna Dakourou Tofalou, the ensemble combines guitars, flute, hand chimes and voices, accompanied on piano by Nektaria Linaraki, a student musician with disabilities.
At 19:10, the programme continues with a high-level piano and vocal recital. A distinguished group of soloists, including Dimitris Chrysanthakopoulos, Alexandros Makris, Giorgos Chatzis, Vasiliki Manika, Giorgos Gavriil, Nefeli Manou and Kostas Barkas, presents a multidimensional repertoire ranging from French Impressionism and the Western classical tradition to contemporary Greek song and Mediterranean musical memory.
A deeply moving artistic collaboration without barriers, ready to flood the heart of springtime Athens with light.

Fairytales with Babis Bourekas
2026-05-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Dourouti Square, Dourouti Square, Athens, 104 36, Greece
Do heroes get scared?

Folk tales from Greece and around the world become a precious guide for both children and adults. Through the wisdom of peoples, our heroes learn to overcome their fears, stand up for what is right, and confront the powerful—and win! As the old saying goes: it takes not effort, but cleverness. Fortune favours the brave, and humour can unlock even the hardest of hearts.

In an age filled with passive images, live storytelling and music work differently: they activate the imagination and invite us all to become one big, engaged community. Join us to discover how intelligence and determination can achieve anything!

Music: Leda Xydia

This activity is only available in Greek.

Innersense pres. LTJ Bukem LIVE & Junior SP
2026-05-17 19:00 - 23:00 | Theseus 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.

Second Story x Bless Me Father
2026-05-17 19:00 - 23:00 | Karytsi Square, Karytsi Square, Athens, 105 61, Greece
A downtown favourite spot is coming alive. We’re meeting at Karytsi Square, where Second Story and Bless Me Father are joining forces for a line-up that knows exactly how to handle the energy of central Athens. This isn’t just a party; it’s an urban takeover designed to transform the square and hand the keys of the city back to the night-dwellers.

Taking control of the decks are Raise (88Butterfly, Second Story), Seemo, Caelina, Bkey vs Kayo, and Synthbeat. Together, they’ll be crafting a soundtrack that will awaken the surrounding architecture and set a brand-new rhythm for one of our favourite squares.

Athens Pride Street Party
2026-05-17 19:00 - 23:00 | Klafthmonos Square, Klaftmonos Square, Athens, Athens, 105 61, Greece
Klafthmonos Square is transformed into the city’s most colourful and vibrant hotspot. On the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Interphobia (IDAHOBIT), Athens Pride, in collaboration with the City of Athens Festival, returns to its roots for an explosive street party filled with flowers, music and visibility.
With flowers as symbols of resilience and diversity, we reclaim public space and celebrate freedom of expression against the city’s grey backdrop. From 19:00 to 23:00, a dynamic line-up brings everyone together on a dancefloor without exclusions:
DJ Sets: KIMON, KRONT, MIRELLA KAPPA, TZINALive Shows: Aphrodite HGW & LéonaSounds: House, pop, dancehall, reggaeton, afrobeats and global club music
*Ableism, ageism, body shaming, homophobia, misogyny, racism, sexism, transphobia, and the stigmatisation of any form of sexual freedom, expression and self-determination, as well as patriarchy, have no place in our events. If you witness any such behaviour or action, please contact Athens Pride or members of staff wearing designated badges. Please note that audiovisual material (video and photography) will be recorded during the event and may be published on the official Athens Pride communication channels.

Athens: Urban Frictions
2026-05-18 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.

Exhibition duration: 6 May – 6 June

Opening: 6 May at 19:00.

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

1945: The End of the War
2026-05-18 11:00 - 12:00 | Public Tobacco Factory, Lenorman 218, Athens, Athens, 104 43, Greece
The exhibition “1945: The End of the War” invites us on an immersive journey through the landmark year that sealed global history. The result of months of research in Greek and international archives, the exhibition illuminates the dramatic contrasts of those twelve months: from the horror and revelation of Nazi barbarity in the concentration camps to the explosion of joy at the victory of the free nations.

Through rare photographic material presented for the first time in Greece and authentic documents, visitors follow the dense sequence of events that shaped the modern world: the fall of Berlin and Germany’s surrender, the historic conferences of Yalta and Potsdam, the devastation of the atomic bomb in Japan, as well as the birth of the UN and the Nuremberg Trials.

This series of guided tours allows for a meaningful understanding of the “day after” for humanity, offering a profound look at the foundations of modern peace and justice.

This activity is only available in Greek.

Constantine Xenakis – Dimitris Chiotopoulos: Writing and Trace Two Journeys into the Labyrinth
2026-05-18 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.

Exhibition duration: 5 May – 6 June

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

Inna Orlik: The Permanent Collection
2026-05-18 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.

Exhibition duration: 1–31 May

Opening hours: Daily: 12:00–18:00.

Guided Tour: "The Association of Athenians" & The "Athenian Museum"
2026-05-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Association of the Athenians, Kekropos 10, Athens, Athens, 105 58, Greece
We celebrate International Museum Day with a free guided tour that transports us to the “heart” of old Athens. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the historic “Association of Athenians” and the “Athenian Museum,” embarking on a conceptual journey through two centuries of Athenian history.

Through precious documents and donations from the families who shaped the character of the capital, the tour highlights the urban lifestyle of the 19th and 20th centuries, illuminating hidden facets of the city’s social and cultural evolution. The tour will be conducted by the President of the Association, Eleftherios G. Skiadas, and museologist Elena Gotsina, offering an authentic experience that connects collective memory with the Athens of today.

A rare chance to get to know the legacy of the people who built the city’s identity, through the collections of one of its most emblematic institutions.

This activity is only available in Greek.

Fairytales with Babis Bourekas
2026-05-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Attiki Square, Attiki Square, Athens, Athens, 104 40, Greece
Once Upon a Time, Animals Could Speak…

There was once a time when animals had their own voice and wrote their own stories! Through folk tales and myths from Greece and around the world, heroes with fur and whiskers, scales, beaks and wings come to life and draw us into their fascinating world. Join us to listen to their secrets and share in their wisdom. Children and adults become one group, singing, solving riddles, and rediscovering nature through words and imagination. A joyful experience full of humour and lessons, reminding us that, in the end, we have much to learn from our animal friends!

Music–Song: Leda Xydia (kanun)

This activity is only available in Greek.

Billie Kark 2026
2026-05-18 20:30 - 23:00 | Dexameni Square, Dexameni Square, Athens, Athens, 106 73, Greece
Billie Kark, one of the most fresh and multifaceted figures on the contemporary Athenian music scene, returns to the This is Athens City Festival with a live performance that promises to once again draw us into her distinctive world. A creator, performer and DJ, Billie balances electronic music with sonic memories of tradition in a unique way, composing a universe where experimentation, intensity and a sense of ritual coexist with complete naturalness.

This year, she brings her distinctive sound to Dexamenis Square, a location that feels made for her music. From techno rhythms to melodies inspired by nature, myth and the primal element, Billie Kark creates an atmosphere that looks both towards the future and towards our deepest roots.

Midnight Express: '80s Night Out
2026-05-18 21:00 - 23:00 | Plato’s Academy Park, Monastiriou 138, Athens, Athens, 104 42, Greece
Midnight Express is the brainchild of film critic Akis Kapranos who, inspired by nostalgia for the magical midnight screenings at Alphaville and Cine Dexamenis, set out to revive them. It is a cinematic journey for older audiences to reminisce, for younger ones to share the experience, and for everyone to celebrate a common passion: the pure pleasure of the big screen.
For this edition, Midnight Express steps out of dark theatres and into the open, bringing the magic of cinema to the This is Athens City Festival.
Programme:
11/05: Out of Africa, Sydney Pollack, 198518/05: Labyrinth, Jim Henson, 198625/05: Big Trouble in Little China, John Carpenter, 1986

Ecological Translation
2026-05-19 08:00 - 22:00 | Goethe-Institut Athen, 14-16 Omirou, Athens, 106 72, Greece
The Goethe-Institut Athen presents the exhibition Ecological Translation, a bold exploration of our relationship with the natural world.

What if technology allowed us to speak directly with animals and plants?

Drawing on emerging legal frameworks that recognise rights for rivers and ecosystems, the exhibition examines the use of artificial intelligence and remote sensing as a potential “Google Translate” between humans and the environment. Through the work of an international group of artist visitors are invited to reflect on whether we can truly translate the radical otherness of beings such as bats or whales. The exhibition, which opened on 28 April, forms part of a broader interdisciplinary symposium that seeks to highlight both the opportunities and the risks of new scientific approaches reminding us that the complexity of the climate crisis demands a new, shared language of communication with the planet.

Artists:
Kyriaki Goni
Abelardo Gil-Fournier
Nona Inescu
Agata Ingarden
Bill Kouligas
Raffaela Naldi Rossano
Zoë Paul
Jenna Sutela

Concept: Alexander Damianos
Curation: Asya Yaghmurian

Exhibition duration: 28 April – 30 May.

Opening hours: Monday–Thursday: 08:00–22:00, Friday: 08:00–17:00 & Saturday: 08:00–14:30 (23 May: closed).

Nikolas Klironomos: A Retrospective (1985–2025)
2026-05-19 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.

Exhibition duration: 1 May – 14 June

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 | 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.

Exhibition duration: 29 April – 29 June

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

Guided Tours of the Cavafy Archive
2026-05-19 13:30 - 17:30 | Cavafy Archive, 16B Frynichou, Plaka, 105 58, Greece
This year, the This is Athens City Festival marks its fifth anniversary with a truly special collaboration. We’ve teamed up with the Onassis Foundation to invite you on a deeply personal journey through the life of one of the world’s most influential poets. For the first time as part of the festival, we’re stepping inside a stunning 1910 listed building on Phrynichou Street. Since late 2023, this spot in the heart of Plaka has become the new home of the Cavafy Archive, and now, its doors are opening for a series of exclusive guided tours.

It’s a rare chance to get up close and personal with the world of C.P. Cavafy by wandering through five specially curated rooms that recreate the atmosphere of his legendary home in Alexandria. Among the treasures, you will find personal relics such as original furniture, mementos, and even the poet’s death mask, alongside a remarkable collection of 966 surviving volumes in the library. The experience also showcases inspired art, with works ranging from Theodore Ralli and Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika to contemporary artists moved by his poetry. Perhaps most poignantly, the tour reveals the universe of Cavafy’s Athens through personal diaries and glowing letters from literary greats like Angelos Sikelianos, revealing the poet’s deep, timeless connection to this city.

To celebrate this new partnership, the Onassis Foundation is offering 20 free guided tours throughout the month for festival-goers. It’s a wonderful opportunity to dive deep into history, memory, and world-class art.

This activity is only available in Greek.

Guided Tour at the National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST)
2026-05-19 17:00 - 18:30 | National Museum of Contemporary Art, National Museum of Contemporary Art Αthens (ΕΜΣΤ), Athens, Athens, 117 43, Greece
The This is Athens City Festival is serving up a back-to-back cultural double bill at the National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST). One booking gets you into two consecutive guided tours, exploring the legacies of two Greek artists who put their personal seal on modernist art.

17:00 | Jani Christou: Enantiodromia
Curator Kostis Zouliatis introduces the avant-garde world of Jannis Christou (1926–1970). Conceived as a “living score,” this exhibition unveils the artist’s archive for the first time. Featuring bespoke sound design and rare materials, from scores to philosophical texts, it reveals a “sonic philosopher” who turned ritual and myth into groundbreaking art.

18:00 | Ode to Things: Niki Kanagini (Retrospective)
The journey continues with curator Tina Pandi and a fresh look at the work of Niki Kanagini (1933–2008). Inspired by Pablo Neruda, this retrospective explores the “microcosm” of everyday objects as vessels for memory. From large-scale tapestries to participatory installations, you’ll discover the gendered experience and visual poetry of one of Greece’s most significant post-war women artists.

Meeting Point: Foyer

This activity is only available in Greek.

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.

Gyaros: The Story of the Sea
2026-05-19 19:00 - 22:00 | Goethe-Institut Athen, 14-16 Omirou, Athens, 106 72, Greece
The documentary “Gyaros: The Story of the Sea” is presented in a premiere screening, giving voice to the sea itself to narrate the island’s journey from antiquity to its contemporary revival. Gyaros, a place historically charged as a site of memory, is also revealed as a crucial sanctuary of biodiversity. Through the lens of WWF, we follow a 12-year effort that led to the designation of the island as a Marine Protected Area, safeguarding the rare Mediterranean monk seal and the richness of its marine ecosystem.

After the screening, a discussion with experts will follow, addressing the challenges and importance of protecting our seas, offering a comprehensive perspective on the enduring relationship between humans and nature.

In Greek with English subtitles.

Free admission – registration required.

ATHENS: AM EXTENDED
2026-05-19 19:00 - 23:00 | 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.

Exhibition duration: 5–20 May

Opening hours: Daily, 19:00–23:00
