Giorgos Tserionis: AFTER
2026-05-02 11:00 - 19:00, 2026-05-03 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-05 11:00 - 19:00 (Europe/Athens) | 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.

Biscuits at the Museum!
2026-05-02 11:30 - 12:30 | Hellenic Children’s Museum, Vas. Georgiou Β΄ 19, Athens, Athens, 106 75, Greece
The Hellenic Children’s Museum is opening up its most delicious exhibit for a hands-on kitchen takeover. If you’re looking for a brilliant way to keep the kids entertained (and well-fed) this May, “Kitchen: Discovering the World of the Biscuit” is exactly where you need to be.

In this “Biscuits at the Museum!” workshop, our younger festival-goers get to swap the sketchbook for a rolling pin. It’s not just a baking lesson; it’s a magical journey into the world of pastry through the eyes of a museum.

This activity is only available in Greek.

Christina Paraskevopoulou: Symbioses
2026-05-02 12:00 - 15:00 | Artshot – Sophia Gaitani, 11 Lempesi, Athens, 117 42, Greece
Christina Paraskevopoulou invites us to look at the world around us as if through a magnifying glass. In her latest body of work, titled “Symbioses”, the artist paints the hidden stories unfolding on the ground, in the seas, and along the shores where life continues quietly and magically.

Using ink and fine markers on paper, she creates intricate shapes and patterns that resemble living organisms or endless threads woven together. Her works are more than just images; they are an “ecological message” about the resilience of nature and the beauty of the microscopic life we so often overlook.

It’s an invitation to pause for a moment and lose yourself in a world full of colour and detail, discovering how everything in nature coexists, blooms, and renews itself.

Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 17:30–20:30; Wednesday, Saturday: 12:00–15:00. Closed on Monday & Sunday.

Athina Pappa: Angel Energy
2026-05-02 12:00 - 16:00 | Art Zone 42, Vasileos Konstantinou 42, Athens, 116 35, Greece
Art Zone 42 Gallery presents “Angel Energy”, the latest body of work by Athina Pappa. This exhibition marks a poignant transition from organic matter to the ethereal, shifting from recognisable forms toward a more internal, abstract experience. It is a natural evolution of her previous artistic explorations, this time carving out a more spiritual path where imagery is liberated from traditional shapes, operating instead through the interplay of colour, light, and rhythm.

In “Angel Energy”, figurative references recede, making way for expansive colour fields, rich textures, and repeating motifs that encourage the eye to move freely across the canvas. Rather than following a strict narrative, the exhibition offers a visceral experience; viewers are invited to find their own personal connection to themes of elevation, energy, and spiritual fluidity. It is a thoughtful artistic proposition that brings a sense of stillness, light, and internal shift to the heart of the city.

Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 15:00–21:00; Wednesday, Saturday: 12:00–16:00. Closed on Monday & Sunday.

Marilia Fotopoulou: Iconostases
2026-05-02 12:00 - 16:00 | 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
2026-05-02 12:00 - 16:00 | 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.

Dimitris Rentoumis: Solo Exhibition
2026-05-02 12:00 - 16:00 | Crux Gallery, 4 Sekeri, Athens, 106 74, Greece
Crux Galerie presents the solo exhibition of Dimitris Rentoumis. Through his new series of works, the artist “dialogues” with the transient and fragile nature of paper, experimenting with the transition from a two-dimensional image to a three-dimensional variable materiality. He transforms paper surfaces into sculptural forms that occupy the space.

With a rich journey that includes studies at the Athens School of Fine Arts and the Netherlands, as well as participation in prestigious programmes such as Jan van Eyck and Onassis Air, the creator brings a proposal to Athens that balances the delicacy of the material with the dynamics of the installation.

This is a unique opportunity for the public to discover how paper can “breathe” and develop beyond the boundaries of the frame, creating a living visual environment.

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

Inna Orlik: The Permanent Collection
2026-05-02 12:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-03 12:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-04 12:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-05 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.

Athens Asian Food Festival 2026
2026-05-02 13:00 - 2026-05-03 23:00 | Kypseli Municipal Market, Kypseli Municipal Market, Athens, Athens, 113 61, Greece
The Kypseli Municipal Market is set to be flooded with the incredible aromas and flavours of the East for a two-day celebration of Asian gastronomy and culture, held as part of the This is Athens City Festival. In one of the city’s most vibrant community hubs, top chefs and artisans are coming together to serve up an experience that bridges authentic street food with modern Asian aesthetics.

Foodies can expect a deep dive into the kitchens of Japan, China, India, and Thailand (and beyond). But it’s not just about the snacks, though the street food is obviously a major draw. You’ll have the chance to experience traditional tea rituals, discover the nuances of sake, and tuck into legendary Asian sweets.

Between bites, you can browse pop-up corners filled with unique products and handmade crafts. It’s a full-on sensory feast that brings a burst of Asian energy right into the heart of Kypseli.

The ultimate weekend pitstop for anyone craving authentic bao, spice, and a bit of a wander through Athens’ most eclectic market.

The First Cemetery of Athens: An Open-Air Sculpture Gallery 1
2026-05-02 17:00 - 19:00 | First Cemetery of Athens, Logginou 3, Athens, Athens, 116 36, Greece
“The Athens Cemetery encompasses the entire movement of modern sculpture.”

With these words, the great sculptor Thomas Thomopoulos captured the unique essence of the First Cemetery of Athens over a century ago. As part of the This is Athens City Festival 2026, archaeologist and certified guide Michalis Giohalas will lead us through this extraordinary open-air museum, where art, history, and memory are inextricably linked. From the illustrious names of modern Greek sculpture to the poignant human stories behind every grave, this guided tour is a captivating journey through time. You will discover the hidden facets of funerary art and the very human passions that inspired it. The thirst for legacy, fierce artistic rivalries, and the unrequited loves that remain eternally etched in marble. It is a rare, reflective path of high aesthetics that invites you to uncover the history of Athens through the silent yet imposing presence of its most beautiful monuments.

This activity is only available in Greek.

Old Souls, New City by Coordinatas
2026-05-02 17:00 - 23:00 | Pangrati Grove, Pangrati Grove, Athens, Athens, 116 35, Greece
The project “Old Souls, New City” brings a breath of renewal to the neighbourhoods of Athens, transforming public space into a living stage where the past meets contemporary aesthetics.

Amidst rails of curated vintage finds and book pages filled with history, the city reconnects with its roots through a fresh and sustainable lens. The experience is enriched by the imagery of Greek photographers capturing the urban pulse, while the perfect soundtrack is provided by Coordinatas: warm, analogue sounds, from early house to soulful disco grooves, create the ideal atmosphere for exploration and socialising.

A celebration of community that honours the old while creating the new, inviting us to rediscover the charm of authentic Athens.

DJ SET
ALEGAM
BABY JONES
BELLAS
DECOUP
HERS
MONORISM

LIVE PERFORMANCE
SOUL PEANUTS

Yoga Sessions
2026-05-02 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.

Nikolas Klironomos: A Retrospective (1985–2025)
2026-05-03 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-05 10:00 - 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.

Guided Tour at the National Historical Museum
2026-05-03 12:00 - 13:00 | National Historical Museum, Stadiou 13, Athens, Athens, 105 61, Greece
Step inside the grand, stately building with the bronze statue of Kolokotronis on horseback out front. It’s nothing less than the Old Parliament House, the very heart of Greece’s early political acts, and it is throwing open its doors for the This is Athens City Festival.

This isn’t just a wander through a dusty museum; it’s a guided journey through the National Historical Museum. You’ll be stepping into the original debating chamber where the big decisions that shaped modern Greece were hammered out. It’s an atmospheric spot that keeps history grounded in the centre of the city. Our guide will lead you through a stunning collection that charts the Greek story from the fall of Constantinople through to the 20th century. You’ll see personal heirlooms and everyday objects from the Greek Revolution, intricate traditional costumes that are basically 19th-century high fashion, historic weaponry, and archival treasures that tell the story of a nation finding its feet.

This activity is only available in Greek.

Κeramikos Beat
2026-05-03 15:00 - 23:00 | Mikis Theodorakis Park, Iera Odos & Pireos, Athens, 118 54, Greece
The crews from Needless and Teleion Bar have handpicked the Mikis Theodorakis Park (Iera Odos & Pireos) as their personal “Eden,” transforming it into the ultimate summer warm-up.

From early afternoon, the landscape is flooded with music, atmosphere, and that effortless energy that makes you want to stay until the final beat. A curated lineup of DJs and live acts will lay down a sonic carpet of tropical, Afro, disco, and Balearic beats. Within this soundscape, you can browse a boutique record fair, dive into curated street food, and sip cocktails designed specifically for the day’s vibe.

A heavenly reminder that summer can start right here in the city—provided you have the right location, the right soundtrack, and the right company.

A Three-Star Architectural Crown: The Neoclassical Trilogy of Athens
2026-05-03 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.

Zappeion Dance by FOR303, 88 Butterfly & MOS
2026-05-03 18:00 - 23:00 | Zappeion Megaron, Zappeion Hall, Athens, Athens, 105 57, Greece
Two of the city’s most formidable promoters, FOR303, 88 Butterfly and MadeOfSounds, are joining forces for a one-off, one-of-a-kind afternoon. They’re staging a rhythmic takeover of the iconic Zappeion Megaron courtyard, flipping one of Athens’ most stately landmarks into a world-class outdoor club. At the helm is a global special guest from the electronic A-list, ensuring the Zappeion becomes a thumping international dance scene. Expect a bespoke setup and a sound system beefy enough to rival any major festival, all set against the backdrop of 19th-century marble and the open Athenian sky.

It’s a rare chance to catch a high-octane dance experience where grand neoclassical architecture meets cutting-edge electronic beats. If you’re the type who demands quality in the booth and pure intensity on the dancefloor, consider your weekend plans sorted. It’s an absolute essential for those who like their basslines served against a historic backdrop.

Fantastic Party @ Varvakios
2026-05-03 18:00 - 23:00 | Central Municipal Market – Varvakios, 42 Athinas, Athens, 105 51, Greece
The This is Athens City Festival transports us to a scene reminiscent of Blade Runner at the historic Varvakios Market. From 18:00, Stefanos Konstantinidis’ FONOPTIKON project arrives at Athens’ central market, presenting a live audiovisual experience where beats and visuals electrify the space’s traditional aura.

In a compelling artistic encounter, the iconic voice of Best 92.6, Maria Papidakis, comes “face to face” with FONOPTIKON, creating a sonic landscape that dissolves the boundaries between reality and science fiction. Varvakios is transformed into a hybrid of underground club and sci-fi cinema, inviting visitors on a journey to other galaxies, with free entry and a distinctly futuristic spirit.

Historical Walk: "Sabotage and Street Protest in Occupied Athens"
2026-05-04 18:00 - 20:30 | Athens Trilogy, Panepistimiou 39, Athens, Athens, 105 64, Greece
Renowned historian Menelaos Charalampidis leads an immersive journey through the heart of the occupied city, tracing the footsteps of one of the most dynamic resistance movements in Europe.
This isn’t just a history lesson; it’s a vivid reclamation of the city’s soul. As you walk, the routes of protesters, strikers, and saboteurs who defied the Axis occupation come to life. From the first major student mobilisation on 25 March 1942 to the bloody clashes on Panepistimiou Street in July 1943, every stop acts as a “window” into a city that refused to stay silent.

Uncover the “hidden geography” of the resistance, from the daring sabotage at the ESPO offices to the heroic strikes at the Telephone Company and the Ministry of Labour. This is a visceral experience that invites you to see the streets you cross every day through a fresh lens, discovering the dense mosaic of courage that defines the Athenian spirit.

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

This activity is only available in Greek.

The Journey of the Serenade
2026-05-04 19:00 - 21:30 | 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.

ATHENS: AM Extended - Beyond the Lens
2026-05-04 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.

Panos Charalambous: COLUMBIA
2026-05-05 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
2026-05-05 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.

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