If there is one thing that Greeks like most, that’s celebrating life!
They enjoy life through its different aspects, from music, food, and wines, to dancing and singing.
Greek national holidays give everyone a chance to relax, socialize and celebrate.
Most of the festivals celebrated today are religious ones. Some are celebrated nationally as the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, on the 15th of August, one of Christianity’s most significant days and a public holiday but literally there isn’t a city or a village in Greece that doesn’t have a special one or another festival.
Some festivals date back to ancient times and a lot of the traditions and customs are still in practice, but festivals can be organized on various themes, so apart from the religious celebrations, festivals on art, music, dancing, and food can be found all year round with a peak in the summer season.
One of the biggest festivals held in Athens during the summer is the Athens Festival which hosts different events each year from May to October in many locations throughout the city.
It is one of the most famous festivals in Greece, highlighting music, arts, theater, and culture.
If you consider visiting Athens in summer don’t miss the opportunity to watch a performance in the open-air theater of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a stone theater structure, located on the southwest slope of the Acropolis of Athens. The Athens festival hosts various events there during the summer and watching a performance under the night sky and with great acoustics is an experience not to be missed and the best way to dig deeper into Greek culture.
For more details and dates check out their official site: https://aefestival.gr/
Panygyria
If there is one festival we will urge you to experience, that would be the “Panigiria” or “Panigiri”.
Panigiria are actually the celebrations hosted around a church or neighborhood in honor of the church’s Saint name. Normally they are held on the eve of the actual name day and in some areas, they could go on for two or three days.
Even though they are religious celebrations the locals gather there to meet, dance, eat, and shop as they attract local vendors and musicians. They are embraced by all generations and foreigners are always welcomed. A Panigiri is a celebration not to be missed while you are in Greece in summer.
The majority of the Greek churches are named after a Saint, so while in Athens it won’t be difficult to walk into one.
Cinema
Athens Open Air Film Festival
Athens’s open-air film festival attracts all cinema lovers and showcases a selection of various films and events. From well-known productions to upcoming masterpieces and all that screened with Athens’ best locations as a dropback.
It runs from June until September in central areas of the city but also in surrounding neighborhoods which gives the opportunity to locals but also visitors to discover magnificent locations and venues.
Having received the Excellence in Tourism award for 2015, we are sure this festival won’t meet your expectations.
For more info: https://www.aoaff.gr/home_en/
Summer Nostos Festival
Summer, July-August
A week-long extravaganza of free, outdoor entertainment to usher in the summer, hosted by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre each June. The annual line-up is a fantastic blend of music, dance, sports, and workshops, featuring global stars like Lianne la Havas, Seu Jorge, and Charlotte Rampling.
Website: https://www.thisisathens.org/attractions/stavros-niarchos-foundation-cultural-centre
Athens Short Film Festival
Summer, June
Good things come in small packages at this popular new event that champions the cinematic underdog known as the short movie. From non-mainstream documentaries to rousing fictional works that challenge our ideas of cinema and art, expect to see dozens of stories worth watching, submitted by filmmakers from around the world.
Website: https://athensshortfilmfest.com/
Athens International Film Festival – AIFF (Premiere Nights)
Autumn, September
Catch hot indie movies from all over the world before the masses, as well as the most buzzed-about productions of the season, at this popular two-week film festival. The opening night premiere unofficially signals the start of the Athens film festival season.
Website: https://en.aiff.gr/home_page/
Music
If music is the food of your soul then the Athens music festivals hosted all year round, especially in summer, could cater to even the most demanding. From worldwide famous artists to local new stars, from traditional sounds to world music a wide range of offers would make you dance for hours.
Some festivals have been going on for years but each season a plethora of new ones pop up so it is wise to search the internet or just ask us if you have any special preferences.
Some of the most noticeable ones are the Rockwave festival, a pop and rock music festival held in Malakasa,just a few miles away from Athens. Celebrating its 20th birthday this year, the Rockwave festival has staged some of the most famous artists and groups worldwide. It’s a meeting point for thousands of people every year and their lineup is always interesting.
For more information: http://www.rockwavefestival.gr/
One of Greece’s more intriguing music festivals, Plisskën defies genres and expectations. Expect to hear the sounds of the future, along with multicultural events and exhibitions, at this killer two-day blast. Their 2022 summer line-up features Bonobo, Caribou, Slowthai, Princess Nokia, Avalon Emerson and more.
Website: https://www.plisskenfestival.gr/
Ejekt Festival
Summer, June-July
Rock out to global acts and emerging artists at this rollicking music headliner that sets the tone for a summer of sound. Hosted mainly at the fantastic waterfront venue of Plateia Nerou—a cinch to get to from the city center—Ejekt is a huge hit with both locals and out-of-townies.
Website: https://ejekt.gr/en/
Megaron Concert Hall Garden Series
Summer, June-July
During the summer the Megaron Concert Hall transforms its gardens into the charmed setting for a series of outdoor musical evenings. You might hear anything from the Vienna Philharmonic to a snazzy tribute to Leonard Cohen, all performed under the moonlight, among the orange and carob trees.
Website: https://www.megaron.gr/en/season/megaron-garden-2024/
Colour Day Festival
Summer, June
Color and sound collide at this loved-up festival that channels India’s Holi. Go for the hot line-up of Greek talent and the kick of coloring yourself beautiful from the kaleidoscopic explosions of bright powder for which the event is named. Leave your best clothes at home.
Website: https://colourdayfestival.com/greece/
Release Festival
Summer, June
A highlight of the Athens summer festival season, Release dishes up heavyweight acts to a hungry Greek audience at seaside Platia Nerou. Announcements about who’s headlining each year are hotly awaited. The line-up for 2022 features powerful metal acts such as Slipknot, Judas Priest, Sabaton, and more, as well as Bauhaus, Massive Attack, and Pet Shop Boys.
Website: https://www.releaseathens.gr/
Athens Jazz
Spring, May
Here’s something to get jazzed about. A week-long celebration of jazz beats at one of the city’s most happening venues, Technopolis. Local and international musicians perform under the Athenian skies well into the warm summer night. Did we mention that it’s free?
Website: https://athensjazz.gr/
ADD Festival
Spring, May
ADD stands for “Athens Dance till Dawn”, a well-chosen name for this dynamic electronic festival that was founded in 2018. ADD takes place at the old Elliniko Airport and offers free Uber rides to there from the nearest metro station. The 2020 edition grew into a five-day festival that also featured events at venues in downtown Athens.
Website: https://addfestival.gr/en/
Food and Drink
In recent years several food- and drink-related festivals have been established and attract thousands of people who want to try new flavors. Many events and workshops are also part of these festivals. The most common venue for these festivals is the old OSΥ depot in Gazi.
Athens Street Food Festival
The Athens Street Food Festival took place for the first time in 2016 and since then it hasn’t stopped hosting various street food shops. It is one of the biggest festivals in Greece dedicated to food. Its duration changes every year, but it usually lasts 2-4 weeks (Friday-Saturday-Sunday). It takes place in May and/or June.
For more information, you can visit www.athensstreetfoodfestival.gr or call +30 210 963 6489.
Burger Fest
Burger Fest started in 2014 and is the first food-related festival organized in Greece. It is an equally large festival dedicated to food and more specifically to burgers as its name suggests. It takes place every autumn.
For more information, you can visit www.burgerfest.gr or call +30 698 424 9751.
Athens Beer Festival
What do life and beer have in common? Both are best when chilled. Athens Beer Festival serves ice-cold brews of every persuasion to Athenian ale lovers. There’s no better place to explore the Athenian craft beer and micro-brewery scene. Like the burger fest, as a combination of these two, takes place each autumn.
For more information, you can visit https://web.facebook.com/athensbeerfestival/?_rdc=1&_rdr
Athens Coffee Festival
The Athens Coffee Festival is the annual celebration of coffee in the center of the city. It started in 2016 and attracts thousands of professional baristas and coffee lovers. It takes place during the autumn and lasts for one week.
For more information, you can visit www.athenscoffeefestival.gr or call +30 210 524 2100.
Chocolate Fest
Chocolate Fest started in 2018 and is the excuse all chocolate lovers need. Many events, workshops and activities for kids happen during the festival, while chocolate is flowing from everywhere! It takes place in February.
For more information, you can visit www.chocolatefest.gr.
