Several cultural events have been announced for Athens and Greece for Summer 2020. They will happen in archaeological sites, museums and other similar venues all around Greece! Here is some more information.
Cultural events in Greece in Summer 2020
As a rule, Greece has plenty of cultural events to offer. In winter, most of them happen in the bigger cities, especially Athens and Thessaloniki. In summer though, there are many events happening all around the country.
The first event that was announced for summer 2020 in Greece, was the Athens and Epidaurus festival. While it won’t be as big an in the previous years, it’s still going on with several concerts and theatrical plays. These will be held in the Herodion theatre in Athens and the Ancient theatre of Epidaurus in the Peloponnese.
In addition, the Ministry of Culture and Sports has announced an incredible number of 270 concerts, performances and other cultural events. These will happen in many archaeological spaces and other sites around Greece, between 18 July and 30 September 2020, under the concept “All of Greece, one culture”.
Several cultural bodies, ephorates, archaeological unions and museums have collaborated for this to happen.
- National Theatre of Greece
- Greek National Opera
- Athens State Orchestra
- Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra
- National Theatre of Northern Greece
- Megaron – The Athens Concert Hall
- MOMus
- National Museum of Contemporary Art
- The Lykeion ton Hellenidon
- Greek Art Theatre Karolos Koun
- Michael Cacoyiannis Foundation
- NEON Cultural Organization
There have been similar efforts in the past, but never at this scale. I’m pretty excited about it!
The best thing? These events are free to attend! You will just need to have an entrance ticket for the archaeological site, where required.
Programme of cultural events in Greece Summer 2020
So far, the Ministry has announced events for July. You can find more information and make your free booking on the links down below. As new events are announced, I will add them to the list.
Saturday 18 July
Anita Rachvelishvili in recital, Roman Agora in Athens, 20.30 – Invitations only
An adaptation of Euripides’ Troades, Pylos Castle, Messinia, 20.30
Sunday 19 July
Dance Solos, National Archaeological Museum of Athens, 12.00, 13.00, 14.00
Ancient Greek music concert, Ancient site of Vravrona, Attica, 19.30
An adaptation of “My mother’s sin” by Georgios Vizyinos, Ancient Thoriko theatre, Attica, 19.30 – Performance in English
“Dream”, a music performance based on the works of the poet Konstantinos Kavafis, Kavala Fortress, 21.30
Brass and percussion ensemble in the Museum of Byzantine Culture, Thessaloniki, 21.00 – No more spots available
Monday 20 July
Concert with Manolis Mitsias and Kariofillia Karabeti, Rio fortress, Achaia, 19.30
An adaptation of Euripides’ Troades, Archaeological Museum of Olympia, Ileia, 21.00
Piano and voice concert with George Emmanouil Lazaridis and Demetra Selemidou, Roman Hodeon of Dion, Pieria, 19.30
Tuesday 21 July
Athens State Line, an exhibition by Richard Long – Dionusys Theatre, Acropolis. The exhibition is open daily 8.00-20.00, until 30 September. Entrance is free on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 19.00-19.45
Recital, works by Mikis Theodorakis, Monemvasia castle, Lakonia, 20.30
Performance, Greece through the eyes of foreign visitors (16th-19th century) – Kesariani Monastery, Attica, 19.30
“Dream”, a music performance based on the works of the poet Konstantinos Kavafis, Roman Agora, Thessaloniki, 21.00
Concert with Manolis Mitsias and Kariofillia Karabeti, Ancient Theatre of Ilida, Ileia, 19.30
Athens Classical Players, Classical concert, Ancient site of Eleusina, Attica, 20.00
Dance Solos, Byzantine and Christian Museum of Athens, 13.30, 14.30, 15.30
Wednesday 22 July
Halima, musical performance, Corfu Old Fortress, 20.30
Wind instrument concert, Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, 21.00
Musical performance “Diary for passers-by”, Roman Agora of Athens, 19.30
Choral concert, Archaeological site of Academia Platonos, Athens, 19.00
Richard B, theatrical performance, Altinamalzi winepark, Alexandroupolis, 21.00
An adaptation of Euripides’ Troades, Nikopolis Roman Odeon, Preveza, 21.00
Piano and voice concert with George Emmanouil Lazaridis and Demetra Selemidou, Roman Agora of Thessaloniki, 19.30
Estoudiantina of Nea Ionia Volos, Musical concert, Agios Georgios church (Omorfokklisia) Galatsi, Athens, 20.30
Thursday 23 July
Estoudiantina of Nea Ionia Volos, Musical concert, Agios Georgios church (Omorfokklisia) Galatsi, Athens, 20.30
Athineon Politeia, theatrical monologue performance, Aristotle’s Lyceum, Athens, 19.30
Piano and voice concert with Stefanos Korkolis and Sofia Manousaki, Castle of Arta, 19.30
I want to see the Pope! Musical performance, Corfu Old Fortress, 20.30
A series of talks and video projections, Odeon of Roman Agora, Thessaloniki, 21.00
“Dream”, a music performance based on the works of the poet Konstantinos Kavafis, Pella archaeological site, 21.00
Ancient Greek music concert, Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, Attica, 19.30
Dance solos, Archaeological Museum of Corfu, 13.00, 14.00, 15.00
Friday 24 July
Dance solo by Giorgos Kotsifakis, Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, 13.00
Dance solos, Archaeological Museum of Ioannina, 12.00, 13.00, 14.00
Richard B, theatrical performance, Kavala Fortress, 21.00
An adaptation of Euripides’ Troades, Archaeological Site of Delphi, Fokida, 21.00
Performance, Greece through the eyes of foreign visitors (16th-19th century) – Archaeological Museum of Megara, Attica, 19.30
Shaping Prometheus, music-theatrical performance, Aristotle’s Lyceum, Athens, 19.30
A performance on the life of Alexander the Great, Royal Tombs of Aigai, Imathia, 21.00
Saturday 25 July
METALLON Quintet, brass and percussion, Ancient Gymnasium of Olympia, Ileia, 18.00
Dance solos, Archaeological site of Tiryns, 12.00, 13.00, 14.00
Chorus concert and Dance solos, Archaeological Museum of Laurion, Attica, 19.30
Estoudiantina of Nea Ionia Volos, Musical concert, Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, 20.30
Halima, musical performance, Castle of Ioannina, 20.30
Marina Satti’s chórεs, Byzantine Museum of Argos, 19.30
Ancient Greek music concert, Agora of the Competaliasts, Ancient Delos, 19.30
Shaping Prometheus, music-theatrical performance, Aristotle’s Lyceum, Athens, 19.30
Piano and voice concert with George Emmanouil Lazaridis and Demetra Selemidou, Byzantine castle of Platamonas, Pieria, 19.30
An adaptation of “My mother’s sin” by Georgios Vizyinos, Dafni Monastery, Attica, 19.30 – Performance in English
Sunday 26 July
Estoudiantina of Nea Ionia, Volos, Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, 20.30
I want to see the Pope!, Musical performance, Castle of Ioannina, 20.30
Dance solos, Archaeological Museum of Mykonos, 12.00, 13.00, 14.00
Dance solos, Archaeological Museum of Kalamata, 12.00, 13.00, 14.00
An adaptation of Euripides’ Troades, Archaeological Museum of Eretria, Evia, 21.00
Richard B, theatrical performance, Corfu Old Fortress, 21.00
Performance, Greece through the eyes of foreign visitors (16th-19th century) – Dafni Monastery, Attica, 19.30
Monday 27 July
Cello and piano concert, Kesariani Monastery, Attica, 19.00
Marina Satti’s chórεs, Tzanetakis Tower, Gythio, Lakonia, 19.30
Tuesday 28 July
Marina Satti’s chórεs, Archaeological site of Mystras, Lower Gate square, Lakonia, 19.30
An adaptation of “My mother’s sin” by Georgios Vizyinos, Agios Georgios church (Omorfokklisia) Galatsi, Athens, 19.30 – Performance in English
Wednesday 29 July
Estoudiantina of Nea Ionia, Volos, Dafni Monastery, Attica, 20.30
Marina Satti’s chórεs, Odeon of Ancient Messene, Messinia, 19.30
Richard B, theatrical performance, Castle of Nafpaktos, Etoloakarnania, 21.00
Performance, Greece through the eyes of foreign visitors (16th-19th century) – Archaeological site of Academia Platonos, Athens, 19.30
Anniversary concert for Mikis Theodorakis 95th birthday, Thisseio square, Athens, 20.30
Halima, musical performance, Heptapyrgion fortress, Thessaloniki, 20.30
Thursday 30 July
Athineon Politeia, theatrical monologue performance, Archaeological Museum of Chalkida, Evia, 19.30
A series of talks and video projections, Odeon of Roman Agora, Thessaloniki, 21.00
Marina Satti’s chórεs, Palace of Nestor, Messinia, 19.30
Diary of an unseen confinement, Roman Agora, Athens, 20.30
I want to see the Pope!, Musical performance, Heptapyrgion castle, Thessaloniki, 20.30
Friday 31 July
Diary of an unseen confinement, Roman Agora, Athens, 20.30
Athineon Politeia, theatrical monologue performance, Archaeological Museum of Eretria, Evia, 19.30
Classical concert, Trio El Greco, Two schools of Vienna – Palamidi fortress, Nafplio, 21.00
Richard B, theatrical performance, Grand Magister’s Palace, Rhodes, 21.00
Musical performance, Technological park of Lavrion, Attica, 19.30
Monday 3 August – August full moon
Monday 3 August is a full moon night. Like every year, many archaeological sites and museums will remain open until midnight. Events will be spread out all around the country.
In central Athens, there will be events in the Numismatic Museum Garden, and the Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments. The National Archaeological Museum will remain open until midnight!
Summer 2020 – What to do in Athens and Greece
I’m sure you will agree this is an impressive list of events, especially during these odd times! Which ones have caught your attention? Please let us know in the comments!
Here are some more guides that you might find interesting:
- Free things to do in Athens
- Free museums in Athens
- How to stay cool in the summer in Athens
- Greek alphabet and basic Greek words
- The evil eye in Greece