Festivals & events

40 celebrations through the year — pick a day to see what's on.

New Year's Day (1 January · All regions · National) — Greece's primary national holiday marking the start of the year with family gatherings, traditional meals, and the custom of cutting the Ne…
Epiphany (Theophania) (6 January · All regions · National) — A Christian celebration featuring the blessing of the waters ceremony where crosses are tossed into harbors and seas across Greece for youn…
Carnival Season (Apokries) (All February · Patras · Peloponnese) — A week-long celebration before Lent featuring colorful parades, masquerades, and merrymaking, with the famous Patras Carnival being Greece'…
Othomano Carnival (All February · Thessaloniki · Central Macedonia) — Thessaloniki's version of carnival featuring elaborate floats, satirical performances, and street celebrations reflecting the city's unique…
Skyros Carnival (All February · Skyros · Sporades) — An ancient carnival tradition featuring the Geri dancers in shaggy costumes and bell-wearing characters that dates back to pagan fertility…
Clean Monday (Kathara Deftera) (All February · All regions · Attica) — The start of Lent marked by flying kites and eating traditional fasting foods like lagana and fava, celebrated throughout Greece with famil…
Independence Day (25 March · All regions · National) — Greece's national holiday commemorating the start of the Greek War of Independence in 1821, celebrated with military parades, flag-raising…
Annunciation of Mary (25 March · All regions · National) — A religious holiday coinciding with Independence Day, celebrating the Angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary in Orthodox tradition.
Flower Festival of Rhodes (All April · Rhodes · Southern Aegean) — A spring celebration in Rhodes featuring flower displays, garden exhibits, and botanical showcases celebrating the island's natural beauty.
Easter (Pascha) (All April · All regions · National) — Orthodox Easter is the most important religious holiday in Greece featuring midnight resurrection services, the lighting of candles, and ce…
Spring Festival (All April · Volos · Thessaly) — Celebrates the arrival of spring in Volos and surrounding areas with flower exhibitions, cultural performances, and agricultural displays.
Feast of St. George (23 April · Throughout Greece · Central Macedonia) — A significant religious observance featuring traditional processions and celebrations honoring Greece's patron saint with cultural events a…
Rethymno Carnival (All February · Rethymno · Crete) — Crete's vibrant pre-Lenten celebration featuring parades with elaborate floats, masked balls, and Venetian-influenced festivities reflectin…
Labour Day (1 May · All regions · National) — Greece's national holiday celebrating workers' rights, marked by parades and gatherings in Athens and other cities throughout the country.
Flower Festival of Corfu (All May · Corfu · Ionian Islands) — A spring celebration in Corfu featuring flower displays and botanical exhibitions showcasing the island's lush Mediterranean flora.
Ascension of Christ (All May · All regions · National) — A significant Orthodox Christian holiday celebrated 40 days after Easter commemorating Christ's ascension to heaven.
Pentecost (Whit Monday) (All May · All regions · National) — The Monday after Pentecost is a national holiday in Greece featuring traditional customs and family celebrations.
Athens Festival (All June · Athens · Attica) — A major cultural festival featuring theater, music, and dance performances held in historic venues including the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
Epidaurus Festival (All June · Epidaurus · Peloponnese) — An ancient theater festival featuring classical Greek plays and modern performances held in the remarkably preserved ancient theater of Epi…
Rethymno Wine Festival (All July · Rethymno · Crete) — A celebration of Cretan wine culture featuring tastings, traditional music, dancing, and local cuisine in a festive town square setting.
Feast of the Holy Apostles (29 June · All regions · National) — A nationwide religious holiday celebrating the apostles Peter and Paul with church services and traditional observances across Greece.
Chios Mastic Festival (All August · Chios · Northern Aegean Islands) — An annual celebration of mastic production featuring food stalls, traditional crafts, music, and the famous mastic liqueur unique to Chios.
Assumption of Mary (15 August · All regions · National) — One of Greece's most important religious holidays celebrated throughout the country with church services, processions, and family gathering…
Rockwertigo Festival (All August · Rethymno · Crete) — A summer rock music festival in Rethymno featuring international and Greek rock bands performing on outdoor stages.
Hellenic Air Force Week (All September · Athens · Attica) — An annual celebration featuring the famous Hellenic Air Force acrobatic team demonstrations over Athens.
Kalamata International Dance Festival (All September · Kalamata · Peloponnese) — A prestigious festival featuring contemporary and traditional dance performances from Greece and around the world.
Thessaloniki International Film Festival (All September · Thessaloniki · Central Macedonia) — One of Greece's most important film festivals showcasing international cinema and promoting Thessaloniki as a cultural hub.
Oenological Festival of Alexandroupoli (All September · Alexandroupoli · Eastern Macedonia and Thrace) — A celebration of Thracian wines featuring tastings, regional cuisine, and cultural performances in this northeastern Greek port city.
Gazi Festival (All September · Athens · Attica) — An annual cultural festival in Athens' regenerated Gazi district featuring theater, music, dance, and street art performances.
Oktoberfest Athens (All October · Athens · Attica) — Greece's version of the famous beer festival featuring Bavarian-style entertainment, food, and beer celebrations in Athens.
Ochi Day (28 October · All regions · National) — Greece's national holiday commemorating the country's 'no' (ochi) to the Italian ultimatum in 1940, celebrated with military parades and pa…
Documenta Film Festival (All November · Thessaloniki · Central Macedonia) — Greece's leading documentary film festival held in Thessaloniki showcasing innovative documentaries from around the world.
Feast of Saint Demetrius (26 October · Thessaloniki · Central Macedonia) — A significant religious celebration in Thessaloniki honoring the city's patron saint with processions and religious services.
Raki Festival (All October · Rethymno and surrounding areas · Crete) — A celebration of Cretan raki spirit featuring traditional distillation demonstrations, tastings, and Cretan music and dancing.
Lights Festival of Athens (All November · Athens · Attica) — An illumination festival transforming Athens' neighborhoods with artistic light installations and cultural events.
Feast of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel (8 November · All regions · Attica) — A significant Orthodox religious holiday celebrated across Greece with church services and traditional observances.
Christmas (25 December · All regions · National) — Greece's Christian holiday celebrated with family gatherings, traditional foods, church services, and festive decorations throughout the co…
Feast of the Nativity (25 December · All regions · National) — The Orthodox celebration of Christ's birth observed as a major religious holiday across Greece.
Synaxis of the Mother of God (26 December · All regions · Attica) — An Orthodox religious holiday celebrated the day after Christmas honoring the Mother of God with church services and traditional observance…
New Year's Eve Celebrations (31 December · All regions · Attica) — Greece's year-end celebration featuring festive gatherings, traditional music, dancing, and the custom of the New Year's cake fortune.