Holiday Season in Athens: A citywide celebration begins
The month of Christmas is here, and Athens is dressed in its festive attire. A multitude of events are taking place, with something for everybody.
Christmas fairs, theatre productions and concerts are scheduled in the Greek capital. From illuminated parks and Christmas villages to major concerts and world-class performances, December brings an atmosphere of celebration to every corner of the capital.
Visitors and locals alike can explore holiday experiences, ranging from expansive outdoor markets and ice rinks to guided tours that uncover the city’s timeless stories.
Music lovers will find everything from symphonic masterpieces to rock legends and lively jazz nights, while families enjoy workshops, games, and immersive festive installations.
At the same time, Athens’ vibrant cultural scene takes centre stage with theatrical performances, avant-garde cinema, and exclusive exhibitions that bring creativity and artistic expression to the forefront of the season in one of Europe’s most dynamic capitals.
Christmas Village | Through to Jan 7
Where: Pedion tou Areos
After attracting more than one million visitors last year, the Christmas Village at Pedion tou Areos has opened its doors and will operate through to Jan. 7 with concerts, shows and a Christmas market. Admission is free.
Open on weekdays from 4:30pm to 10pm and on weekends from 10am to 10pm, the village features performances and artistic events for all ages, interactive educational games for children, colourful carousels, and festive delicacies. An ice rink is on offer, along with children’s workshops, festive face painting and themed photo corners.
Christmas Factory | Until Jan 6
Where: Technopoli
For the 12th year running, the DEI Christmas Factory located at Technopoli in Gazi is spreading the festive spirit.
Located next to the Kerameikos Metro station, a fun park for all ages has been set up, including snowslides, trampolines, bumper cars, a Ferris wheel and a carousel.
The highlight of the Factory is a 400-square-metre ice rink for the more active, while visitors can also enjoy a series of theatrical performances to be held at the Christmas Factory, which runs through to Jan 6.
Tea in Cézanne’s Countryside | Dec 15
Where: Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation
Paul Cézanne’s painting “Countryside in Auvers-sur-Oise”, from the Collection of the B&E Goulandris Foundation, becomes the starting point for a special encounter at the Foundation’s Café, where art converses with the richness of Greek herbs through a unique tasting experience. The work of the great French artist, which highlights the harmony of nature, inspired a flavour journey designed to initiate us into a new way of connecting with nature.
Participants will be guided through a world of aromas and flavours showcasing herbs from the Greek countryside as well as Greek gastronomy. The sessions are led by Angeliki Drakou, co-founder of Grizo & Prasino – a modern Greek company that cultivates organic herbs and creates aromatic beverages.
Avant-Garde Film festival | Dec 3-18
Where: Greek Film Archive
The 14th Athens Avant-Garde Film Festival is taking place Dec 3–18 at the Greek Film Archive, honouring an important representative of contemporary experimental and avant-garde cinema in Greece: Thanasis Rentzis. The film festival pays tribute to the memory and contribution of the creator who laid the foundations of the Greek avant-garde, leaving behind works that continue to challenge, inspire, and reshape the public’s perception of experimental cinema.
Rock star Rod Stewart live in concert | Dec 13
Where: OAKA Indoor Basketball Arena
Sir Rod Stewart will be hitting the stage in Athens on Saturday, Dec. 13 with a unique concert at the OAKA Indoor Basketball Arena.
In his first performance in Athens, the British singer, songwriter, and producer, one of the most iconic figures in rock and pop music, will perform in what is a highly anticipated concert.
Christmas concert with ERT National Symphony Orchestra | Dec 22
Where: SNFCC
In a change of musical notes, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre (SNFCC) will ring in the festive season on Dec. 22 with a concert of the Cosmos series, featuring the National Symphony Orchestra of ERT conducted by award-winning Maestro Kornilios Michailidis.
The program features three masterpieces of the symphonic repertoire: Dmitri Shostakovich’s Festive Overture, Op. 96, with its dazzling fanfares and brilliant orchestration that make it an ideal choice for a Christmas concert; Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suites Nos. 1 and 2, two of the most iconic works of Scandinavian Romanticism; and finally, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, a famous and enchanting work of classical music that rekindles the magic of Christmas and the joy of childhood dreams. Doors open at 19.00.
Avanti Maestro | Dec 28
Where: Maria Callas Museum
What can you do with a paintbrush, a piano, and a few Christmas scribbles inside the Museum? Children, together with their companions, will discover the answer through a magical festive musical game. Guided by the melodies of a live piano and accompanied by paintbrushes and colors, participants will explore rhythm and create “musical scribbles.” From this, festive stories full of shapes and colors will unfold, on a journey to bright imaginary worlds where music becomes a painting and the art of opera meets the magic of Christmas.
Jive Aces | Dec. 27 – Jan 1
Where: Half Note Jazz Club
Bring in the New Year with one of the best Jive & Swing bands in Europe, the Jive Aces, and with a six-day party running from Dec. 27 to Jan. 1st at the Half Note Jazz Club.
The wonderful British Jive Aces, with their unmatched energy and feel good music return to Athens to fill us with optimism and light for the new year that is dawning
New Year’s Eve concert I
Where: Syntagma Square
See in the New Year at Syntagma Square in the heart of the Greek capital. With a celebration to be held by the City of Athens, this year’s event is the musical-theatrical show “The Rooftop of Time,” created by Foivos Delivorias. The beloved artist, together with Natassa Bofiliou, Martha Frintzila, and Thanasis Aleuras, presents an original show that, through songs, dances, and humorous moments, will take us on a journey through the history of Athens from 1945 to 2025.
For the first time, the capital will welcome the new year with silent fireworks, while the night sky will be lit by hundreds of drones flying over the city centre in a spectacular show dedicated to Athens, its heritage, and the coming year.
New Year’s Eve concert II
Where: SNFCC
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre (SNFCC) bids farewell to the year and welcomes 2026 with a big party for everyone. As every year, the SNFCC Agora fills with light, music, and joy in a celebration that has become a beloved tradition for all ages.
Hosting the evening’s events is singer and actor Jerome Kaluta. The night kicks off with Alexandra Sieti, an emerging vocalist and songwriter known for her charismatic, jazzy voice and stage presence. At the same time, the Canal Fountains “dance” to festive tunes, while at midnight the sky over Faliro lights up with a spectacular fireworks show, marking the arrival of 2026 with brightness and joy.
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