The Municipality of Elefsina will open the 52nd annual Aeschylia Festival on August 30, 2026, with a free public concert held at the local archaeological site, launching a cultural program that runs through October 3.
The historic institution brings a selection of theatrical plays, musical concerts of various genres, visual art exhibitions, and film screenings to the modern Greek coastal city of Elefsina.
For the second year, festival events will take place at the former Iris factory on the Elefsina beach. The site has been transformed into a modern multi-purpose cultural space for residents and visitors. Its architectural features include a landmark chimney and two older factory buildings designated as protected modern monuments from the interwar period.
Opening concert and art exhibition
The festival opens on August 30 with a concert titled Lucky Star, performed by singer Thodoris Voutsikakis and lyricist Lina Nikolakopoulou at the Archaeological Site of Elefsina. Admission is free to the public. The performance features beloved Greek and international songs, including The Sultan of Babylon, Amado Mio, and Ta Pio Oraia Laika. The event is co-organized with the Ephorate of Antiquities of West Attica.
On August 31 at 20:00, the Iris Cultural Centre will host the opening of Second Skin, a solo visual arts exhibition by Margarita Petrova curated by art historian Bia Papadopoulou. The exhibition runs through October 3 and explores constructed gender stereotypes and how social layers shape human identity and consciousness. It includes installations, recent videos, and works created specifically for the show. On Sunday, September 20, at 20:00, Petrova will present her performance titled The Tomb Within Me at the Iris venue.
Music lineup and concerts
Singer and storyteller Panos Vlachos takes the stage at the Iris venue on September 2 at 21:00. His performance will feature songs from his latest album, Pligi Empnefsis, along with new unreleased tracks and evolving stage material.
A two-night event titled Theatraki Concerts will showcase six musical groups at the outdoor Theatraki venue in Magoula Park on September 10 and 11, starting at 21:00 each evening with free admission. The lineup highlights local musicians from Elefsina across several genres.
On Thursday, September 10, local rock group Cinelefsis opens at 20:00 with atmospheric and cinematic sounds, followed by Natalia Routsolia at 21:00 with entechno pop and laiko music, and the group NEFESI at 22:00 playing traditional music from Asia Minor, the Greek islands, and Arvanite heritage.
On Friday, September 11, rap and hip-hop group Right Clique performs at 20:00, followed at 21:00 by local electric rock band Omega Banda, celebrating 12 continuous years on stage since forming in Elefsina in late 2014. At 22:00, singer Cony performs jazz, blues, rock, and retro music with a four-piece band that includes three Elefsina natives.
The musical program also features Pagan on Wednesday, September 16, at 21:00 at the Iris venue on Elefsina Beach, presenting a theatrical ritual concert with ethnic elements and progressive rhythms. On Friday, September 18, at 21:00, musician Dimitris Mystakidis celebrates 30 years on stage at the Iris venue with an anniversary concert featuring rebetiko and selections from his discography and past collaborations.
Theater and drama productions
On Thursday, September 3, director Dimitris Tarlow directs Aglaia Pappa in Samuel Beckett's absurd drama Happy Days at 21:00 at the Iris venue on Elefsina Beach. The production pays tribute to actor Christina Tsigkou, a close friend of Beckett who translated the play and was closely tied to the role of Winnie.
On Sunday, September 6, at 21:00, the National Theatre of Northern Greece presents Aristophanes' comedy Lysistrata at the Iris venue. Translated by Konstantinos Bouras and directed by NTNG artistic director Asterios Peltekis, the production stars Elisavet Konstantinidou as Lysistrata, alongside Katerina Papoutsaki, Krateros Katsoulis, Alexandra Palaiologou, Panagiotis Petrakis, Nikos Georgakis, Kostas Santas, Giannis Charisis, Sofia Kalemkeridou, and the NTNG ensemble.
Young audiences can attend a stage adaptation of Zorz Sari's children's book The Tight Shoes on Monday, September 7, at 20:30 at the Iris venue. Directed by Athanasia Kalogianni, the production brings the classic summer story to the stage for the first time. Admission is free with entry vouchers.
The National Theatre of Greece brings Euripides' tragedy Alcestis to the Iris stage on Wednesday, September 9, at 21:00. Directed by Dimitris Karantzas, the play addresses themes of power, gender, sacrifice, and society's responsibility regarding death. The cast includes Iro Bezou, Giannis Niarros, Konstantinos Avarikiotis, Giorgos Zygouris, Theodora Tzimou, and Kostas Nikouli.
On Sunday, September 13, at 21:00, the Iris venue hosts Independent States, a journalistic political drama co-authored by Giorgos Paloumpis and Antonis Tsiotsiopoulos. Based on the true story of doctor Vasilis Tsironis during early post-junta Greece, the play offers sharp political commentary on media and power relationships.
Cinema program and screenings
The festival cinema section features short films from the Drama Short Film Festival on Tuesday, September 15, at 21:00 at the Open-air Cinema of Elefsina with free voucher entry. The program includes 400 Cassettes by Thelgia Petraki (14 minutes), Or How to Disappear by Giorgos Angelopoulos (23 minutes), Loudias by Akis Polyzos (30 minutes), Requiem in Salt by Sylvia Nicolaides and Nicolas Iordanou (16 minutes), He Who Once Existed by Kostis Theodosopoulos (24 minutes), and Noi by Neritan Zinxhiria (15 minutes).
Feature films will be screened at 21:00 at the Open-air Cinema of Elefsina. The schedule begins on Thursday, September 17, with Broken Vein (2025) directed by Giannis Economides (127 minutes), followed on Monday, September 21, by Bearhole (2025) directed by Chrysianna Papadaki and Stergios Dinopoulos (127 minutes). Classic Greek cinema follows on Tuesday, September 22, with Michael Cacoyannis's 1962 film Electra (110 minutes), and concludes on Wednesday, September 23, with Pantelis Voulgaris's 1998 film It's a Long Road (132 minutes).
