Marking three decades of uninterrupted activity, the Naxos Festival has evolved into a model institution of cultural sustainability. Its philosophy is embodied in the organic connection between historical memory and contemporary creation, reactivating emblematic spaces across the island, with the Bazeos Tower — a 17th-century monument — at its core.
This sustainable approach is realized through strategic collaborations:
• With national institutions such as the Ministry of Culture’s program “All of Greece, One Culture.”
• With leading and internationally respected organizations, including the Greek National Opera, Opera Network Firenze, and Panteion University.
• With historic artistic collectives such as the AFI group, which has remained an influential presence in the visual arts field since 1979.
• With iconic cultural figures such as Maria Farantouri and Nikos Xydakis, whose work has left a lasting artistic imprint over time. In particular, Maria Farantouri leads the tribute to Manos Hadjidakis, placing the Naxos Festival within the commemorative year dedicated to the composer, as announced by the Ministry of Culture for 2026.
At the same time, the Festival invests in creators of the younger generation, experiential workshops, original commissions and productions, as well as scholarly dialogue, forming a vibrant cultural hub that actively contributes to the sustainable development of Naxos. Communication of the Festival’s activities is conducted in two languages (Greek and English), addressing both local and international audiences of all ages, while visitor reception and audience services at event venues are additionally supported in French and Italian.
Stelios Krasanakis, cultural director – Mario Vazaios, production manager
Naxos, June 2026
Program in Detail:
31 May – 27 September 2026 | synAFI / AFI collective on Naxos
Bazeos Tower, open daily 10:00-17:00, except Mondays
The AFI collective consists of seven artists:
Judith Allen Efstathiou – Despina Pantazopoulou – Theodora Chorafas – Eva Chiladaki – Inger Carlsson – Maria Grigoriou – Yiannis Papadopoulos
Each artist is distinguished in their own field. Working with different materials such as paints, brushes, wood, iron, clay, handmade paper, thread, and fabric, they create works slowly and manually (“slow making”), carrying ideas and traditional techniques into a contemporary visual arts context.
Curator: Mario Vazaios
Saturday 6 – Sunday 7 June | 2nd Meeting on the Sustainable Development of Naxos | Koronos Ecomuseum
Co-organized by: Network for the Sustainable Development of Naxos – Panteion University, Institute of Regional Development – Naxos Festival
Sunday 28 June, 20:30 | Karagiozis Rigoletto
This shadow opera, created by the versatile comedian, director and librettist Dimitris Dimopoulos together with the experienced shadow puppeteer Alexandros Melissinos, unexpectedly casts Karagiozis as the protagonist of Giuseppe Verdi’s masterpiece Rigoletto. The performance uniquely combines traditional Greek shadow theater with excerpts from the opera, based on the original libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, performed in Greek by opera singers Manos Kokkonis, Yannis Selitsaniotis and Dimitra Kotidou, accompanied on piano by Markos Kotsias.
Friday 10 – Monday 13 July | Journey into the Magical World of Fairy Tales – Experiential and Educational Dramatherapy Seminar / Summer School
Coordinators: Stelios Krasanakis, Psychiatrist, Dramatherapist, Lecturer at the Department of Theater Studies, NKUA – Maria Schubert, Dramatherapist, PhD candidate, Department of Theater Studies, NKUA – Dimitris Agiopetritis Bogdanos, Director.
Sunday 26 July, 21:30 | Night Has a Thousand Eyes
Markus Stockhausen, trumpet, flugelhorn – Tara Bouman, clarinet – Vasilis Rakopoulos, guitar
A concert in the tradition of “intuitive music”.
Sunday 2 August, 21:30| Nikos Xydakis – The Honey of the Cliffs
Nikos Xydakis presents a program in which poetry engages in a dialog with music. One song flows into another like waves, with the creative participation of Alexandros Kapsokavadis lafta guitar vocals, Dimitris Sintos piano lute voice, Despoina Spanou cello voice and Fotis Mylonas flute clarinet voice.
Wednesday 5 August, 21:30| Maria Farantouri Sings Greek Composers
The Naxos Festival welcomes Maria Farantouri, renowned interpreter of song cycles by great Greek composers. With the classical piano as the principal instrument, the arrangements are composed and performed on stage by pianist Achilleas Wastor, accompanied by Heracles Zakkas on bouzouki. The talented Thanasis Voutsas provides vocal accompaniment.
Sunday 9 – Monday 10 August, 21:00 | I Play, Therefore I Am
Pianist Alexandra Papastefanou, drawing from a wide-ranging musical repertoire and displaying exceptional skill, alternating styles and rhythms—from classical, contemporary, or jazz techniques—invites the actor Konstantinos Georgopoulos, on stage, to improvise, respond, or interpret different roles. Concept, text, direction: Stelios Krasanakis.
The production is part of the 2026 program of the Ministry of Culture’s initiative “All of Greece, One Culture.” The event is offered free of charge by the Ministry of Culture.
Admission is free. Reservations are required.
Information & Reservations: www.allofgreeceoneculture.gr
Tuesday 18 August | Synesthesia, When Sound Meets Color
Vasilis Priovolos, bassoon – Lila Esipova, harp
The combination of bassoon and harp reveals a distinctive sonic and tonal palette. Works by Mendelssohn, Saint-Saëns, Marcussen, Vivaldi, Piazzolla and other composers will be performed.In cooperation with the South Aegean Region.Admission free.
Friday 21 August, 21:30 | Stathis Drogosis – Mirela Pachou | Concert
Performing in an acoustic ensemble format (piano–guitar–accordion–double bass), they present a dynamic program featuring their well-known songs alongside new compositions and arrangements.The ensemble includes: Stathis Drogosis (piano, vocals), Mirela Pachou (accordion, vocals).
Wednesday 16 September, 21:00 | Maria Callas, the Immortal Heroine
Production: Opera Network – Ensemble San Felice, in collaboration with the Naxos Festival.
An innovative performance combining theater, music and dance, offering a distinctive perspective on the life and legacy of the legendary soprano.
Theatrical Text, Director, Video: Carla Zanin
Conductor Federico Bardazzi
Marianthi Kyriou as Maria Callas
Francesca Paoletti, soprano
Despoina Anagnou, soprano –
Richard Rittelmann, Frédéric Diquero, tenors
Virtual Stage Orchestra – Sound Engineer: Guido Paolo Longo –
Video Editing: David Tozzi
The Naxos Festival is held under the auspices and with the support of the Ministry of Culture.
Organized by: AEON Cultural Organisation
Artistic Director:Stelios Krasanakis
Production Director:Mario Vazaios
Communications:Olga Orfanidou
T. +30 22850 31402
E. naxosculture@gmail.com
Tickets available:
– Bazeos Tower, a 17th-century monument in the countryside of Naxos, at the 12th km of the Chora–Agiassos Road, Naxos. T. +30 22850 31402
– Café Cream on Top, Naxos Town Beach. T. +30 22850 24312
Venue: Bazeos Tower, a 17th-century monument in the Naxian countryside, at the 12th km of the Chora–Agiassos Road, Naxos.T. +30 22850 31402
