AEF2026: Medea

For theatre lovers, summer weekends in Greece are tied to travelling from Athens to the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus for their annual pilgrimage into the heart of Greece’s theatrical heritage. Set amidst the serene landscapes of the Argolid, Epidaurus offers you the chance to sit in an extraordinary and deeply moving space and watch performances that, although rooted to the ancient monument, speak directly to the present moment.

Last year, the Athens-Epidaurus Festival celebrated its 70th edition, a milestone that attests to its enduring place in European cultural life. This year, celebrated director Michael Marmarinos assumes the Festival’s three-year artistic directorship, launching what he describes as an exciting three-year programme. Each edition will be a complete experience on its own, yet together they form a broader vision. He has called it a journey through time, creativity, and the transformative power of performance.

For now, only the programme for the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus has been unveiled, offering a mix of classics, daring reinterpretations, and contemporary works that bring together Greek and international voices. Additional events and artistic actions will be revealed in time, promising further discoveries and delights. While this is the Epidaurus leg of the festival, its spirit extends far beyond, with a lively programme (ΤΒΑ) in Athens that celebrates theatre, music, dance, and creativity.
Check out what you can watch in the ancient amphitheatre:

With the Odeon of Herodes Atticus closed for restoration, the GNO returns to Epidaurus for opera for the first time in the 21st century, for the premiere of this year’s festival. It will be a unique opportunity to experience grand opera beneath the open sky of one of Greece’s most extraordinary ancient theatres. And as if Medea were not a strong enough play, on 20 June 2026 the Greek National Opera brings Luigi Cherubini’s Medea to the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus for a one-night-only performance, marking sixty-five years since the legendary 1961 production starring Maria Callas. This revival production brings to life a historic staging that became a defining moment in modern Greek culture.

Part of the GNO’s 2025/26 season, themed “tracing the opera of the future through the womb of the past”, this revival revisits the iconic production through today’s artistic lens. Drawing on notebooks, original designs and rare archival photographs, a new creative team — led by stage director Panaghis Pagoulatos — reconstructs the spirit of the original, offering audiences a rare chance to encounter a milestone of 20th-century theatre.
The title role is performed by acclaimed Italian soprano Anna Pirozzi, alongside Jean-François Borras, Tassis Christoyannis, Alisa Kolosova and Danae Kontora.