AEF2025: World Music Day

The Athens Epidaurus Festival celebrates its 70th edition in 2025, with 95 days of artistic brilliance featuring over 3,000 artists from 14 countries. From iconic venues in Athens like the Herodeion, Pireos 260, and the revived City of Athens Lycabettus Theatre, to the grand finale in Epidaurus, the festival brings the world’s top performances to Greece’s stages.

This year’s programme includes world premieres, new commissions, and exciting artistic strands such as Contemporary Ancients, which reimagines Greek tragedy, and Fierce Women in Performance, exploring gender and power. The GRAPE – Greek Agora of Performance platform highlights emerging Greek talent, while the Subset Festival brings experimental sounds to the stage. Cycles Roots revisits folk traditions with a fresh twist.

Check out our curated picks from this year's programme here.

What better way to celebrate World Music Day than with a magical open-air concert at the Herodeion?

On June 21, the Greek Broadcasting National Symphony Orchestra performs under the stars, led by internationally acclaimed conductor Michalis Economou. The evening takes audiences on a journey through ten musical worlds, featuring iconic works by Ravel, Smetana, Elgar, Wagner, Mascagni, Glinka, Adams, and more.

Highlights include Ravel’s hypnotic Boléro, Smetana’s evocative The Moldau, and Elgar’s rousing Pomp and Circumstance. Greek composer Yannis Constantinidis is also honoured, with his vibrant Dodecanesian Suite No. 1 rounding out this celebration of global soundscapes.