AEF2025: Michael Kiwanuka

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.

Michael Kiwanuka is finally making his Herodion debut—and we’re all in for a treat. With a voice that feels like it’s been around forever (in the best way possible) and songs that hit even harder live, this is going to be one of those nights. 

A true force in modern soul, Kiwanuka brings rich, soul-soaked vocals and songwriting that goes straight to the heart. From the breakout Home Again to the haunting Cold Little Heart (yep, the Big Little Lies theme), his music blends soul, folk, and rock in a way that just feels timeless. Now, in the shadow of the Acropolis, he’s bringing it all to life—raw, powerful, and completely unforgettable.