From reggae on the coast to ancient tragedy under the stars, jazz in the forest to contemporary documentary film, Cyprus’s summer calendar is packed with events worth planning around. Here’s what’s on and what’s still to come.
Already running: Cyprus Rialto World Music Festival
The 21st Cyprus Rialto World Music Festival, drawing on Mediterranean and Cypriot tradition alongside experimentation, is already underway. Upcoming dates include July 16 at 9pm with Nabuma, blending neo-soul and contemporary R&B with jazz and cinematic touches; July 17 at 9pm with Koza Mostra’s Bulletproof Tour, mixing rock, traditional elements and punk energy; and July 21 at 9pm with Near to Far East by the Cyprus Kollective Big Band, an emblematic jazz suite tracing a route towards the East. These performances take place at the SEK Car Park behind the Rialto Theatre. Information and tickets are available online and on 77 77 77 45.
Already running: International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama
With productions from Cyprus, Spain, Latvia and Greece, the International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama has already opened. On July 17 and 18, the State Theatre of Northern Greece presents Aristophanes’ “Lysistrata” at Kourion, directed by Asterios Peltekis and starring Elisavet Konstantinidou. Cyprus’s own contribution comes from the Persona Theatre Group, staging Aeschylus’s “Seven Against Thebes” under director Lea Maleni, running July 27 and 28 at the Makarios III Amphitheatre in Nicosia and July 31 to August 1 at the Ancient Theatre of Kourion. The festival closes on August 7 and 8 at Kourion with Euripides’ “Alcestis,” performed by the National Theatre of Greece under director Dimitris Karantzas, with Iro Bezou in the title role. Performances include Greek and English surtitles, with organised transport available from Nicosia to Kourion and Paphos, accompanied by introductory presentations from theatre scholars.
July 24-26: Windcraft Music Fest
The Windcraft Music Fest returns to Katydata, filling the village with the sound of wind instruments across a programme spanning jazz, traditional and electronic music, alongside participatory side events. This year’s line-up brings together acclaimed Cypriot and international artists, with collaborations bridging tradition and contemporary sound. Tickets are available in advance; for information, call 22377748.
July 25 – August 30: Dasos Amiantos Forest Theatre Music Festival
The music festival at the Forest Theatre in Kato Amiantos returns for 12 days of live concerts and artistic events, aiming to bring people of all ages into nature. The programme includes:
July 25: “Look One Night,” a tribute to Greek art song, with Andrea Sophocleous (voice), Sofia Perikleous (double bass) and Marinos Souglis (piano).
July 26: Baroque and Classical opera masterpieces, with Theodora Rafti (voice) and Manolis Neofytou (piano).
August 1: rock-to-jazz improvisations with Panos Oikonomou (percussion) and Grigoris Artemidis (electric guitar).
August 5: a song and piano recital featuring Debussy, Grieg, Donizetti, Bellini, Schubert and Schumann, with Alexandra Viktoros (piano) and Konstantina Christodoulou (voice).
August 12: “A Night of Cinematic Music,” with Manolis Neofytou performing music from Greek and international cinema.
August 16: the Christos Yerolatsitis Trio, performing original compositions and jazz arrangements, with Christos Yerolatsitis (piano), Kyriakos Kesta (double bass) and Stelios Xydias (percussion).
August 17: “Serenade Under the Stars,” featuring an international repertoire from Greece, Cyprus, France, Argentina and England, with Vakia Stavrou (voice) and Manolis Neofytou.
August 19: a presentation of Zelia Georgiadou’s book “The Elves of Erland,” a children’s fairy tale and allegory of modern city life, with Aristos Tsiartas presenting, Dr Marina Neofytou moderating and Manolis Neofytou on piano.
August 22: an evening of opera featuring Verdi, Puccini and Bellini, with Marios Andreou and Laden Ince (voice) and Manolis Neofytou (piano).
August 28: a chamber music concert featuring Rachmaninoff, Le Masne, Tchaikovsky and Karvelas, with Manolis Neofytou (piano), Wolfgang Schroder (violin) and Robertas Grod (cello).
August 30: “Night of Jazz with Elizabeth,” with Giorgos Koulas (percussion) and Elizabeth Simonian (voice).
July 29 – August 2: One Love Festival 2026
The One Love Festival 2026 returns to Vals Place in Gialia, Paphos, for an open-air gathering dedicated entirely to reggae. It opens on July 29 and 30 with the Full Moon Wellbeing Camping, before the main programme runs from July 31 to August 2 across two stages, headlined by Mexican Stepper from Mexico. Also performing are Dubwize Band ft. Tim Heights, Selecta Kilimanjaro, Eleni D. Starlight, Dub Thomas, Dubophonic Showcase, King of Eye, Timeline, DJ Monday, Silent Kev, Bass Ill, Natty Rise, Sarah Charm, DJ Olga, Suzie Selecta, Mande Morry Drummers and Mussa DMZ x Minerals.
August 1-8: Limassol International Documentary Festival
As every year, the Limassol International Documentary Festival returns, presenting productions that capture the human face of today’s chaotic era without distortion. This year’s programme includes 21 films from contemporary international and local production, each receiving its exclusive island-wide premiere. Screenings will be accompanied, as usual, by discussions with visiting filmmakers, musical events, performances, DJ sets and outdoor parties, held at the Lanitis Carob Mill and Limassol Medieval Castle.
Fengaros Music Festival and Music Village
This year’s Fengaros Music Festival moves to Petrides Farm Park in Marki, hosting more than 60 artists across six stages, with a programme spanning alternative and electronic music to hip hop, experimental and contemporary pop, continuing Fengaros’s role as a meeting point for different musical worlds.
Running alongside it, the Fengaros Music Village adopts a new, flexible format this year, offering more speakers, more workshops and greater choice. Each workshop now runs as a standalone session, letting participants build their own schedule by choosing whichever slots they want, with no prior knowledge or attendance at other workshops required. This year’s contributors include Savina Yannatou, Billie Kark, Yiannis Anastasakis (JAM Pedals), Marios Takoussis, Venetsiana Kalampaliki, Yiannis Koutis, Nikoletta Dimitriou, Athena Kasiou, Ermis Michael, Andreas Trachonitis, Marina Katsari, Antis Skordis, and Takoussis x Trachonitis.
