Athens Newsletter - February 2026

February in Athens offers a distinct advantage: with the summer crowds absent, this is the time to experience the Greek capital as locals do. Although the largest parades for carnival take place elsewhere in the country, the mood filters into Athens' bars, cafes, and cultural venues, creating a lively backdrop for winter exploration.

The cultural calendar this month leans toward the contemporary and the thoughtful. At the National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST), it is the opportunity to view Why Look at Animals?. This exhibition features over 60 artists examining the complex, often overlooked relationship between humans and other species. For those interested in performance arts, Onassis Dance Days 2026 returns to Onassis Stegi starting February 5. This festival is known for presenting works that explore the space between familiar movements and new, experimental forms.

Music lovers will find plenty of reasons to head to the industrial district of Gazi. The Vinyl Market returns to the Technopolis City of Athens on February 6, bringing together collectors and DJs for a weekend dedicated to warm grooves and analog sound. Later in the month, from February 13, the STEGI.RADIO Takeover transforms Onassis Stegi into a multi-stage club environment. This event blurs the lines between a concert and a party, focusing on global club culture and electronic music.

At the end of the month, Athens Photo World (APW), the annual international photojournalism festival of Athens and one of the leading institutions for contemporary photography in Greece, bringing the wider public into direct contact with the power of the image and the art of journalistic photography.
You can also book an evening at the comic opera Falstaff which will be be on for six unique performances on 15, 18, 21, and 26 February, and 1 and 5 March 2026 at the Greek National Opera.

If you are unsure exactly what is happening on a specific day, our guides are always happy to share current recommendations during our walks. To get your bearings, join us for a historical overview on the Welcome to Athens! Old Town Guided Walking Tour, or dive into the city's modern identity and street art on the Alternative Athens Tour: Street Art, Counterculture, and Protests.