If you’re lucky enough to be in Athens this July, prepare for a month where ancient ruins meet modern rhythms, and sultry days melt into euphoric, music-filled nights.
Whether you’re a returning visitor or discovering Athens for the first time, this is your curated guide to the best of what’s on- and what not to miss- this July!
Green Day
Since their breakout with Dookie in 1994, the album that catapulted them into global rock stardom, Green Day has become a defining voice of punk rebellion, selling over 75 million records and racking up five Grammy Awards. With anthems like American Idiot, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, and When I Come Around, they’ve soundtracked a generation. This July, they land in Athens with their trademark high-voltage energy. Expect roaring guitars, a wave of nostalgic angst, and a crowd ready to lose it in the city’s biggest stadium. If you grew up on eyeliner, attitude, and riffs, this one’s unmissable.
Entry: €95
Buy tickets online: more.com
Date & Time: 6 July, 4pm
A: Athens Olympic Sports Complex, 37 Kifisias Avenue, Marousi
Nicola Piovani
The Oscar-winning composer behind Life Is Beautiful returns to Athens for a soul-stirring evening of orchestral storytelling. Set beneath the ancient stone arches of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, this open-air performance is a lyrical fusion of cinema and classical music. Piovani will conduct the Athens State Orchestra through suites inspired by his celebrated collaborations with Federico Fellini, Roberto Benigni, and the Taviani brothers. From the delicate emotion of La Vita è Bella to the cinematic poetry of La Notte di San Lorenzo, expect an unforgettable journey through some of European cinema’s most iconic scores- reimagined for one summer night under the Athenian stars.
Entry: €15- €60
Buy tickets online: more.com
Date & Time: 8 July, 9pm
A: The Athens Concert Hall (Megaron), 115 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, Athens
W: megaron.gr
Alice Cooper
Rockwave Festival 2025 turns up the volume this July with a high-voltage lineup at Terra Vibe Park- a tree-lined, open-air venue just outside Athens. The godfather of shock rock, Alice Cooper, takes the stage alongside symphonic powerhouse Floor Jansen and genre-bending Zeal & Ardor for a night of theatrical flair and unforgettable riffs. Expect serpents, sparks, and a dose of pure rock spectacle under the summer sky.
Entry: €49.50- €135
Buy tickets online: more.com
Date & Time: 11 July, 5 pm
A: Terra Vibe Park, Oropos, 190 11
London Grammar
London Grammar joins the Release Athens Festival lineup this July, bringing their signature blend of cinematic indie-pop to the city’s seaside stage. Fans can expect the haunting vocals of Hannah Reid and the band’s atmospheric soundscapes in an unforgettable live set- featuring favourites like Strong, Wasted My Young Years, Hey Now, and Lose Your Head, with a few surprises likely woven in. With over a decade of critically acclaimed releases and two chart-topping albums, the trio has become a staple of the UK’s modern music scene. Bonus? Tickets can be bundled with Kylie Minogue’s festival night- a dream double feature at a sweet discounted price.
Entry: €58-€103
Buy tickets online: more.com
Date & Time: 11 July, 6pm
A: Water Plaza, 2616 Posidonos Avenue, Kallithea
Diana Ross
Global music icon Diana Ross will headline a one-night-only concert at Athens’ legendary Panathenaic Stadium- a rare chance to witness a superstar performance in one of Europe’s most iconic open-air venues. Known for timeless hits like Upside Down and Endless Love, Ross’s Athens date marks the grand finale of her European tour, following a string of sold-out shows.
From her breakthrough with The Supremes to a dazzling solo career spanning over six decades, Ross has sold more than 100 million records and earned honours including two GRAMMY Awards and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Opening the night is Helena Paparizou (Greece’s Eurovision queen) whose powerhouse vocals and stage presence will set the tone for an unforgettable evening.
Entry: €90-€250
Buy tickets online: ticketservices.com
Date & Time: 16 July, 6pm
A: The Panathenaic Stadium, Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue, Pangrati
Kylie Minogue
Pop royalty lands in Athens this July as Australian icon Kylie Minogue takes the stage on her Tension World Tour. The Grammy-winning icon brings with her decades of chart-topping brilliance — from early favourites like Locomotion and I Should Be So Lucky to dance-floor staples like Spinning Around, along with fresh hits from her latest smash album, Tension II. Expect a glittering, high-energy performance that will light up the Athenian night- equal parts nostalgia and new-era glam.
Entry: €71-€103
Buy tickets online: more.com
Date & Time: 18 July,6pm
A: Water Plaza, 2616 Posidonos Avenue, Kallithea
Takis 1∞
This summer, the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in Pangrati marks the centenary of Takis (1925–2019) with a major retrospective celebrating one of Greece’s most pioneering and poetic minds. A visionary who blurred the lines between art, science, and energy, Takis created a world where sculptures move without touch, magnets suspend objects in mid-air, and sound is drawn from silence. The Athens exhibition, which ispart of a dual-venue show with the island of Andros, focuses on the artist’s deep fascination with invisible forces. Expect floating spheres, magnetic fields, musical machines, and video works charged with electricity and imagination.
Entry: €9- 18
Date: 22 June 2025 – 02 November 2025
A: Basil and Elise Goulandris Foundation, 13 Eratosthenous, Pangrati
Candlelight Open Air Concerts
As twilight falls, Athens transforms into a breathtaking open-air concert hall illuminated by thousands of candles. This summer, the internationally acclaimed Candlelight Open Air series returns, offering a unique blend of classical and contemporary music beneath the stars. Presented by Fever, the concerts take place at two of Athens’ most atmospheric venues: the Melina Mercouri Open Air Theatre in Vyronas and the enchanting gardens of the Byzantine and Christian Museum. Each performance glows entirely by candlelight, featuring acclaimed local ensembles such as the Novarte Quartet and STELLAR Quartet. The repertoire is diverse, from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons to cinematic scores by Hans Zimmer, alongside vibrant tributes to Coldplay, Queen, Imagine Dragons, The Beatles, and ABBA- a musical journey as eclectic as the city itself.
Events: The Best of Hans Zimmer (July 22, Melina Mercouri Open Air Theatre)
Coldplay & Imagine Dragons Tribute (July 23, Melina Mercouri Open Air Theatre)
Tickets: feverup.com
Full Moon Sleepover at SNFCC
Returning for its third year, the Full Moon Sleepover invites night owls to a magical, moonlit celebration at Athens’ Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC). Supported by Aperol, this year’s event takes place on July 10th under the Red Deer Full Moon- promising an unforgettable all-night experience. The park stays open till dawn with a packed lineup of activities: a movie marathon, silent disco, yoga and meditation sessions, group games, and pedal boat rides along the Canal. The catch? You have to stay awake to enjoy it all.
Date & Time: Thursday, 10 July, 2025, 7pm
A: Great Lawn section, SNFCC, 364 Syngrou Avenue, Kallithea
