Welcome!

Our goal is contribution
to good music.

The Nafplio Festival has hosted some of the brightest ensembles and artists of the international classical scene and has been honored with the distinction of the best festival by the Union of Greek Music Critics. In the context of its activities, over 300 Greek and foreign artists have appeared, including some of the most famous names in the world, as well as 25 Quartets, 20 Symphonic and Chamber Orchestras, and a multitude of emerging young artists. Its concerts, which are held with symbolic ticket prices, at the enchanting monuments and squares of Nafplio, have attracted more than 200,000 Greek and foreign visitors, both from the local community, who have loved and supported it since the first year, as well as from Athens and the rest of Greece, while it has steadfast friends who attend every year, underlining the cultural value of the Festival.

GREETINGS

Dimitris Orfanos

Major of Nafplion

Dear fellow citizens, distinguished visitors, friends,

Welcome to the 35th Nafplion Festival!

As of July 11th, our city reclaims its place at the forefront of cultural life. For 35 years, this prestigious institution has seamlessly woven Nafplion’s historic grandeur with the finest expressions of high art. This year, we inaugurate the festivities with a powerful opening at the imposing Palamidi Castle, featuring Dimitris Maramis’ “The Haunted”—a profound, multi-dimensional performance combining spoken word, music, song, and drama that is bound to captivate us all. The journey will then unfold across the city’s most iconic landmarks, presenting a rich and exceptionally diverse program. I extend my deepest gratitude to all the artists, contributors, and organizers. Above all, I thank you—the audience—whose enduring presence breathes life into the Festival every single summer. We cordially invite you to share in this extraordinary cultural celebration and wish you an inspiring artistic journey.

Dimitrios I. Orfanos

Mayor of the City of Nafplion

Janis Vakarelis

Artistic Director

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the anniversary of the 35th Nafplion Festival 2026.

Few festivals have endured for so many years with such an uninterrupted, continuous, and creative presence and contribution. This long-standing journey constitutes, in itself, an exceptional achievement within the Greek cultural sphere and is a source of immense pride for us all. The Nafplion Festival was founded upon the conviction that music and the arts can serve as bridges of communication, knowledge, and aesthetic cultivation. Over its thirty-five-year history, it has hosted distinguished artists from Greece and abroad, showcased emerging creative voices, and provided the public with experiences of the highest artistic standard, thereby contributing decisively to the cultural identity of the city. This year’s anniversary edition honors precisely this continuity—the continuity of a vision that has withstood the test of time, evolved, and remained vibrant owing to the dedication of all those who supported it: the artists, collaborators, institutions, sponsors, and, above all, the audience, who have embraced the Festival with enduring affection and trust throughout the years. In an era where cultural initiatives are frequently challenged, the preservation and development of a festival for three and a half decades is a cause for pride, as well as a responsibility for the future. With profound respect for the institution’s history and our gaze fixed upon new artistic challenges, we remain committed to investing in quality, openness, and the creative intersection of people and cultures. I express my heartfelt gratitude to you for being fellow travelers on this journey, and I cordially invite you to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Nafplion Festival together, through music, imagery, and moments that will remain unforgettable. In closing, my sincere gratitude goes to the Italian Cultural Institute of Athens and the Friends of the Basil Papantoniou Foundation for their collaboration in this year’s festival. I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Hellenic Parliament and particularly to the President, Mr. Nikitas Kaklamanis, for his support and invaluable contribution to the realization of the Athens State Orchestra’s concert.

I wish you a most rewarding listening experience and an enjoyable festival.

Janis Vakarelis
Artistic Director