The 54th Athens Book Festival will open Sept. 4 at Pedion tou Areos, bringing publishers, readers and visitors together for more than two weeks of book presentations, cultural events, concerts, theater performances and activities for children.
Running through Sept. 20, the festival will feature 210 publishing houses and 285 stands, alongside more than 200 cultural events and activities. Admission is free.
This year’s festival is centered on the theme “Sustainable Development: The Book as Architect of Tomorrow,” drawing inspiration from the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The program aims to highlight issues including quality education, social equality, environmental protection, responsible consumption, cultural inclusion and the sustainable development of cities and communities.
Books are presented as tools for knowledge, reflection and creativity, connecting readers with universal values, sustainable practices and new ideas. The festival also emphasizes the importance of protecting natural resources and fostering responsible coexistence within the global community.
Books, culture and activities for all ages
The festival’s parallel program will bring together cultural and social organizations for discussions, workshops and performances.
Among the events is a three-day presentation dedicated to emerging writers and creators, as well as a program organized by the Hellenic Comics Academy. Roundtable discussions will address children’s rights and related issues, with participation from the Greek section of IBBY, the European Parliament Liaison Office in Greece and the European Commission Representation in Greece.
Children will have their own program of workshops and interactive activities. Participating organizations include the Panhellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association and “Floga,” an organization supporting children with cancer and their families.
The cultural program will also include the children’s theater production “Alice in the Land of Fish,” a Karagiozis shadow theater performance by the Nikolas Tzivelekis Shadow Theater, and a concert by the City of Athens Greek Music Workshop.
The festival will also present “A Journey Through Time With Songs From the Screen,” featuring Marios Strofalis and Eirini Toumpaki.
The official opening ceremony will take place Sept. 7 at 8 p.m., three days after the festival opens to the public.
The 54th Athens Book Festival is organized by the Association of Book Publishers and takes place under the auspices of Greece’s Ministry of Culture, the Attica Regional Authority and the City of Athens, among other supporting institutions.
54th Athens Book Festival
September 4–20, 2026
Venue: Pedion tou Areos, Athens
Admission: Free
