The 24th Athens Jazz Festival takes over Technopolis City of Athens from May 26 to June 1, bringing together 21 bands from 19 countries in a daring exploration of what jazz can be in 2025. Entry remains free of charge, staying true to the festival’s spirit of accessibility and cultural openness. Athens Jazz, the city’s largest jazz festival, stands as the ultimate kick-off to the summer concert season.
With its pulse on the ever-evolving global music scene, this year’s edition pushes the boundaries of jazz—melding it with funk, punk, afrobeat, electronica, and psychedelia. From saxophone-driven rave energy to ambient dreamscapes and Balkan brass, this isn’t jazz confined by tradition; it’s jazz as a live, breathing experiment.
The festival is also a tribute to Giorgos Haronitis, the late music journalist and long-standing supporter of Athens Jazz. His legacy, rooted in a deep love for adventurous music, continues to shape the festival’s boundary-pushing artistic identity.
Opening Night: Spotlight on Greece
Committed to its tradition of showcasing homegrown talent, the Athens Jazz Festival opens with a dedicated tribute to the Greek jazz scene, featuring three standout acts handpicked by the festival’s artistic committee.
- Yiorgos Bereris Trio blends Nordic jazz textures with Cuban son and Balkan motifs, offering a vibrant, multicultural debut.
- Modified Dog, a trio at the crossroads of jazz, electronica, and post-rock, deliver a genre-fluid set brimming with experimental edge.
- Valia Calda, the official Greek act of the year, merge Epirus folk with punk ethos and avant-jazz energy—defiantly original and internationally acclaimed.
Valia Calda band,
Athens Jazz 2025 | Full Line-Up
Concerts begin at 9 p.m., 10 p.m., and 11 p.m. each night
Monday, May 26
• 21:00 | Yiorgos Bereris Trio (GR)
• 22:00 | Modified Dog (GR)
• 23:00 | Valia Calda (GR)
Tuesday, May 27
• Phønix (Norway): Krautrock-jazz hybrids laced with psych riffs and avant-pop flair
• Mohs. (Switzerland): Genre-defying electro-acoustic jazz with immersive textures
• Toot Ensemble (Czech Republic): A 9-piece brass explosion fusing EDM pulse with analog chaos
Wednesday, May 28
• Karja/Renard/Wandinger (Estonia): Free jazz meets sonic abstraction and compositional fragments
• New Fossils (Hungary): Groove-laden, melodic jazz with a DIY ethos
• AYYUKA (Turkey): Anatolian psychedelia blended with afrobeat rhythms and surf-funk energy
AYYUKA.
Thursday, May 29
• BI (Argentina): Latin warmth, rhythmic finesse, and soulful improvisation
• Purple is the Color (Austria): Inventive nu-jazz with poetic and global influences
• Enrico Rava “Fearless Five” (Italy): Jazz legend leads a bold, intergenerational quintet
Purple is the Color band,
Friday, May 30
• Tele-Port (Luxembourg): High-voltage improvisation with a cosmic twist
• Krúe (Cyprus): A daring blend of jazz, electronics, and global rhythms
• Concombre (France): Cult favorites delivering raw sax, gritty synths, and rare live moments
Saturday, May 31
• Svante Söderqvist Trio (Sweden): Scandinavian elegance with classical and folk undertones
• EABS (Poland): Cutting-edge fusion of jazz, hip-hop, and Slavic heritage
• Smag På Dig Selv (Denmark): Punk-jazz energy meets rave-like intensity
Sunday, June 1
• Norman & Corrie (Scotland/UK): Drone-tinged Scottish folk-jazz with pagan undertones
Norman & Corrie
• Moisés P. Sánchez (Spain): Cinematic piano and emotionally rich compositions
• Kessoncoda (UK): A piano-drums duo crafting fragile, immersive sonic landscapes to close the festival
Side Events Add Rhythm Beyond the Main Stage
Alongside the main lineup, the Athens Jazz Festival extends its vibrant atmosphere with two standout side events. From Monday, May 26 to Sunday, June 1, the Meet Market: Jazz Edition returns to Technopolis, bringing over 100 local makers and independent brands to the central courtyard and Machine Works building. Featuring handcrafted creations, unique fashion, wellness goods, artisanal treats, and daily DJ sets, the pop-up market offers a colorful, music-infused experience that flows seamlessly into the festival’s nightly concerts.
Visitors can enjoy street food, refreshing drinks, and family-friendly activities from 7 p.m. to midnight on weekdays and from noon on weekends, with free admission throughout.
On Friday, May 30, the Kosmos Jazz Party takes over Gazarte with an eclectic blend of soul, funk, blues, afrobeat, and disco. Hosted by Kosmos 93.6, the night includes DJ sets and a high-energy live performance by Iliana Tsapatsari with Datfunk Band, joined by guest saxophonist Vassilis Xenopoulos. Free entry from 9 p.m.
