The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) is bringing back its popular “Park Your Cinema” and “Park Your Cinema Kids” series this summer, transforming the Great Lawn into a free open-air movie theater with a lineup of musicals, family films, and sensory-friendly screenings.
Running from July 3 through August 22, 2026, the annual program invites audiences to enjoy films under the stars in one of Athens’ signature summer settings. Instead of traditional theater seating, visitors are encouraged to bring blankets and settle onto the lawn for outdoor screenings accompanied by the sounds of cicadas and the evening sea breeze.
This year’s “Park Your Cinema” program celebrates the power of music on screen, featuring acclaimed musicals spanning several decades. The lineup opens with Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street on July 3 and continues with School of Rock, Dreamgirls, 8 Femmes, Cabaret, Singin’ in the Rain, before concluding with Martin Scorsese’s New York, New York on August 21.
Families can also enjoy “Park Your Cinema Kids”, which returns with a selection of animated adventures and children’s favorites. The series begins with Finding Nemo on July 4 and continues with Captain Sabertooth and the Magic Diamond, Surf’s Up, The Amazing Mauric, Anchors Up, Cattle Hill, and concludes with Dolphin Boy on August 22.
Accessibility remains a central part of both programs. In partnership with TheHappyAct, several “Park Your Cinema” screenings and the majority of “Park Your Cinema Kids” events will be presented as Sensory Friendly Screenings. These specially designed screenings feature lower sound levels and a relaxed atmosphere that allows audience members to move freely without the expectation of remaining silent. The children’s screenings also eliminate commercial waiting times, creating a more welcoming experience for young viewers and their families.
All screenings begin at 9 p.m. Admission is free, and the venue is wheelchair accessible.
Park Your Cinema 2026 Schedule
- July 3: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
- July 19: School of Rock (2003)
- July 24: Dreamgirls (2006)
- July 31: 8 Femmes (2002)
- August 7: Cabaret (1972)
- August 14: Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
- August 21: New York, New York (1977)
Park Your Cinema Kids 2026 Schedule
- July 4: Finding Nemo (2003)
- July 18: Captain Sabertooth and the Magic Diamond (2019)
- July 25: Surf’s Up (2007)
- August 1: The Amazing Mauric (2022)
- August 8: Anchors Up (2017)
- August 15: Cattle Hill (2018)
- August 22: Dolphin Boy (2022)
