Creativity, dialogue and community take center stage as Refugee Week Greece 2026 returns to Athens, from June 15 to 21, celebrating the contributions, resilience and talents of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.

Ahead of World Refugee Day on June 20 and for seven days, the Greek capital will join cities around the world in hosting events as part of Refugee Week, the world’s largest arts and culture festival dedicated to people who have experienced forced displacement.

This year’s edition carries added significance as it marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the landmark international agreement that established the rights of refugees and the responsibilities of states to protect them.

Now in its fifth year, Refugee Week Greece pays tribute to the courage of refugees and migrants who have fled conflict, persecution and hardship in search of safety, freedom and opportunity.

Courage

This year’s theme, “Courage”, casts the spotlight on the everyday strength required to “rebuild a life in a new country, learn new languages, and navigate unfamiliar systems while carrying trauma and uncertainty”.

The week-long festival includes film screenings, panel discussions, art and dance workshops, public performances, and educational programs taking place across Athens. The events aim to foster understanding while showcasing the many ways refugees and migrants contribute to the communities they now call home.

Organizers say the festival is also an opportunity to challenge stereotypes and reclaim the meaning of the word “refugee”.

“We use the word ‘refugee’ because of its legal and historical significance, and because we believe it is important to reclaim it from negative uses,” they explain. “At the same time, we recognize the danger of labels and respect people’s right to decide how they define themselves. Refugee Week celebrates the contributions of everyone seeking safety, regardless of the legal status they hold.”

Marking 75 Years of the Refugee Convention

A resident waves to an overcrowded fishing boat carrying refugees and migrants after they crossed the Aegean sea from Turkey to Greece, 11 October 2015. Photo: EPA/Yannis Kolesidis

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, Refugee Week Greece will host the exhibition Memory and Courage from June 17 to 19 at the Stelios Foundation Conference Hall in Plaka. Open daily from 11am to 8pm, the free exhibition explores diverse perspectives on courage through art, storytelling and personal experience.

The exhibition is organized by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, the Coordination Center of the Municipality of Athens on Migrants and Refugees (ACCMR), and We Are Community.

“At a time when some seek to divide and blame, Refugee Week 2026 calls us to come together and share the courage to welcome, to stand for what we believe in, and to celebrate culture and community,” organizers said in a statement.

Kallithea Takes Centre Stage

Courage: the theme of this year’s Refugee Week Greece

This year’s featured municipality is Kallithea, which will host the community celebration Courage that Unites, Strength that Flourishes on June 16 at the Municipal Theater of Kallithea.

Held annually in a different city or municipality, the event honors local initiatives that promote inclusion, multiculturalism and social cohesion. Reflecting Kallithea’s long history as a meeting point for people from across the Mediterranean, the Black Sea region and beyond, this year’s celebration will recognize the diverse communities and cultural traditions that continue to shape the city’s identity.

Part of the global Refugee Week network, the festival is organized in Greece by We Are Community under the auspices of the City of Athens.

* For a full program of events and activities, visit the Refugee Week Greece website.

 ** Those interested in supporting the festival can also sign up to volunteer here