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Discover Crete: Festivals, music & cultural events (18–26 July 2026)

Looking for concerts, festivals and cultural events in Crete this week? Here is a selection of events taking place across the island from Saturday 18 to Sunday 26 July 2026.

  • Saturday, July 18

Cretan music night – Ano Kastelliana (Municipality of Minoa Pediadas)

Enjoy a traditional Cretan celebration with live music by Kostas Nodarakis and his band.

Organised by: Ano Kastelliana Cultural Association

  • Sunday, July 19

Music concert: “On the paths of greek song” (Municipality of Chersonissos)

Singer Michalis Klontzas presents a concert featuring beloved Greek songs in the courtyard of Evangelistria Church, Limenas Hersonissos.

Time: 09:00 PM

Traditional Cretan Feast – Smari (Municipality of Minoa Pediada)

On the eve of the feast day of Prophet Elijah, the village of Smari hosts a traditional Cretan celebration with live music by Kostas Saridakis and his band.

Organised by: Smari Cultural Association

  • Monday, July 20

Theatre Performance – “Goddesses” (Municipality of Chersonissos)

The play “Goddesses” by M. Kounougakis, presented as part of the 100 Years of OFI FC celebrations by Figure 7, directed by K. Metaxakis, will be staged in the courtyard of the Elia Cultural Association.

Time: 9:00 PM

Theatre Performance – “The Free Besieged” (Municipality of Minoa Pediada)

In the village of Apostolous, at the Apostolous Theatre, the theatrical performance “The Free Besieged: A Study on the Work of Dionysios Solomos” will be presented. Two hundred years after the Exodus of Messolonghi, the voice of Solomos remains alive. Through the music and poetic language of Dionysios Solomos’ “The Free Besieged,” the performance evokes memory, faith, and the timeless pursuit of freedom.

The performance is presented by the Mixed Choirs of the Municipalities of Minoa Pediada and Archanes-Asterousia, under the direction of Argyro Reppa, in collaboration with the Theatre Workshop of the Municipality of Archanes-Asterousia, directed by Petros Mavromatides.

Free admission.

  • Tuesday, July 21

The theatrical performance “We Build Bridges – We Break Silences” from Figure 7 by K. Metaxakis will take place in the courtyard of the former Potamia Primary School. Starting time: 20:30.

  • Wednesday, July 22

Open-Air Cinema in Arkalochori (Municipality of Minoa Pediada)

At 21:00, an open-air screening of the family movie “Dolittle” will take place at the Arkalochori Open Basketball Court.

Free admission

Organized by: Arkalochori Cultural Association

Traditional Cretan music night in Kastelli (Municipality of Minoa Pediada)

A traditional Cretan celebration featuring Lefteris and Manousos Kallergis will be held at the courtyard of the Kastelli High School.

Organized by: Kastelli Senior High School

  • Friday, July 24

Theatre performance: “The Fairy and the Young Man”

The theatre group TES4SERA of M. Zeibekis presents the comedy “The Fairy and the Young Man” (The Fourtounakis and Vrontakis families) at the courtyard of “Axion Esti” in Kokkini Hani.

Starting time: 21:00

Traditional Anevató Loukoumi Festival (a local Cretan sweet) (Municipality of Minoa Pediada)

The 2nd Traditional Anevató Loukoumi Festival takes place in Karavados, featuring a Cretan music celebration with Nikos Manioudakis.

Visitors can also enjoy a special Metalwork and Woodcarving Art Exhibition by artists Dimitris Bounakis and Marinos Makrakis, hosted at the old Primary School of Karavados until July 26.

During the exhibition, visitors will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on workshops and create their own artworks.

The program also includes a presentation of videos featuring old traditional celebrations and village festivals.

Organized by: Karavados Cultural Association

  • Saturday, July 25

Children’s musical storytelling performance

The children’s performance “Ploumistá Fairy Tales – Stories about Fairies and Young Heroes” will entertain young visitors at the courtyard of the former Primary School of Kato Vatheia.

Starting time: 19:30

Theatre Performance: “To Asparachi”

The Theatre of Crete, directed by Vasilis Mastorogiannakis, presents the play “To Asparachi” at the courtyard of the Community of Anopolis.

Starting time: 21:00

Cretan music night in Demati (Municipality of Minoa Pediada)

The musical group of Kostas Saridakis invites visitors to enjoy a traditional Cretan celebration organized by the Demati Cultural Association “Agia Paraskevi”.

Film screening in Monastiraki (Municipality of Minoa Pediada)

At 21:00, a special screening of the film “Remember Me”, focusing on Alzheimer’s disease, will take place in Monastiraki.

Organized by: Monastiraki Active Citizens Association

  • Sunday, July 26

Theatre performance: “Building Bridges – Breaking Silences”

The theatre group Figure 7 of K. Metaxakis presents the play “Building Bridges -Breaking Silences” at the courtyard of Agios Vasilios Church in Koutouloufari.

Time: 20:30

Traditional festival of Agia Paraskevi – Skotino Cave (Municipality of Hersonissos)

A traditional celebration in honour of Agia Paraskevi will take place at Skotino Cave.

The day begins with a morning church ceremony at 07:00, followed by a traditional Cretan feast with music and dancing from 10:00.

Traditional food festival & Cretan music night – Kastelli (Municipality of Minoa Pediada)

In Kastelli, visitors can enjoy a celebration with traditional local food, followed by a Traditional Cretan Music Night with the Chrysanthos Makrakis band.

Organized by the Kastelli Cultural Association.

Traditional cretan music night – Partira (Municipality of Minoa Pediada)

At the Primary School of Partira, the Cultural Association of Partira organizes a traditional Cretan feast with live music by Michalis I. Kounalis and Lefteris Georgiladakis.