Cyprus's summer calendar is filling up with concerts, theatre and film screenings, offering affordable entertainment and quality culture for adults and children alike across August and September. CNA has compiled the main events taking place across the island in the coming weeks.
Nights in the capital
Nicosia's Summer Nights Festival has been running since July and continues through September, with the municipal districts of Nicosia, Aglantzia, Egkomi and Agios Dometios hosting concerts, theatrical performances, dance evenings, photography exhibitions and other artistic events, all free to attend. The full programme is available on the Nicosia Municipality website, www.nicosia.org.cy.
Film lovers looking for summer entertainment can head to the Summer Screenings Marathon, already under way at the Constantia open-air cinema in Nicosia and running until 13 September. Organised by the Department of Contemporary Culture at the Deputy Ministry of Culture together with Theatro Ena, the marathon features award-winning international productions that have featured at major film festivals, alongside Greek and Cypriot films. The programme is available at theatroena.com.cy.
Beer and live music fans can look forward to the return of Septemberfest at Akadimias Park in Aglantzia, running from 1 to 7 September, with gates opening at 7pm each evening. The line-up includes well-known Greek singers and bands, among them Giorgos Sabanis, Locomondo, Ble, Angelos Dionysiou, Stelios and Diamantis Dionysiou, Stelios Rokkos, Eleonora Zouganeli, Petros Iakovidis, Christos Mastoras and Melisses.
Theatre and documentary in Limassol
The 21st Limassol International Documentary Festival is under way at the Lanitis Carob Mill, having opened on 1 August and running until 8 August. Organised by Brave New Culture and funded by the Department of Contemporary Culture, the festival presents documentaries exploring hidden aspects of a complex world, difficult lives and overlooked contemporary tragedies, alongside films that approach human experience with humour and warmth. The full programme is available at filmfestival.com.cy.
August also brings the closing performances of the International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama, with the National Theatre of Greece staging Euripides' Alcestis, directed by Dimitris Karantzas and starring Iro Bezou in the title role. The production will be performed at the Ancient Theatre of Kourion on 7 and 8 August, with both performances beginning at 9pm. Further details are available at greekdramafest.com.
Music, theatre, dance and animation in the mountains
Cyprus's mountain communities, already popular for nature outings and recreation away from the cities, are hosting a series of events as part of the 2026 Cultural Decentralisation Programme, drawn up by the Department of Contemporary Culture.
Between August and September, the shadow theatre performance "A Suitcase Called Cyprus" will be staged in Trimiklini, Agios Vavatsinias, Polystypos, Katydata and Moniatis, while the contemporary dance piece "Frear" by Selas Dance Company will be performed in Alambra, Moni, Aska, Foini, Lagoudera and Alithinou.
Five communities in the Paphos district, Praitori, Arminou, Galataria, Kedares and Nikokleia, will host the music and dance performance "Musical Dialogues of Tradition" in August, prepared by Michalis and Petros Koulloumis. August and September will also bring the musical theatre performance "The Scent of Jasmine: A Retro Journey Through Yesterday's Greece" to Kato Drys, Palaichori, Kakopetria and Agios Vavatsinias, while "The Three-String Journey" will be staged in Galata, Kambi Farmakas and Pano Platres in August and October. Further details are available at gov.cy/culture-dcc.
Meanwhile, the Cyprus International Animation Festival, known as Animafest, marks its 25th anniversary this year and moves to Koilani, where it will run from 6 to 9 August. This year's international competition programme includes 30 films from 17 countries, while the International Competition for Children and Young People features 15 films from seven countries. The National Competition includes seven Cypriot productions, and a newly established second stage, After Stage, will present experimental films and audiovisual work by young Cypriot and international creators. The full programme is available at animafest.innovedu.com.
The 44th Lefkara Festival runs from 7 to 22 August, offering a full programme of cultural, musical, theatrical and traditional events, held mainly in the courtyard of Lefkara Primary School alongside additional activities at historic and cultural sites around the municipality. Entry is free for most events, except where a specific ticket price is listed in the official programme, available at lefkara.org.cy.
A distinctive event titled "Rebirth of the Phoenix" will take place on 8 August in Pano Arodes, in the Paphos district, drawing inspiration from the area's medieval past. The programme includes medieval dance and mosaic workshops, archery displays, and fire and music performances, with details available at osmtj.cy.
For children and parents
Cultural events for children and their parents are also well represented this summer. On 8 and 9 August, the fourth PICCOLINO Arts Festival for Children in Nature will take place at Val's Place in Gialia, Paphos district, organised by Piccolo Theatre. The two-day festival includes theatrical and interactive performances, music and art workshops, a treasure hunt, yoga and optional family camping. The programme is available on Piccolo Theatre's Facebook page.
Source: CNA
