Christmas In Athens: Markets, Music & Magical Moments Across The City

The Heart Of The Festivities

Kotzia Square once again becomes Athens’ main festive meeting point. Wooden chalets line the square with holiday treats, street food, gifts, and decorations, while a carousel and a free children’s area make it a favorite stop for families.

This year’s expanded edition brings daily live radio broadcasts, a fully programmed kids’ corner with creative workshops, and a continuous schedule of concerts and DJ sets on the main stage. Lively, accessible, and central, it’s the city’s most reliable festive hub for both locals and visitors.

Big Nights & Citywide Celebrations

Night of Wishes

24 December 2025 | Kotzia Square

One of Athens’ most touching Christmas Eve traditions returns as biodegradable lanterns rise into the night sky, carrying the wishes of thousands gathered in the square. Radio station Athens 9.84 broadcasts live from the site starting at 17:00, creating a shared soundtrack for this quietly magical ritual.

Athens New Year’s Eve Celebration

31 December 2025 | Syntagma Square

The city’s official New Year’s Eve countdown takes place in front of the Parliament, with live performances, dancing crowds, and fireworks lighting up the Athenian sky. The evening opens with festive selections by the Athens Philharmonic Band, setting the tone for the capital’s largest public celebration.

Music & Innovation

AI Christmas Orchestra

21 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 | Various Neighborhoods

In a unique collaboration between OPANDA and the Athens Digital Arts Festival, musicians perform live alongside an AI system that responds in real time, creating ever-changing soundscapes and light visuals. Performances pop up in neighborhood squares including Kypseli, Thymarakia, Agios Dimitrios, Mesolongiou, and Sepolia, bringing experimental holiday music into everyday city life.

Culture & Quiet Festive Escapes

Carols – Embroidered Songs of Christmas

Until 11 January 2026 | Museum of Folk Art & Tradition ‘Angeliki Hatzimichali’

A beautifully atmospheric exhibition in Plaka that explores Christmas and New Year carols from Greece, Southern Italy, and Cyprus, told through intricate embroidery. Ceramic and metal artworks produced by the city’s Clay Centre accompany the textiles, offering a reflective counterpoint to the city’s louder festivities.

Dickens: The Christmas Writer

31 December 2025 | Municipal Library

A thoughtful literary session for adults focusing on Charles Dickens’ enduring Christmas legacy. Combining reading and writing elements, the event takes place on the final morning of the year—an ideal pause before the night’s celebrations begin.

Family Activities & Learning Through Play

Christmas Bubble Shows & Festive Parades

20, 21 & 28 December 2025 | Kotzia Square & Athens Book Space

Aerial performances, giant bubble displays, and whimsical parades fill the streets with color and movement. The beloved La Petite Marguerite troupe returns with fantasy characters and bubble parades, creating joyful, crowd-pleasing moments for all ages.

Salt-Dough & Festive Boat Workshops

27 December 2025 | Athens Children’s Museum

Children aged 3–12 can drop in to create Christmas boats and holiday ornaments in hands-on workshops, held within the museum’s “Hello Pythagoras” exhibition space.

Astronomy Night

21 December 2025 | Parko Eleftherias (Athens Book Space)

A winter stargazing evening led by astronomers from the National Observatory. Participants can observe Saturn, the Moon, and other celestial highlights through telescopes, with guided explanations adding depth to the experience.