For many in Greece, the August Full Moon is the most magical night of the year, bathing the country’s ancient monuments and landscapes in a luminous glow. For nearly three decades, the Ministry of Culture has celebrated the occasion by opening archaeological sites and museums after dark, inviting visitors to discover Greece’s rich cultural heritage beneath the moonlit sky.

This year, the tradition returns on Friday, August 28, with an expanded program that extends beyond the night of the full moon itself. Events will also take place on August 26, 27, 29, and 30, offering even more opportunities to enjoy music, theater, dance, exhibitions, and guided tours at some of Greece’s most iconic sites.

In total, 126 archaeological sites, monuments, and museums across the country will participate in the celebrations. Special events will be held at 61 venues, while a further 65 sites will remain open to the public with free admission during the evening, from 7.30/8 pm to 11 or midnight, allowing visitors to explore Greece’s cultural treasures in a unique and memorable setting.

Among this year’s program features performances by some of Greece’s best-known artists. Singer Elli Paspala will appear at the atmospheric Ottoman Fortress in Sigri on Lesvos, while Christos Thivaios will perform at the Acropolis of Megalo Gardiki in Epirus. Maria Papageorgiou will take to the stage at Ovriokastro on Lesvos, and veteran singer Manolis Mitsias will give two concerts, first at the archaeological site of Malia in Crete alongside Giota Negka, before performing two days later at the ancient acropolis of Proerna in Central Greece.

In Athens, the Epigraphic Museum will present a silent film screening accompanied by live piano.

The Acropolis Museum will once again join the nationwide celebrations by extending its opening hours until midnight on August 28. Visitors will be able to explore the museum’s permanent collections before stepping onto its terraces to admire the illuminated Acropolis beneath the late-summer moon. The second-floor restaurant will also remain open until midnight.

Visitors can also enjoy the museum’s acclaimed temporary exhibition, “Inspirations: Ancient Greek Art Living in Italy,” which brings together 38 exceptional works on loan from museums across Italy, will be open with free admission until August 30. Visitors can also join a special 6 pm guided tour of the exhibition (in Greek) led by a museum archaeologist, with advance booking required.

Whether enjoying a concert within the walls of a medieval fortress, wandering through an ancient sanctuary after sunset, or taking in the view of the Acropolis beneath the glow of the August moon, this much-loved annual celebration offers one of the most memorable ways to experience Greece’s extraordinary cultural heritage.

For the full nationwide program of August Full Moon events, visit the Ministry of Culture’s official program (in Greek). 

Details of the Acropolis Museum’s extended opening hours and guided tour are available here.

With information in Greek from kathimerini.gr.