- Art on the Street Festival runs from June 15 to June 28
- More than 135 events and exhibitions are scheduled
- Activities take place at 69 locations across Heraklion Municipality
- Opening concert features Rena Morfi in Freedom Square
- Hundreds of artists will participate
- Most events are free to attend
For two weeks this June, Heraklion will turn into one giant open-air stage.
The Municipality of Heraklion’s 11th Art on the Street Festival opens on June 15 and runs through June 28, bringing more than 135 events, exhibitions, performances, and cultural activities to neighborhoods, public squares, and villages across the municipality.
This year’s festival includes 125 performances and 10 exhibitions spread across 69 locations, including 32 sites within Heraklion city and 37 locations in surrounding communities.
The festival has become one of Crete’s most popular cultural events, attracting both residents and visitors looking to experience the city beyond its museums and archaeological sites.
Rena Morfi Opens the Festival
The official opening takes place on Monday, June 15, at 9:00 p.m. in Freedom Square.
Greek singer Rena Morfi will headline the opening concert, bringing a repertoire that combines her own hits with beloved reinterpretations of classic Greek songs.
Known for her distinctive voice and energetic stage presence, Morfi rose to national prominence through her work with Imam Baildi before establishing a successful solo career.
Festival organizers expect one of the largest crowds of the event’s opening week.
Opening Day Schedule
Visitors arriving in the city on June 15 can enjoy a full evening of performances before the main concert.
7:30 p.m. — Courtyard of Saint Mark’s Basilica
“We Sing and We Dream”
The Ars Nova Children’s Choir of the Classical Conservatory of Heraklion performs a program introducing young audiences to Greek composers, poetry, traditional music, and contemporary social themes.
8:15 p.m. — Saint Titus Square
Antikroustoi Percussion Group
The city’s streets come alive as the percussion ensemble Antikroustoi marches through the center of Heraklion, creating a lively musical procession leading into the festival’s official opening.
8:45 p.m. — Loggia Courtyard
Municipal Philharmonic Orchestra
Led by conductor Leonidas Tzortzakis, the orchestra performs a musical route through the city before arriving at Freedom Square for the official launch ceremony.
9:00 p.m. — Freedom Square
Official Opening Concert with Rena Morfi
The festival’s headline event and formal opening celebration.
Exhibitions Opening June 15
Several exhibitions will launch alongside the festival.
Freedom Square
Heraklion Municipal Art Gallery Open-Air Exhibition
Large-format digital reproductions from the Municipal Art Gallery collection will transform public spaces into an outdoor gallery. Visitors can access additional information about the artworks through QR codes displayed alongside each piece.
Saint George Gate
“The Passage of Time” Photography Exhibition
Two separate photography projects explore memory, identity, aging, and urban life:
- People, Streets, Memories
- From Lens to Soul
Daily opening hours: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Hellenic Photographic Society of Heraklion
“Dialogues in Images”
A group exhibition built around photographic diptychs that invite viewers to discover visual connections between paired images.
Exhibition dates: June 15–28.
Lakkos District
“Heraklion, Diary of a City”
An outdoor photography exhibition documenting daily life, neighborhoods, residents, and historic landmarks throughout the city.
On display through July 30.
Dikaiosynis Avenue
“Third Age”
A photographic tribute to older generations, highlighting dignity, memory, and the human experience through portraiture and documentary photography.
Exhibition dates: June 15–28.
The Book Fair Returns
The Vikelaia Municipal Library Bookstore will also host a special book fair during the festival.
Visitors will be able to purchase selected publications from the library’s collection at reduced prices.
Dates: June 15–26
Opening Hours:
- Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
- Monday, Wednesday, Saturday: 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
A Festival That Reaches Beyond the City Center
One reason Art on the Street continues to grow is its commitment to bringing culture beyond Heraklion’s historic center.
With events taking place across villages, neighborhoods, public squares, galleries, and municipal spaces, the festival transforms the entire municipality into a cultural destination rather than concentrating activities in a single venue.
For visitors spending time in Crete this June, the festival offers something increasingly rare: nearly two weeks of free cultural programming spread across one of the island’s most vibrant urban areas.
A complete festival schedule is available through the Municipality of Heraklion.
