The International Classical Music Festival of the Cyclades, SYRREO, returns to the Greek island of Syros this July with a program that brings together opera, chamber music, theater, educational initiatives and community events. Now in its 22nd year, it is the island’s longest-running classical music festival and one of Greece’s longest-established classical music festivals outside Athens. Since 2025, the festival has been held under the patronage of UNESCO.
Under the artistic direction of Nikolas Kavakos, this year’s edition combines performances by established artists with opportunities for emerging musicians and free activities for children and young people, reflecting the festival’s longstanding commitment to making classical music accessible to a broad audience. The official program was announced in late June, in a presentation that took place at the Cinema Hall of the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation in Athens.
From left to right: Artistic Director Nikos Kavakos, Festival President Fotis A. Karagiannopoulos and producer Popi Malapani during this year’s presentation of SYRREO 2026’s festival program.
Among the highlights is a commemorative concert marking the 200th anniversary of the naming of Ermoupolis, Syros’ capital. Performed by the Gr Echo Brass Ensemble of the Greek National Opera, the event connects the city’s bicentennial celebrations with its rich cultural heritage and longstanding relationship with music.
The exterior of the Apollon Theater, located in Ermoupolis.
The festival also presents the theatrical production “Oleteires in Ancient Drama,” alongside a series of concerts featuring acclaimed Greek opera singers, including Myrto Papathanasiou and Dimitris Platanias. Chamber music performances and the “We Listen to the Young” program, which showcases emerging musicians, are also part of the schedule.
Ornate details and intricate mural portraits decorate the interior of Apollon Theater, a cultural landmark of Syros and host of SYRREO festival’s upcoming performances.
Opera audiences can also attend an evening of arias and duets performed by Anny Fassea and Giannis Kalyvas, accompanied by pianist Marilena Souri, while other performances include “Lyrical Confessions” with Myrto Papathanasiou and a concert titled “From R. Wagner to Twentieth-Century Romanticism.” Another concert features Nikos Mandylas alongside Popi Malapani.
Education remains a central pillar of SYRREO. The festival offers free workshops and activities for children and young people, including programs developed with El Sistema and Arco Sonore, as well as free concerts featuring internationally recognized artists. These initiatives are designed to encourage participation from both residents and visitors while introducing younger audiences to classical music.
Beyond its performance schedule, SYRREO continues to foster collaboration between internationally acclaimed musicians and local cultural organizations. During the anniversary concert for Ermoupolis, the Gr Echo Brass Ensemble was joined by leading opera singers Harris Andrianos and Maria Kossovitsa, while the Syros Philharmonic Orchestra also took part, highlighting the festival’s focus on connecting local talent with internationally recognized performers.
Founded by Fotis A. Karayannopoulos, who continues to serve as the festival’s president, SYRREO has evolved into a cultural institution that extends beyond a series of summer concerts. Its organizers describe the festival as a platform that brings together musical excellence, youth, the island of Syros, European cultural heritage and the Aegean through performances, education and community engagement.
