Marking five years of the Chios Festival’s creative journey, this year represents a significant milestone, featuring emblematic celebratory events attended by distinguished guests, including His Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, Theodore II, H.R.H. the Princess Joharah bint Talal bin Abdulaziz al Saud, and the President of the Academy of Athens, Professor Nikiforos Diamandouros
The 5th Chios Festival will take place from August 26th to September 6th, 2026, under the esteemed auspices of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce. Τhe event will be marked by the distinguished presence of the Chamber’s President, Mr. Ioannis Sarakakis.
It is our great honour to announce the first confirmed participants:
Keynote Speakers:
– Stylianos E. Antonarakis, MD, DSc, PhD, a world-leading geneticist and Professor Emeritus of Genetic Medicine at the University of Geneva Medical School, who serves as the Founding Director of the iGE3 Institute of Genetics and Genomics of Geneva, former President of the Human Genome Organisation (HUGO),Member of the Academy of Athens,Member of the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences and the EMBO.
– George Chrousos, a world-renowned endocrinologist and academic who serves as Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics and Endocrinology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, holds the prestigious UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care and also, clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Physiology and Biophysics at Georgetown University Medical School. A Distinguished Visiting Scientist at the NICHD of the National Institutes of Health (NIH),Member of the Academy of Athens, he is globally recognized as one of the most cited scientists in the fields of Clinical Medicine and Biology.
– Athanassios S. Fokas, PhD, a polymath Mathematician and Physician who holds the Inaugural Chair of Nonlinear Mathematical Science at the University of Cambridge, Chair in Applied Mathematics at Imperial College, UK, and a Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at Clarkson University. A Full Member of the Academy of Athens and a Fellow of Clare Hall, A Guggenheim Fellow and a Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences, he was awarded the prestigious Naylor Prize by the London Mathematical Society.
– Olle Kampe, MD, PhD, a world-renowned Professor of Endocrinology, Senior Consultant of Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Centre of Molecular Medicine, who served as the Chair of the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine -2025. A leading authority in the field of molecular medicine, he is distinguished for his pioneering research on autoimmunity and rare endocrine disorders, such as Addison’s disease and APS-1, while providing strategic leadership at the Centre for Molecular Medicine and the global scientific community.
– Simos Palios, a prominent leader in the global maritime industry and the Founder of Diana Shipping Inc., who currently serves as the President of the Association of Friends of the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA). A dedicated advocate for scientific excellence, he is widely recognized for his strategic support of Greece’s premier biomedical research institution and his long-standing commitment to fostering innovation and advancement in the fields of health and technology.
– Alexandra Prokopiou-Mamaliga, a distinguished leader in the global shipping industry and Co-Founder of the Prokopiou Family Office, who serves as the founder of the non-profit organization ‘World of Vision’ and is an internationally recognized figure in strategic philanthropy. Beyond her prominent role in the maritime sector, she is widely known for her pivotal contributions to global humanitarian efforts, partnering with organizations such as World Central Kitchen to provide vital strategic and logistical leadership for relief operations both in Greece and internationally.
– Panagiotis Roilos, PhD, the George Seferis Professor of Modern Greek Studies and Professor of Comparative Literature at Harvard University, who also serves as the President of the European Cultural Centre of Delphi. A world-renowned scholar in the humanities, he is distinguished for his extensive research on Hellenism and comparative poetics, while his leadership at the European Cultural Centre of Delphi focuses on fostering international intellectual dialogue and the promotion of European cultural heritage
– Peter Sarris, a world-leading Historian and Professor of Late Antique and Byzantine Studies at the University of Cambridge, who serves as a Fellow of Trinity College. An acclaimed author and scholar, he is internationally recognized for his transformative research on the social, legal, and economic history of the Roman and Byzantine empires, and is widely considered one of the foremost authorities on the transition from Antiquity to the Middle Ages
– Nikolaos Stambolidis, a distinguished Professor of Archaeology at the University of Crete and the Director General of the Acropolis Museum. A prominent Member of the Central Archaeological Council of Greece and a Corresponding Member of the Academy of Athens, he is an internationally acclaimed archaeologist whose extensive excavations and innovative museological vision have significantly advanced the study of classical antiquity and the global promotion of Greek cultural heritage
– Alexandra Touroutoglou, MSc, PhD, a distinguished Νeuroscientist and Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, who serves as the Director of Imaging Operations for the Frontotemporal Disorders Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is globally recognized for her innovative clinical research and trials that integrate advanced brain imaging with non-invasive brain stimulation, pioneering new therapeutic approaches for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
– George Windsor, the Earl of St Andrews, a distinguished former diplomat who currently serves as the Chancellor of the Greater Manchester University and as a prominent patron or trustee of various international cultural and charitable organizations, such as the SOS Children’s Villages UK and the Global eHealth Foundation
– The Rt Hon. Simon Woolley, Baron Woolley of Woodford, the Principal of Homerton College, University of Cambridge, and a dedicated Member of the House of Lords. As the Founder and Director of Operation Black Vote, he is a transformative figure in British public life, internationally recognized for his tireless advocacy for social justice, political institutional reform, and racial equality. His leadership at Cambridge and his legislative work continue to inspire a more inclusive and representative democratic landscape.
– Demetrios Yatromanolakis, PhD, Department of Classics, Department of Anthropology, and Department of Comparative Thought, Johns Hopkins University, and Co-Chair of the Seminar Series Cultural Politics at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University. A world-renowned scholar, he is distinguished for his pioneering cross-disciplinary research on archaic and classical Greece and its reception in the art, thought, and cultural politics from the late nineteenth century to the present. His work explores the intersections of art, archaeology, anthropology, ritual, and politics, establishing him as an influential intellectual voice in the global academic community.
Artists:
– Mimi Denissi, an iconic Greek actress, as well as a prominent playwright, acclaimed director and producer. Widely recognized for her prolific and multifaceted career in theater and cinema, she has become a leading cultural figure in Greece, known for her grand-scale historical productions. Her dedication to bridging the past with the present is exemplified in her latest documentary, “The Woman Behind Elgin,” – produced with the support of the North Aegean Region – which will be featured at The Chios Festival. Through her multifaceted work, she remains a formidable creative force, dedicated to highlighting the pivotal moments of Greek history and heritage on the global stage.
– Katerina Didaskalou, an internationally acclaimed actress of profound expressive depth, whose career spans theater, cinema, and television. Trained at the National Theatre of Greece and the prestigious Columbia University in New York, she has collaborated with world-renowned directors and has been honored for her exceptional contributions to the arts. As a true ambassador of Greek culture, her performances bridge classical tragedy with contemporary drama, embodying a rare blend of elegance and intellectual intensity
– Christina Poulitsi, an internationally acclaimed coloratura soprano, widely celebrated for her virtuosic interpretation of the Queen of the Night and her recurring collaborations with the world’s most prestigious opera houses, including the Royal Opera House (Covent Garden) and the Bolshoi Theatre. A frequent collaborator of legendary maestro Zubin Mehta, she is recognized as one of the finest interpreters of the high soprano repertoire, distinguished for her exceptional vocal agility and her presence on the world’s leading operatic stages.
– Konstantinos Rigos, the visionary Director of the Greek National Opera (GNO) Ballet and an acclaimed choreographer and director, leading Greece’s premier dance ensemble. Under his transformative leadership, the GNO Ballet has achieved a sophisticated fusion of classical technical precision with bold, contemporary artistic expression. Renowned for its versatility and international caliber, the company – under Mr. Rigos’ guidance – will offer a performance that epitomizes the evolution of modern dance, showcasing the innovative spirit and aesthetic excellence that have placed the Greek National Opera at the center of the global cultural map.
– Giannis Smaragdis, the internationally acclaimed Greek film director, who alongside the distinguished actors Antonis Myriagkos and Natalia Kapodistria, is masterfully resurrecting the legacy of the visionary first Governor of Greece in the cinematic epic “Kapodistrias.” Celebrated for his profound ability to translate the lives of great Greek figures into universal cinematic narratives, Smaragdis, supported by the powerful performances of Myriagkos and Kapodistria, offers a poignant and historically significant portrayal of the man who laid the foundations of the modern Greek state.
– Sotiris Sorogas, a prominent Greek painter and Professor Emeritus at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). He was hounored by the Academy of Athens for his overall contribution to Arts. Widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in contemporary Greek art, he is celebrated for his profound aesthetic contribution and his long-standing academic leadership, having shaped the artistic and philosophical discourse in Greece through his globally exhibited work and his dedication to the values of cultural heritage.
About The Chios Festival
Chios – allegedly the homeland of Homer – is well known for its heroic past, the shipping industry, the masticha (the only place in the world where Mastic trees grow) and its trade since ancient times.
Chios, influenced by its Genovese past and the Massacre of Chios – a turning point in European history – has long been a centre of entrepreneurship, culture, and trade across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.The Chios Festival celebrates the Chian spirit by uniting past and future through music, art, history, science, tradition, and gastronomy.
Moreover, Chios is (allegedly) the motherland of Homer, but also of a plethora of important politicians, scholars, entrepreneurs, and benefactors of Greece, Europe, and Egypt, to whom The Chios Festival would like to pay tribute, considering the Chian mind as part not only of the Hellenic mind and vibrant soul, but also of the world’s intellectual elite, blending past and future together in a creative effort to experience, celebrate, and enjoy History, Science, and Art: “with Yesterday’s aura to the Culture of Tomorrow.”
The Chios Festival presents a series of thought-provoking talks by distinguished international figures, offering perspectives on key issues shaping today’s world and its future.
We view the Festival as an intellectual celebration of the Hellenic spirit, uniting past and future through music, art, history, and science, while honoring the legacy of Chios.High-quality performances, lectures, and discussions together with the island’s authentic beauty, reposition Chios on the global cultural map – not only for its history, but as a source of inspiration for the future.
Medieval villages of unique architecture, historical sites, beautiful landscapes, castles and – above all – the legendary Myrovolos Kambos are the dream like settings of The Chios Festival that take us “From the aura of Yesterday to the Culture of Tomorrow.”
The “Cultural Evenings” of the Festival take place at Castelli, the 15th century historic mansion surrounded by a magnificent orchard with flowers and citrus trees, a mixture of fairytale beauty, spring colors and aromas of a bygone era. This residence, once home to the “Castellano,” the military Governor of Chios, is owned by the N. Vafias family and was recently restored under the supervision of the Chios Ephorate of Antiquities.
As evidenced by our previous Editions – where we were deeply honored to host His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew as our Guest of Honor – we consistently prioritize to highlight cultural heritage, international outreach, and social contribution.
Following four successful editions, the enthusiastic participation of residents and returning guests – together with the support of distinguished personalities and organizations – has established The Chios Festival’s reputation in Greece and abroad.
THE CHIOS FESTIVAL has been held under the auspices of UNESCO Greece, as well as the British, Italian, and Swiss Embassies.
Video: THE CHIOS FESTIVAL 2025
