5th International Mikis Theodorakis Festival “Arcadies” Zatouna

The 5th International Mikis Theodorakis Festival “Arcadies” Zatouna will take place from 19 to 21 June 2026, connecting music, poetry, history and political memory in Zatouna and Dimitsana.

The 2026 festival is dedicated to Mikis Theodorakis and Yannis Ritsos, to Epitaphios and the events of May 1936 in Thessaloniki, and to the Latin America of Theodorakis, Che Guevara, Fidel Castro, Pablo Neruda and Salvador Allende.

Theme of the festival

The bloody workers’ uprising of May 1936 in Thessaloniki, Yannis Ritsos’ emblematic poetic work Epitaphios, and its celebrated musical setting by Mikis Theodorakis form one of the central themes of this year’s programme. The festival also highlights Theodorakis’ relationship with Latin America, including Canto General and his links with the wider culture of resistance and solidarity.

Programme highlights

• Friday 19 June 2026: screening of the film The Motorcycle Diaries at the Dimitsana Interconference and Cultural Centre, in collaboration with Studio New Star Art Cinema.
• Saturday 20 June 2026: tribute to Yannis Ritsos and Mikis Theodorakis, the creators of Epitaphios, with a musical tribute and historical reference to the workers’ uprising of 9 May 1936 in Thessaloniki.
• Sunday 21 June 2026: tribute to Mikis Theodorakis and Latin America, focusing on Pablo Neruda’s Canto General and the composer’s relationship with Che Guevara, Fidel Castro and Salvador Allende.

The festival also marks 45 years since the historic 1981 performance of Canto General in Havana’s Plaza de la Catedral, with the Symphony Orchestra of Cuba and in the presence of Fidel Castro.

Photography exhibition

As part of the festival, a photography exhibition marking 100 years since the birth of Fidel Castro will be hosted in ten display cases throughout the summer, in collaboration with Centro Fidel Castro Ruz and with the support of Studio New Star Art Cinema. The exhibition opening is scheduled for Sunday morning with the participation of the Ambassador of Cuba, followed by a discussion on Cuba and Latin America and a musical programme.

Music and participants

During the festival, songs by Mikis Theodorakis from Epitaphios and Canto General will be performed by Kalliopi Vetta, Nadia Karagianni, Angelos Theodorakis Papangelidis, Margarita Theodorakis and composer Giorgos Theodorakis, with Alkis Kolias on piano, Dimitris Papangelidis on guitar, Mariliza Papadouri Papangelidi on cello, Stathis Savvidis on bouzouki and Catriel Stringaro on guitar.

Organisers and support

The festival is organised by the Mikis Theodorakis Museum of Zatouna in collaboration with the Municipality of Gortynia and the Association “The Friends of Music”. It is held under the auspices of the Hellenic Parliament and with the support of the Region of Peloponnese, KEDE, PED Peloponnese and the Holy Metropolis of Gortynos and Megalopolis.