elc team
Panathēnea 2026, the landmark international innovation festival for technology and the arts, returns for its second edition from May 27–29 at the Zappeion Hall. Bringing together 10,000 participants from around the world, this year’s event establishes the Greek capital as a strategic meeting point for the global ecosystems of entrepreneurship and the arts.
This year, Panathēnea enters a new era by expanding its program through the creation of dedicated pillars for Cinema and Music. With Academy Award-winning director Barry Jenkins as a central figure, alongside Ben Frost and Lulu Wang, the festival transforms the Zappeion into a global destination for the arts and creative innovation.
Following last year’s successful first engagement with the artistic community, Panathēnea 2026 presents a structured program built around four core pillars:
Conversations in Practice
Internationally acclaimed creators such as Academy Award-winning director Barry Jenkins (Moonlight), filmmaker Lulu Wang (The Farewell), pioneering composer and sound artist Ben Frost (Dark), director and visual artist Andrew Thomas Huang (collaborator of FKA twigs and Björk), Oscar Boyson (producer for the Safdie brothers and Noah Baumbach), as well as creative director Dannah Gottlieb (collaborator of Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter), will reflect on their creative journeys, challenges, and defining career moments through a series of immersive conversations.
The program will also feature an important roundtable with leading Greek female directors, including Evi Kalogiropoulou, Eva Stefani, Konstantina Kotzamani, and Jacqueline Lentzou, who will discuss their creative processes and the evolving directions of cinematic storytelling.
The Artist Studio
Experimental workshops where art meets technology through immersive experiences. The program includes a specialized Gen AI workshop led by Matt Zien (collaborator of Grimes), as well as a music production seminar with TEO.x3, offering participants the opportunity to explore contemporary creation and the limitless possibilities of creative technology.
Career Development Hub
A dedicated professional empowerment hub implemented with the support of The Hellenic Initiative. The program includes a targeted Job Fair for artists and audiovisual professionals, workshops on legal matters and marketing, as well as networking opportunities with major international industry figures.
Side Events
The festival extends throughout the city, transforming Athens into an open cultural stage. The program includes film screenings in collaboration with the Thessaloniki International Film Festival and Cinobo, as well as unique musical moments ranging from live performances in collaboration with the Greek National Opera to a groundbreaking live performance by Tamta. Participants will also have the chance to visit artists’ studios across the city. One of the highlights will be the major Street Party on the evening of Friday, May 29, in front of the Zappeion, open and free to the public, featuring international DJs.
The artistic program of Panathēnea 2026 is realized through collaborations and support from leading institutions including EKKOMED, Onassis ONX, the Greek National Opera, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Cinobo, The Hellenic Initiative, Museum of Cycladic Art, and EMST – National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens.
Panathēnea began as a non-profit initiative created by five students with the support of Lars Rasmussen. Today, it has evolved into an institution supported by both the public and private sectors, with major sponsors including Aegean Airlines and National Bank of Greece for the second consecutive year, alongside PPC Group, Kaizen Gaming, and Mastercard.
Panathēnea 2026 is held under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of National Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence, the Ministry of Tourism, the Region of Attica, and the Municipality of Athens.
An International Ecosystem with Greek DNA
Panathēnea aims to establish Athens as an international hub where creative intelligence meets global innovation. The festival serves as an influential platform connecting leading investors and executives from the global market with the elite of the arts, creating bridges for collaboration and new professional opportunities.
Investment Funds Exceeding $400 Billion in Athens
Panathēnea represents one of the most significant gatherings of the global investment elite ever held in Greece. The festival, shaped by the vision of Lars Rasmussen, brings representatives from leading investment funds such as Accel (Facebook, Spotify), Sequoia Capital (Apple, OpenAI), and Index Ventures to the Zappeion this year. This year’s participants manage assets exceeding $400 billion and are coming to Athens to connect with the local ecosystem while searching for the next major investment opportunity in cutting-edge sectors.
The festival’s technology program spans the full spectrum of contemporary innovation, with more than 70 parallel events focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Defense Tech, Fintech, and Robotics. The lineup also includes talks by founders of unicorn companies such as the mobility platform Bolt, represented by Europe’s youngest billionaire Markus Villig, ElevenLabs, a leader in AI audio technology, and Deel, valued at $12 billion. Senior executives from OpenAI, NVIDIA, Google, and Microsoft will also participate, offering rare access to the knowledge and strategies shaping the future of the world.
A Major Street Party for the City
The festival will culminate on the evening of Friday, May 29, with a spectacular street party in front of the Zappeion, organized in collaboration with Endeavor Greece. The event will be open and free to the public, with international DJs setting the rhythm for a citywide celebration of innovation.
An Initiative with International Impact
Panathēnea began as a non-profit initiative by five students with the support of Lars Rasmussen. Today, it has become a major institution supported by both public and private sectors, with sponsors including Aegean Airlines, National Bank of Greece, PPC Group, Kaizen Gaming, and Mastercard, alongside the support of EKKOMED.
Lefteris Katsiadakis, CEO of Panathēnea, states:
“Athens has always been a hub of creativity. Through Panathēnea, we are creating the space where the world’s most innovative companies and creators can meet to develop solutions to the challenges of our era. We are strengthening the city’s role on the global innovation map, building a hub for everyone aspiring to change the world.”
About Panathēnea
Reimagining the ancient festival of the same name, Panathēnea 2026 creates an international, non-profit innovation platform in Athens aimed at supporting founders and creators who are changing the world. Far removed from the logic of a conventional conference, Panathēnea seeks to strengthen the development and international reach of the Greek entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The initiative was launched by five Greek students with the support of the creator of Google Maps, drawing inspiration from Europe’s most influential innovation movements. The founders’ vision is for Panathēnea to become for innovation what the Olympic Games are for sport.
