Athens, February 22, 2026 – The WOW – Women of the World Athens festival is set to return to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) for its fourth year, from March 27 to 30, 2026. Organized in collaboration with the WOW Foundation, this international festival, dedicated to women, female-identifying, and non-binary individuals, will for the first time offer free admission to the vast majority of its events.
A Festival for All: Promoting Accessible Dialogue on Gender Equality
This decision to offer free entry reflects the festival’s philosophy as an open, participatory, and inclusive institution, aiming to make the dialogue on gender equality accessible to the widest possible audience. Elli Andriopoulou, CEO of SNFCC, stated, “Gender equality is not an abstract concept – it touches every aspect of our daily lives, our relationships, our opportunities, and our sense of belonging. WOW Athens returns this year to remind us that progress is achieved when we all have the courage to continue questioning what we often accept as normal.”
The diverse and interdisciplinary program of WOW Athens 2026 is designed to provoke thought, entertain, and celebrate the significant strides being made in Greece and worldwide on the challenging journey towards gender equality.
Distinguished Speakers and Engaging Performances
This year’s international speakers include iconic figures and bold voices such as American activist and author Tarana J. Burke, who initiated the Me Too movement in New York; author Rumena Bužarovska, whose book ‘My Husband’ is the basis for a play to be presented at the SNFCC Lighthouse; and Professor of Gender and Development Studies and author Naila Kabeer, specializing in gender, poverty, and social exclusion issues.
Music remains an integral part of WOW Athens, with a highlight being French singer-songwriter Imany, who will perform a concert combining music with contemporary social dialogue, inspired by her new album ‘Women Deserve Rage’. Additionally, the cinematic program will feature three documentaries mapping the course of feminist movements in Greece, the USA, and the Arab world.
Interactive Exhibitions and Workshops
From the SNFCC Reception to the perimeter of the Stavros Niarchos Park and the National Garden, WOW Athens exhibitions invite the public to engage in a dialogue that transcends conventional exhibition spaces. The interactive sculptural installation ‘Temple of Transmission’ by ‘Every Story’ and artist Marina Velisioti narrates rarely heard stories of women. The photography exhibition ‘Together, Visible’, in collaboration with MOMUS-Thessaloniki Museum of Photography, highlights multiple facets of the female experience, while ‘The Hope Brigade’ exhibition presents portraits of inspiring women.
Attendees can also enjoy two performances: Georgia Lalé’s ‘Tears for You and Me’, which uses domestic labor as a metaphor for the sacrifices often expected of women, and Eva Lampara’s ‘BETWEEN breaths’, a poetic performance of live speech and video where breath becomes rhythm and silence finds space.
Numerous discussion panels on critical social issues, workshops, WOW Speed Mentoring sessions, DJ sets, concerts, and the WOW Marketplace – a vibrant space for women’s entrepreneurship and activism – complete this year’s festival program.
Key Speakers and Program Highlights:
- Rumena Bužarovska: Author and professor, discussing emotional and social constraints faced by women. (Friday, March 27, 7:30 PM, Lighthouse)
- Tarana J. Burke: Activist and founder of the Me Too movement, focusing on femicides, gender-based violence, and psychosocial support for victims. (Sunday, March 29, 1:00 PM, Alternative Stage)
- Ekaterina Juskowski: Author and curator, exploring the city as a psychological, political, and narrative landscape. (Sunday, March 29, 5:00 PM, Lighthouse)
- Naila Kabeer: Feminist economist, discussing women’s agency and decision-making in diverse socio-economic contexts. (Monday, March 30, 7:30 PM, Lighthouse)
Concerts:
- WOW Sounds: Imany: French singer-songwriter presenting her new album ‘Women Deserve Rage’. (Monday, March 30, 9:00 PM, Stavros Niarchos Hall – ticketed event)
- WOW Sounds: Tania Giannouli: Internationally acclaimed pianist and composer. (Friday, March 27, 9:00 PM, Book Tower)
Performances:
- ‘My Husband’ by Rumena Bužarovska: A theatrical adaptation exploring gender, relationships, and contemporary female identity. (Friday, March 27, 6:30 PM, Lighthouse – ticketed event)
Film Screenings: ‘Feminism Beyond Borders: Three Movements, Three Stories’
Three documentaries will be screened, exploring feminist movements in Greece, the USA, and the Arab world, highlighting how women organized, challenged institutions, and reshaped the public sphere. Films include ‘In the Bustle of the World: The Feminist Movement in Greece 19th-21st Century’, ‘She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry’, and ‘Feminists Insha’Allah! The Story of Arab Feminism’.
Exhibitions:
- ‘Together, Visible’ Photography Exhibition: Featuring works by twelve contemporary photographers exploring female experience. (March 27 – June 30, Stavros Niarchos Park Perimeter)
- Georgia Lalé, ‘Tears for You and Me’ & ‘Ameinokleia’: Performances and artwork addressing gender stereotypes and societal expectations. (March 27-30, Various locations)
- ‘Temple of Transmission’ Interactive Sculpture: A collaboration between ‘Every Story’ and Marina Velisioti, sharing women’s experiences. (March 27-30, SNFCC Ground Floor)
- Eva Lampara, ‘BETWEEN breaths’: A poetic performance of live speech and video. (Saturday, March 28, 6:00-9:00 PM, EBE Multi-purpose Hall I)
- ‘The Hope Brigade’: Photographs honoring women and non-binary individuals leading change globally. (March 8 – March 30, National Garden Perimeter)
Discussion Panels and Workshops:
Topics include conservative feminism, gender studies, toxic masculinity, harassment, self-defense for victims of gender-based violence, pornography and digital violence, gender inequalities in AI, female negotiation in the workplace, inclusive communication, stories of women’s failures with happy endings, female friendships, perfectionism in adolescent girls, menstruation and menopause, intersex femininity, modern motherhood, working fathers and open parenting, gender dimension of cinema, gender stereotypes in fairy tales, stories of women from the periphery, co-creating a common future with migrant and refugee women, Romani women in Greece, and the deconstruction of ‘female’ in football.
WOW Speed Mentoring Sessions:
Women and non-binary individuals meet mentors from various professional fields to inspire and support each other. (Saturday, March 28, 3:30 PM & Sunday, March 29, 4:00 PM, National Opera Foyer)
WOW Marketplace:
The heart of the festival, featuring businesses and organizations run by women or non-binary individuals, offering products and information. Includes DJ sets, pop-up concerts, and a ’00s roller skate party. (March 27 & 30, 3:00-9:00 PM; March 28 & 29, 10:00 AM-10:00 PM, Agora)
Workshops:
A multi-thematic program of experiential workshops focusing on empowerment, equality, and collective expression, including yoga, workshops on unhealthy relationships, the gender dimension of music, discussions on menstruation, sports activities, and workshops for children. (Free admission, first-come, first-served basis; detailed program at snfcc.org)
Schools at WOW Athens: Let’s Talk About Consent:
Students from primary and secondary education will present projects on consent, aiming to develop critical thinking on gender-based violence, stereotypes, inclusion, and reproductive rights. (March 27, 9:30 AM, Lighthouse for primary; March 30, 9:30 AM, Stavros Niarchos Hall for secondary)
Stay tuned for more information on the WOW Athens 2026 program at snfcc.org and on the official WOW Athens Instagram page @wow_athens.
SNFCC Lead Donor: Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)
INFO:
- WOW – Women of the World Athens
- Dates: Friday, March 27 – Monday, March 30, 2026
- Location: Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), Syggrou Ave. 364, Kallithea, Athens
- Admission: Free for all WOW Athens activities, with mandatory free pre-registration here.
- Exceptions requiring ticket purchase:
- Imany Concert: €25, €20, €15, and €10 (reduced)
- ‘My Husband’ performance by Rumena Bužarovska: €15, €10 (reduced)
- Ticket Presale:
- Online: ticketservices.gr
- Phone: Ticket Services 210 7234567
- Ticket Services Box Office: Panepistimiou 39, Athens
Source: https://popaganda.gr/newstrack/culture/wow-athens-2026-to-festival-gia-tin-emfyli-isotita-epistrefei-sto-kpisn/
