Greece will be celebrating the annual festival of the August Full Moon with a series of events at various archaeological sites, museums, and monuments across the country, including extended opening hours and cultural activities. The 2025 event will also commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Asia Minor Catastrophe*.

The main celebrations will take place on Saturday, August 9, with many of the above sites offering free entry. These events, organised by the Greek Ministry of Culture, will feature concerts, exhibitions, guided tours, and other cultural activities, allowing visitors to experience Greece’s rich heritage under the moonlight.

There will also be a variety of artistic and science events during the celebrations, including musical performances, theatrical acts, guided tours, and stargazing opportunities.

Please check with your local museum or tourist office regarding events planned in your area.

* The “Asia Minor Catastrophe” (Mikrasiatiki Katastrofi) refers to the defeat of the Greek army in the Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922 and the subsequent expulsion of Greek populations from Asia Minor. This event involved the burning of Smyrna and the violent displacement of approximately 1.3 million Orthodox Greeks from Turkey into Greece and 0.5 million Muslims from Greece into Turkey. This was agreed and formalised as part of the Treaty of Lausanne of 1923 and enacted in 1925.