Participants in last year’s Panathenea, hosted at the Athens Conservatory. [www.panathenea.org]
Athens is preparing to host the second Panathenea festival, an international event organized by young Greeks that blends technology and the arts.
What began as a small, uncertain effort has grown into a major gathering for innovation. Co-founder and CEO Lefteris Katsiadakis said attendance is expected to rise from 3,500 last year to 10,000 this year.
The three-day festival, held May 27-29 at Zappeion Hall, will involve about 440 organizers and volunteers. Participants include representatives of major investment funds and technology companies, alongside founders and executives from across the innovation sector. Discussions will focus on artificial intelligence, defense and robotics.
The program also expands into film and music, with artists networking with industry representatives. More than 80 parallel events will take place across Athens, underscoring the city’s central role in the festival.