Greece to Host World’s Largest Festival for Women, Femininity and Non-Binary

Singer-songwriter Idra Kayne will perform in WOW Athens 2025. Credit: George Spanos, SNFCC via AMNA

Greece is set to host the world’s largest festival celebrating women, femininities, and non-binary individuals: The WOW Athens.

What is Greece’s WOW Athens festival?

The WOW Festival began in London in 2010. With over 100 festivals held across six continents, it has engaged more than five million people over the last few years. Now in its third year in Greece, WOW Athens has established itself as a cultural hub of inclusivity and progress.

This year’s festival features a lineup with speakers like Roxane Gay (Bad Feminist), Carmen Maria Machado, and Thalia Mavros will take center stage to discuss topics ranging from identity to societal change.

Films will also be screened, including Orlando, My Political Biography, by Paul B. Preciado, and RBG, chronicling the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. And if you thought jazz couldn’t mix with Persian tradition, Grammy-winning artist Arooj Aftab will also be here to prove you wrong!

The festival’s Marketplace is another highlight promoting women-led businesses and non-binary entrepreneurs while prompting people to discuss critical social issues.

As people wander through the beautiful grounds of SNFCC during WOW Athens, they will have the opportunity to see Claudia Wieser’s geometric sculptures that will redefine public spaces to Georgia Lale’s emotional tributes to femicide victims.

In 2024, WOW Athens featured a diverse lineup of participants, including political activist Nadya Tolokonnikova, artist Katy Hessel, and musician Hania Rani. The festival also showcased a staged reading of Prima Facie by Suzie Miller and a screening of Angela Davis: A World of Greater Freedom (2023). These events highlighted crucial topics such as human rights, empowerment, and the fight for equality.

Stavros Niarchos Foundation. Credit: wikimedia commons / strange traveler CC BY 2.0

What’s the SNFCC that will host the festival for Women and Non-Binary People

From April 4 to 7, 2025, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) in Athens will transform into a vibrant hub where creativity and activism thrive during the WOW – Women of the World Festival.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) in Athens is a world-class cultural and educational hub in Kallithea, just 4 kilometers from the Athenian historic center. Designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano and completed in 2016, this €600 million project houses the National Library of Greece and the Greek National Opera, all within the sprawling 210,000-square-meter Stavros Niarchos Park. The park, loved by millions of locals and visitors, features lush green spaces, fountains, and walking paths.

Built on the site of Athens’ former horse racing track, the SNFCC has adopted an innovative design, including a sloping park that offers panoramic views of the sea and city. Sustainability is at its core, with a photovoltaic canopy generating energy and LEED Platinum certification for environmental excellence.

Business Wire