Odeon of Herodes Atticus Is Closed for Restoration — Here’s What to Know
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is currently closed for a multi-year restoration following its June 2026 Farewell Celebrations. The closure is expected to run through 2028. The Athens & Epidaurus Festival has relocated its Athens programme to alternative venues, including Pireos 260 and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center — see below for details.
Last updated: 20 Sep 2026
What Happened: The Farewell Celebrations
Before closing its gates, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus hosted a special Farewell Celebrations programme throughout June 2026, giving audiences one last chance to experience a live performance beneath the Acropolis before restoration work began. Artistic Director Michael Marmarinos described the month as turning a temporary closure into a unique artistic opportunity, with a run of high-profile performances including:
- June 3 — Víkingur Ólafsson, the acclaimed Icelandic pianist, in his Greek debut performing Bach, Beethoven, and Schubert
- June 4 — Blade Runner Live, with Vangelis’ score performed live by the Avex Ensemble alongside a screening of the film
- June 10 — A tribute to Manos Hadjidakis by the Athens State Orchestra, conducted by Lukas Karytinos
- June 12–13 — Stamatis Kraounakis’ Lysistrata: A Hilarious Opera
- June 15 — The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Tallinn Chamber Orchestra performing works by Arvo Pärt
If you attended, or wish you had, check our Athens concerts guide for what else is on in the city this year.
Why It’s Closed: The Restoration
Following the June farewell programme, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus entered a planned multi-year restoration and conservation project, with works expected to begin in earnest by mid-2026. The closure is expected to last through 2028, as the nearly 1,900-year-old Roman-era theatre undergoes preservation work. This isn’t a new decision made hastily — it follows years of discussion about how to protect the venue’s ancient marble structure while continuing to serve as one of Greece’s most important cultural stages.
Where to See Performances Instead
With the Odeon temporarily out of use, the Athens & Epidaurus Festival has relocated its Athens programme to alternative venues around the city, including:
- Pireos 260 — a converted industrial space in the Gazi/Rouf area, used for larger contemporary productions
- Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) — home to the Greek National Opera and the National Library, with several outdoor and indoor performance spaces
If your trip was built around seeing a show at the Odeon, these venues are now your best bet for catching the same festival’s programming. Check the official Athens & Epidaurus Festival programme for the current schedule and ticketing.
For performances at the nearby Epidaurus site, which is unaffected by the Odeon’s closure, see our Epidaurus Festival 2026 guide.
When Will It Reopen?
There’s no confirmed public reopening date yet beyond the general 2026–2028 restoration window. We’ll update this page as soon as official details are announced — bookmark it or check back if you’re planning a future trip around a performance here.
Planning a Future Visit
Once restoration is complete, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus will remain one of Athens’ most remarkable sights even outside festival season. Built in 161 AD by the wealthy Athenian Herodes Atticus, the theatre sits on the south slope of the Acropolis and has hosted performers from Maria Callas to Sting. For now, it can still be viewed from outside as part of a visit to the Acropolis. Book a private Acropolis tour to see it up close, or read more about its history on Wikipedia.
