Annual Festivals & Events in Paphos

Paphos celebrates throughout the year. From ancient traditions rooted in millennia of history to modern cultural festivals that draw international artists, there is almost always something happening in and around the city. Timing your visit to coincide with one of these events can transform a great holiday into an unforgettable one. Here's the complete calendar.

Carnival (Apokries) — February/March

Cypriot Carnival (Apokries) runs for the three weeks before Orthodox Lent, culminating in a colourful parade through the streets of Paphos. The tradition has roots stretching back to ancient Dionysian festivals, and the modern celebration mixes Greek Orthodox customs with Mediterranean exuberance.

The Paphos Carnival parade takes place on the Sunday before Clean Monday (the start of Lent). Floats, costumed dancers, marching bands, and thousands of spectators fill the main streets of Kato Paphos. Children throw confetti and streamers, music pours from every direction, and the atmosphere is joyful and infectious.

• When: Three weeks before Orthodox Lent (usually February or early March). The grand parade is always on the final Sunday.
• Where: Main streets of Paphos — the parade route runs through the town centre, walkable from the apartment.
• Cost: Free to watch.
• What to expect: A family-friendly celebration. Dress up if you want — many locals and visitors wear costumes. Bring confetti.

Orthodox Easter (Pascha) — April/May

Easter is the biggest event in the Cypriot calendar — far more important than Christmas. The Orthodox Easter celebration is a multi-day experience that combines solemn religious observance with joyful communal feasting. If your visit coincides with Easter, you're in for something genuinely special.

• Good Friday (Megali Paraskevi): The most solemn day. In the evening, every church in Paphos holds a funeral procession (Epitaphios) through the streets. Brass bands play funeral marches, crowds carry candles, and the flower-decorated bier of Christ is carried through the town. It's deeply moving regardless of your faith.
• Holy Saturday midnight: At midnight, church bells ring across Paphos, fireworks explode, and everyone lights candles from the "Holy Fire" brought from the church. The priest declares "Christos Anesti!" (Christ is risen!) and the response "Alithos Anesti!" (Truly He is risen!) echoes through the crowds. People embrace, candles flicker everywhere, and the fast is broken with flaouna (cheese pastry) and red eggs.
• Easter Sunday: The grand feast. Whole lambs and goats are spit-roasted (souvla) in gardens, courtyards, and public spaces across Paphos. The smell of roasting meat fills the entire city. If you're lucky enough to be invited to a Cypriot family's Easter celebration, say yes — it's the most generous hospitality you'll experience anywhere.

When: Orthodox Easter often falls 1-5 weeks after Western Easter. Check the specific dates for your travel year. In 2027, Orthodox Easter is April 20.

Kataklysmos (Festival of the Flood) — June

Kataklysmos is unique to Cyprus — a festival not celebrated anywhere else in the world. It takes place 50 days after Easter (coinciding with Pentecost) and celebrates humanity's survival of the biblical Flood. The festival has blended with older pagan maritime traditions, creating a uniquely Cypriot celebration centred on the sea.

In Paphos, the harbour area comes alive with stalls, live music, traditional games, poetry duels (chatista), and performances. The central ritual involves throwing water — at each other, into the sea, everywhere. Children armed with water pistols run through the crowds, and it's impossible to stay dry. The atmosphere is pure Mediterranean fun.

• When: The Monday after Pentecost, 50 days after Easter (usually June)
• Where: Paphos harbour and waterfront area
• Duration: 3-4 days of events, with the main celebration on Monday
• What to bring: Clothes you don't mind getting wet. A water pistol helps you join in.

Paphos Aphrodite Festival — September

The cultural highlight of the Paphos year. Since 1999, the Paphos Aphrodite Festival has staged a full opera production in front of the medieval castle at Paphos harbour. The setting is extraordinary — a professional opera performed under the stars, with the Mediterranean as a backdrop and the illuminated castle as part of the set.

Past productions have included Verdi's La Traviata, Puccini's Tosca, Bizet's Carmen, and Mozart's The Magic Flute. International opera companies from Italy, Greece, and across Europe are invited to perform, and the production values are surprisingly high for a festival of this size.

• When: First or second weekend of September (usually Friday and Saturday evenings)
• Where: Paphos Harbour, in front of the medieval castle
• Tickets: EUR 15-50 depending on seating category. Book well in advance — the festival sells out quickly.
• Atmosphere: Smart casual dress. The audience is a mix of locals, expats, and cultural tourists. Bring a light layer — evenings can be cool near the water.

Wine Festivals — August/September

Cyprus's love affair with wine is celebrated in several festivals during late summer. The most famous is the Limassol Wine Festival, but the Paphos district has its own events:

• Statos-Agios Fotios Wine Festival (August): A small village festival in the wine country above Paphos. Local wineries pour freely, live music plays, and the village women prepare traditional food. The atmosphere is intimate and authentically Cypriot — no tourist staging, just a genuine village celebration. Entrance is usually EUR 5-10 including unlimited tasting.
• Omodos Wine Festival (August): The beautiful wine village of Omodos hosts an annual wine festival in its cobblestoned square. Local wineries, traditional food, folk music, and a warm village atmosphere. Combine with a visit to the Timios Stavros Monastery.
• Limassol Wine Festival (September): The biggest wine festival in Cyprus, running for about 10 days. Entrance of EUR 5 includes a souvenir glass and unlimited tastings from over 50 Cypriot wineries. An hour's drive from the apartment. If you love wine, this is worth the trip.

Summer Cultural Events — June to September

During the summer months, Paphos hosts a continuous programme of cultural events, many of them free and outdoors:

• Ancient Odeon concerts: The restored Roman Odeon amphitheatre (10-minute walk from the apartment) hosts regular concerts and theatrical performances during summer. The acoustics are remarkable — sound carries perfectly across the ancient stone seating. Check the Paphos municipality events page for the schedule.
• Paphos Castle concerts: Evening performances at the medieval castle — music, dance, and sometimes theatre. The floodlit castle creates an atmospheric backdrop.
• Open-air cinema: Several pop-up outdoor cinema events run during summer, screening films in English under the stars.
• Art exhibitions: The Municipal Gallery and various venues around Paphos old town host rotating exhibitions by Cypriot and international artists.

Winter & Spring Events

Paphos doesn't shut down in winter. The mild climate (15-20°C in January and February) means outdoor events continue year-round:

• New Year's Eve: The harbour area hosts a public celebration with live music and fireworks at midnight. Hotels and restaurants run special dinner events.
• Epiphany / Blessing of the Waters (January 6): A cross is thrown into the sea at the harbour, and young men dive in to retrieve it. The one who finds it receives a blessing for the year. A short, dramatic ceremony that draws large crowds.
• Green Monday (Kathara Deftera, late February/March): The first day of Lent, celebrated with kite-flying, picnics, and Lenten food. A uniquely joyful start to the fasting period.
• International Dance Festival (Spring): The Paphos municipality organises an annual dance festival featuring international groups performing traditional and contemporary dance at various venues.
• Anthestiria Flower Festival (May): A spring celebration with flower-decorated floats, parades, and cultural events. Beautiful and fragrant — a celebration of the Mediterranean spring.

Monthly Events Calendar

• January: New Year celebrations, Epiphany (Jan 6)
• February/March: Carnival season, Green Monday
• March/April: Orthodox Easter (variable date), spring wildflowers
• May: Anthestiria Flower Festival, hiking season peak
• June: Kataklysmos (Festival of the Flood), summer events begin
• July: Ancient Odeon concerts, beach season peak
• August: Village wine festivals, outdoor cinema
• September: Paphos Aphrodite Festival (opera), Limassol Wine Festival
• October: Greek National Day (Oct 28), autumn wine events
• November: Quiet season — perfect for hiking and cultural visits
• December: Christmas markets, New Year's Eve events