thesilkroadtoday
5th International Poetry Festival of Naoussa: The heart of poetry beats on September 4–6, 2026, in Naoussa
The 5th International Poetry Festival of Naoussa “Aristotle and the World” officially commences on Friday, September 4, 2026 with the grand opening ceremony held in the (air-conditioned) “Christos Lanaras” Hall of the ERIA complex.
The festival brings together 22 poets representing 14 countries from across the globe (USA, Albania, Germany, Switzerland, India, Italy, Morocco, Palestine, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Cyprus, and Greece).
During this event, a landmark building that stands as a symbol of Naoussa’s industrial golden age will be transformed into an atmospheric, evocative stage for world poetry.
The 5th International Poetry Festival is held under the Auspices of the Municipality of the Heroic City of Naoussa, and is organized by the “Movement for Letters and Arts” from Friday, September 4, through Sunday, September 6, 2026.
For three days, the Heroic City of Naoussa will be filled with prominent poets who will recite their works at various locations, accompanied by musical interludes at the venues. The program will also feature book presentations, guided tours, workshops, and various other cultural activities.
The festival venues include the “Christos Lanaras” Hall in Naoussa, the Cultural Center of the School of Aristotle, the ERIA Industrial Heritage Center, the Tomtsi Family Traditional Costume Workshop, the Ancient Theater of Mieza, the Macedonian Tombs, the Nymphaeum (School of Aristotle), and more. Activities will feature guided tours of ancient monuments and traditional buildings in the region alongside poetry readings.
From its very inception, the Festival has been supported by various international organizations (PEN Greece, CIESART Greece, World Poets Society), whose representatives will attend once again this year. The invitations to participate in this festival were extended with a focus on cultural diplomacy, which aims to promote friendship and peaceful coexistence through poetry! Accordingly, poets from all over the world were invited to participate, and the result is remarkable, with 14 countries represented! “The heart of poetry will beat in Naoussa,” noted the well-known poet Dimitris P. Kraniotis from Larissa, President of the Festival’s International Scientific Committee.
The support of the city’s Municipality is invaluable, and the cooperation with the departments of culture and tourism has been flawless. True to the tradition of Naoussa hospitality, the local community and businesses actively support this institution: local shops will generously offer regional delicacies, winemakers will offer their fine wines to the guest poets, and pastry shops will provide wonderful local treats, highlighting the authentic flavors of the region! “The immense generosity of these private individuals is truly touching,” says Xanthi Hondrou-Hill, the soul of this festival, which will conclude with the presentation of the “Aristotle” poetry awards. The public will have the opportunity to appreciate remarkable and distinguished poets from all over the world, in both Greek and English, and become acquainted with their work. Admission will be free to the public on all days.
The 22 participants poets:
Greek poets:
Cassandra Alogoskoufi – Greece
Despina Kaitatzi-Choulioumi – Greece / Sweden
Dimitris P. Kraniotis – Greece
Elias Fragakis – Greece
Georgia Makrogiorgou – Greece
Giorgos Petoussis – Cyprus
Lina Vatantzi – Greece
Maria Mistrioti – Greece
Panos Panagiotidis – Greece
Viktoria Kaplani – Greece
Xanthi Hondrou-Hill – Greece / Germany
International Poets:
Adrian Suciu – Romania
Alexander Selimov – USA / Russia
Alicja Kuberska – Poland
Aziz Mountassir – Morocco
Bob Whelan – USA
Braja Kumar Sarkar – India
Concetta La Placa – Italy
Griselda Doka – Albania / Italy
Mona Alassi – Palestine / Switzerland
Nicoleta Craete – Romania
Ranjita Sarkar – India
DETAILED PROGRAM
5th International Poetry Festival of Naoussa
“Aristotle and the World”
September 4, 2026 – September 6, 2026
Organized by the “Movement for Letters and Arts”
Held under the Auspices of the Municipality of the Heroic City of Naoussa
Thursday, September 3, 2026 & Friday, September 4, 2026
All Day: Arrival of the poets and check-in at their respective hotels.
Friday, September 4, 2026
Evening Session:
19:00 | Welcome Reception
Venue: “Christos Lanaras” Hall, ERIA Complex, Naoussa.
Details: A welcome buffet generously provided by local sponsors. Guest poets and distinguished attendees will be treated to regional wines, liqueurs, local delicacies, and artisanal chocolates.
19:30 | Grand Opening Ceremony
Venue: “Christos Lanaras” Hall.
Welcome Addresses: Opening remarks and greetings from official dignitaries, the Mayor of Naoussa, the Deputy Mayors of Culture and Tourism, and esteemed guests.
Poetry Readings & Music: Introduction and first round of poetry recitations by our participating international poets. The readings will be beautifully accompanied by musical interludes performed by the four-part mixed choir CANTUS AMNIS, under the direction of the talented maestro Marios Daskalakis.
Saturday, September 5, 2026
Morning Session:
08:30 – 09:30 | Morning Activities
Details: Delightful little surprises await the guest poets during breakfast.
09:30 | Guided Cultural Tours & Poetry Readings in Central Naoussa
Tomtsi Family Traditional Costume Workshop: A guided tour of the family workshop and private museum where the famous traditional “Boules” carnival costumes are crafted, accompanied by poet recitations.
The Open-Air Gallery: A brief visit to the vibrant artistic open-air gallery located at the town’s public market (Laiki Agora).
ERIA Industrial Heritage Center: A detailed guided tour exploring the industrial history and textile golden age of Naoussa.
VIVON Wine Library: A guided exploration of Greece’s unique, dedicated Wine Library, interspersed with themed poetry readings.
Midday Session:
13:00 | Festival Luncheon
Venue: “To Nisi tis Margaritas” (Margarita’s Island) Restaurant, located at the scenic Agios Nikolaos Park, Naoussa.
Post-Lunch | Haiku Poetry Masterclass
Details: An exclusive Haiku seminar led by acclaimed poet Bob Whelan. The workshop will be conducted entirely in English.
Evening Session:
19:00 | International Poetry Recitations & Gala
Venue: “Christos Lanaras” Hall, ERIA Complex.
Details: The headline poetry readings featuring our invited global voices.
Musical Feature: The recitations will be seamlessly enriched by exceptional musical interludes from “Τα Ρεμπετόπαιδα” (The Rebetiko Children). This talented ensemble is comprised of local virtuoso musicians and youth students from Naoussa attending the Music School of Veria.
Sunday, September 6, 2026
Morning Session:
09:30 | Antiquities & Historical Archaeological Tour
Guided Excursion: Exploring the region’s crown historical landmarks, including the Ancient Theater of Mieza, the historic Macedonian Tombs, and the Nymphaeum at the School of Aristotle.
11:00 | School of Aristotle Cultural Center & Open Mic Session
Venue: Cultural Center of the School of Aristotle.
Historical Briefing: A special documentary video screening mapping out the philosophical and historic lineage of Mieza, followed by poet readings.
The “Open Mic” Forum: Following last year’s sweeping success, the festival once again opens its grand platform to emerging, debut, and local poets. This forum offers them a free stage to recite an original poem and showcase their unique talent at the historic grounds of the School of Aristotle.
Midday Session:
14:30 | Sunday Luncheon
Evening Session:
19:00 | Grand Closing Ceremony
Venue: “Christos Lanaras” Hall, ERIA Complex.
Program Details: Final poetry recitations, dynamic musical intervals, special festival surprises, and the presentation of the formal Certificates of Participation to our international guests.
The “Aristotle” Poetry Awards: The official announcement and presentation of the festival’s prestigious annual literary accolades.
Featured Closing Performance: The evening will feature intimate musical segments by celebrated poet and singer-songwriter Alexander Selimov (USA/Russia), who will perform original lyrical compositions accompanying himself live on the acoustic guitar.
