Cyprus celebrates. A lot. Here are the festivals worth planning a trip around.
Cyprus packs an astonishing amount into the year. Easter is the big one, but barely a weekend passes without something on: carnival and flower parades in spring, music festivals and open-air opera in summer, wine and harvest festivals in autumn, Christmas markets and village lights in winter. Tap any festival below for its story and visitor tips, then scroll down for the full island-wide calendar.
Feb/MarTen days of parades, costumes and street parties before Lent, the island's biggest.
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MarchStart of Lent: families picnic outdoors, fly kites and eat Lenten food.
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AprilThe biggest celebration of the year, midnight services, bonfires, fireworks and flaouna.
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MayParades of flower-covered floats rooted in an ancient festival of Dionysus.
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MayTwo weekends celebrating the village's damask roses, rosewater, products and folk music.
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Apr/MayA spring village festival for the famous local strawberries.
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JuneFestival of the flood, 50 days after Easter, seafront fairs, music and poetry duels.
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JuneOpen-air electronic and live music, a fixture of the early-summer scene.
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SummerPop-up beer festivals with live music and food stalls through the warm months.
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Jul-SepOpen-air concerts, dance and theatre along the Finikoudes.
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AugustA much-loved indie and world music festival in a Larnaca village.
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AugustFree tastings of the world's oldest named wine in the 14 villages that make it.
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SummerA cheerful village festival for the local watermelon harvest.
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SeptemberInternational opera staged in the open air against the floodlit medieval castle.
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SeptemberHeld in the Municipal Gardens since 1961. Bring a glass and taste your way round the island's wineries.
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SepThe last village making carob syrup the old way celebrates its 'black gold'.
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Sep-OctThe flagship arts festival: music, theatre, ballet and film.
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AutumnGrape treading, fresh must, zivania and long table feasts in the squares.
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OctoberJousting, sword fights and period costume around the monastery.
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mid-NovThe season opens as Larnaca switches on its Christmas lights with music and crowds.
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DecThe island's biggest, around 200 stalls of gifts, decorations and festive food.
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DecAn outdoor Christmas village with gifts, a children's show and family entertainment.
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DecPop-up markets, holiday lights and cultural events across the old town.
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DecVillages wrapped in lights, log fires and zivania, sometimes even snow.
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31 DecCountdown parties and fireworks over the sea, Limassol and Ayia Napa go big.
History & visitor tips →Every town, one view. Browse month by month and click any day to see what's on: festivals, concerts, markets and more, with dates, venues and links where known. Festival days carry a little picture so the big occasions stand out.
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