Athens will host the 39th European Film Awards in January 2027, marking the first time the prestigious ceremony will take place in the Greek capital.
The awards, first held in Berlin in 1988 by the European Film Academy, aim to promote and support European cinema. While they are organized every second year in Berlin, the ceremony travels to different European cities in alternate years, including London, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and most recently Lucerne.
Athens was proposed as host city by the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre (HFAC) – Creative Greece, highlighting Greece’s growing role as a hub for international film production and co-productions.
According to HFAC CEO Leonidas Christopoulos, the selection reflects both the city’s cultural heritage and the country’s increasing influence in the European audiovisual sector.
The awards ceremony will take place on January 16, 2027, at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, with the traditional Mayor’s Night reception scheduled the previous evening at the Zappeion.
In the lead-up to the event, Greece will host a series of promotional activities starting in 2026, with major festivals such as the Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival and the Thessaloniki International Film Festival playing a key role in showcasing the country’s film industry.
The ceremony is expected to welcome around 1,300 guests and will be broadcast across Greece and Europe by the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), in collaboration with the European Broadcasting Union.
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas expressed enthusiasm about hosting the event, which will be organized under the auspices of several Greek ministries, the Municipality of Athens, the Attica Region, and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre.
