The events of the 2026 Rokka Festival will take place from 23rd to 28th August in Rokka, Kera, Pervolakia and Chania. The Rokka Festival is organised by the “Ancient Rokka” Cultural Association of Rokka and the “Antonousa” Cultural Association of Kera, with the financial support and oversight of the Ministry of Culture. Joint organisers are the Region of Crete, the Regional Unit of Chania, the Municipality of Chania and the Municipality of Kissamos.
The programme
23 August, 21:00, Kera
Showing of the film “La Traviata, my brothers and I” by Yohan Manca, in collaboration with the Chania Film Festival. Entrance free.
La Traviata, My Brothers and I
France, 108′, 20211
Four-year-old Nour is the youngest of four brothers. They live together in a public housing project, taking turns caring for their mother, who is in a coma. Their mother loved Italian Opera, and Nour plays this music for her, gradually developing a passion for it himself. Nour dreams of escaping to a faraway place. When he meets Sarah, a soprano teaching summer classes, he finally comes out of his shell and explores new horizons.
24-25 August, 10:00, Centre of Mediterranean Architecture (KAM), Chania
International piano masterclass with Daniel Ciobanu, Nicolas Ventura, Georg Thoma. Participation by application only.
26 August, 19:00, Kera and Pervolakia
Intangible Encounters No. 2, “Of Arts and Craftsmen”. Walk and open discussion dedicated to the memory of Aspasia Papadoperaki.
Wood-carving, ceramics, weaving, mosaics, embroidery and other traditional arts come to life through the interaction between the public and the artisans, the stories and the rituals of the area. Following the walk and the discussion there will be a concert in the Old Settlement by the Small Musical Ensembles.
Aspasia Papadoperaki was born in Spilia, Crete in 1942. She studied sculpture and stage design at the Athens School of Fine Arts (1966–1972) and continued her studies in Paris at the École Des Beaux Arts in 1975, in sculpture and drawing.
She presented her work in several exhibitions in Greece and abroad, including at the National Gallery (1979) and the Goethe Institute (1983).
She was commissioned for major sculpture projects in public places, including the sculpture of Maria Callas in Madrid Square (Athens), the busts of Nikos Xylouris and Nikos Kitsikis in Heraklion and of Konstantinos Kavafis in Alexandria, Egypt.
Aspasia Papadoperaki died in March 2026.
23-26 August, Friends of the Rokka Symphony Orchestra Piano Recitals
Venues: KAM, Mikis Theodorakis Theatre, Pervolakia. Artistic direction of the Small Musical Ensembles, Konstantinos Papadakis.
23 August, Piano Recital at the KAM, Chania
Start time 20:30. Entrance free.
Part 1 Konstantinos Papadakis, piano
Part 2 Konstantinos Alexopoulos, piano
24 August, Evening of improvisations at the KAM, Chania
With Georg Thoma. Start time 20:30.
25 August, Piano recital at the KAM, Chania
By Daniel Ciobanu and Pietro Bonfilio. Start time 20:30. Entrance free.
26 August, Piano recital at Pervolakia
By Joachim Carr and Giuseppe Andaloro. Start time 20:30. Entrance free.
28 August, Classical music concert, Rokka
By piano quartet Arieta Liatsi, Ilias Livieratos, Filip Gräden, Nicolas Ventura, on the theme: “Redemptive Symphonies / Refractions of Romanticism”
Start time 21:00. Entrance free
(Haniotika Nea, 22/08/26)
Full details of the programmes can be found on the Rokka Festival website at https://www.giortesrokkas.gr/en/events-2026/