Anthestiria 2027: The Spring Flower Festivals of Cyprus

Anthestiria are the spring flower festivals of Cyprus: municipalities hold parades of flower-decorated floats and walking groups, with music and family activities, usually in May. As of 20 October 2026, no 2027 dates, routes or programmes had been announced. This guide explains what the festivals are, which towns held them in 2025 and 2026 (with the year clearly marked), how 2027 lines up with Orthodox Easter on 2 May, and how to enjoy the day.

What is Anthestiria?

The Deputy Ministry of Tourism's 2026 events calendar describes Anthestiria as a celebration of the coming of spring and the renewal of nature and life, dating back to ancient Greece. The ancient Anthesteria was an Athenian festival in honour of Dionysus. It lasted three days, from the 11th to the 13th of the month Anthesterion, in late February to early March. Many people link the name to anthos, the Greek word for flower, although scholars have suggested other meanings.

In modern Cyprus the name is used for something simpler: a civic celebration of spring, flowers and community, organised by municipalities with schools and local groups taking part. The tradition goes back a long way. As of May 2023, the Paphos festival continued a tradition of more than 85 years in the town. The Severis Foundation's Cyprus Visual Archive holds 20th-century colour photographs by Edmond Torikian of an Anthesteria parade in Limassol, showing people walking behind a decorated float. One envelope is labelled "Limassol Mayday Anthisdiria".

For residents, Anthestiria is one of the easiest ways to see your town come together. It is free, held outdoors in spring weather, and a good chance to meet neighbours, other families and local groups you might want to join.

When are the Anthestiria festivals in 2027?

The 2027 dates are not yet known. Each municipality sets its own date, and the festivals are listed under May in the Larnaka Tourism Board's annual festivals calendar. In 2026 the Deputy Ministry of Tourism's calendar gave Sunday 10 May for the Paphos and Paralimni-Derynia flower festivals. In 2025, Amathounta held its festival on 3 and 4 May.

Orthodox Easter sets the rhythm of spring in Cyprus. Here is how 2027 looks, using the dates from our Easter in Cyprus guide:

In 2026 Easter was on 12 April, four weeks before the 10 May festivals. With Easter three weeks later in 2027, it is impossible to say yet whether towns will move their dates. Treat any date you see before the official announcements with caution.

Which towns held flower festivals in 2025 and 2026?

Paphos

Paphos municipality organised the Anthestiria Flower Festival 2026 on Sunday 10 May, with free admission. The parade of spring-themed floats, performing groups and participants started at 16:30 on Griva Digeni Avenue, with floral creations, performances and music along the way. It ended at 28th October Square (Town Hall), where the main programme ran from 18:00 to 20:00. There was also face painting, crafts, mosaic-making, a climbing wall, an exhibition of 50 artworks by Paphos students, and a photography exhibition of past Anthestiria festivals.

The Paphos festival has also gone beyond the parade. In May 2023 the municipality, together with a nature-lovers' club, opened a festival themed on spring, flowers and theatre at the Palia Electriki Cultural Centre. It included a photographic exhibition on the festival's history and an artistic re-enactment of the myth of Persephone and the changing seasons. Our Paphos hub has more on life in the town.

Larnaka

The Larnaka Tourism Board describes its Anthestiria as a parade of decorated flower floats, with local organisations and schools taking part. The route runs along the Foinikoudes (Palm Trees) promenade on Athinon Avenue and through the town centre, starting at 11:00. Spectators watch from both sides of the promenade. The Larnaka spring and Easter 2026 events list gave "May (TBC)" for the parade, but the official 2026 calendar later marked the Larnaka festival as cancelled. Check the Larnaka Region website before planning for 2027. More on the town in our Larnaca hub.

Limassol area (Amathounta)

In the Limassol area, the flower festival is held by Amathounta municipality in Germasogeia, east of the city. Its 28th edition was on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 May 2025, at the Germasogeia river car park: a two-day outdoor event in the Germasogeia Dam area, with stalls of traditional products, crafts, folk art, plants and flowers, plus music and activities for all ages. The 2026 edition was cancelled. If you are thinking of living nearby, see our Germasogeia area guide and the Limassol hub.

Nicosia and other towns

Nicosia was not among the flower festival municipalities in the 2026 official calendar, and it has no recent municipal flower parade. Other municipalities may hold smaller spring events, so follow your own municipality's announcements. The Visit Cyprus events listings and the annual events calendar give the best island-wide overview.

What happens at a flower festival?

Programmes differ by town, but recent editions have included:

• A parade of flower-decorated floats and walking groups, often with schools and local organisations taking part (Larnaka, Paphos).
• Floral creations, music and performances along the route and at the finishing point (Paphos 2026).
• Family activities such as face painting, crafts, mosaic-making and a climbing wall (Paphos 2026).
• ExhibitionsSuch as student artworks and photographs of past festivals (Paphos 2026).
• Stalls with traditional products, crafts, plants and flowers, plus evening music (Amathounta 2025).

How do you make the most of the day?

Parades run through town centres and along promenades, so expect road closures and busy streets. Our practical tips:

• Arrive early. Aim to be in place well before the advertised start so you can park and find a good spot.
• Check the start time. Larnaka's parade has been listed for the morning, while Paphos ran its parade in the late afternoon in 2026.
• Pick your spot by what you want to see. In Paphos the parade ended at 28th October Square, where the entertainment continued, so that is the place to stay on afterwards. In Larnaka both sides of the promenade make good viewing points.
• Look for shade. May sun is strong, so bring hats, sun cream and water, especially for small children and older relatives.
• Bring a folding stool if anyone in your group cannot stand for long.
• Keep the pavement and road clearAnd follow police and marshals' instructions.
• Ask before photographing other people's children, and do not post their photos online without permission.
• Check for cancellations. Two of the four festivals in the 2026 calendar were cancelled, so confirm with the municipality on the day before.

Can you combine it with other spring outings?

Yes, spring is the best season to be outdoors in Cyprus. The flower festivals follow the Wild Tulip Festival in Polemi, in the Paphos district, organised by the Polemi community board and the Tulip Club of Polemi. It was held on 29 March in 2026, and the 2027 date had not been announced as of October 2026. Our Cyprus festivals month by month guide has the full calendar.

May weekends are also good for walking before the summer heat, and our hiking routes page and 10 best hiking trails in Cyprus list trails across the island. After Easter, the next big seasonal event is Kataklysmos, the Festival of the Flood, on Monday 21 June 2027.

What to do next

• Now: note that Easter is on 2 May 2027 and the long weekend runs from Good Friday, 30 April, to Easter Monday, 3 May.
• From March 2027: check the Visit Cyprus annual events calendar, the Larnaka Region and Limassol Tourism Board events pages, and your municipality for the flower festival date and route.
• A week before: confirm the time, road closures and parking.
• On the day: arrive early, find shade and enjoy the floats.

Related guides: Easter in Cyprus, Cyprus festivals month by month, hiking routes in Cyprus and our events page.