ANO Festival 2026: Music in the heart of Ano Syros

At the top of Ano Syros, inside the Cathedral of Saint George, stands a historic organ built in 1888. Ten years ago, this instrument became the starting point for a festival that has since become a regular part of Syros’ cultural summer.

From 17 to 23 August, the ANO International Organ Festival returns for its 10th edition, with concerts taking place in Ano Syros and Hermoupolis.

This year also marks another important anniversary for the island. Under the title “10 Years ANO – 200 Years Hermoupolis”, the 2026 programme brings together the festival’s first decade and the 200th anniversary of the founding of Hermoupolis.

ANO Festival has been organised since 2017 by the Catholic Diocese of Syros and the Association of Greek Catholics of Syros. It began with a very specific idea: to bring attention to the historic organ of the Cathedral of Saint George and, through it, to Ano Syros itself.

Over the ten years that followed, ANO has grown. Organists, musicians and choirs from Greece and abroad have travelled to the island, while concerts have been accompanied by exhibitions, lectures, guided tours and other cultural events.

Although some events now also take place in Hermoupolis, Ano Syros remains the home and heart of the festival. Saint George, at the highest point of the medieval settlement, is more than simply a concert venue. It is home to the organ that started the whole story.

The organ of the Cathedral of Saint George was built in Italy in 1888 by Zeno Fedeli. It was originally installed at the Catholic Cathedral of Saint Dionysius in Athens before being transferred to Syros in 1951.

It is a Romantic-era instrument that retains the authentic sound of its period. Its restoration was completed in 2019, and today it is the oldest organ still in operation in Greece.

Even if classical music is not usually part of your plans, hearing the organ in person is worth considering. Its sound inside the Cathedral, together with the setting of Saint George at the top of Ano Syros, makes an ANO concert quite different from a typical summer event.

The anniversary edition begins on Monday, 17 August, at Saint George with French organist Olivier Latry, organist of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris and one of the world’s leading organists.

Over the following days, the programme moves between Ano Syros and Hermoupolis. At the Church of Saint Nicholas, the Catholic and Orthodox musical traditions come together, while at the Apollo Theater, the ANO Festival Orchestra, featuring musicians from Greece, Poland and the Czech Republic, will perform as part of an evening that also explores the work of 19th-century composers from Syros.

The festival returns to Saint George for its final evening on 23 August, with a concert for organ and choir. Throughout the week, the Cathedral will also host the exhibition “10 Years ANO Festival”, featuring photographs, posters, videos and material from the festival’s first decade.

Admission to all events is free. The full programme, concert times and information about the participating artists are available on the official ANO Festival website.

If you are attending one of the concerts at Saint George, it is worth arriving a little earlier. The route to the Cathedral takes you through the narrow streets of Ano Syros, and it is much better enjoyed without having to rush to make the start of the concert.

If this is your first visit to the settlement, our guide “Ano Syros: Everything you need to know before you visit” covers what to see, along with practical information about getting there and where to park.

Parking spaces close to the entrance of Ano Syros often fill up in August, particularly when an event is taking place, so it is best not to arrive just a few minutes before the concert expecting to park nearby. If you are driving, allow some extra time and, if necessary, park further down and continue on foot.

If you are planning to use a car for the rest of your trips around the island, you can book your car online with Maistrali Car Rental, with pickup available in Hermoupolis, at Syros Airport or in Finikas.