20th Cyprus Rialto World Music Festival 9 – 19 July 2025 | Rialto Theatre & SEK Parking Area

The beloved festival, now in its 20th edition, returns to spotlight the most exciting musical voices of Cyprus and the wider Mediterranean region. From powerful performances and energising melodies to tender interpretations and children's activities, the Cyprus Rialto World Music Festival this year creates a captivating sonic map full of islands, bridges, and communities.

Concerts marked with an asterisk (*) take place at the SEK Parking Area (behind the Rialto Theatre) with free entrance. All other events are held inside the Rialto Theatre.

Wednesday, 9 July | 21:00 | 50’ | ILAND – ody icon & Alejjos / Associate Artist Residence Scheme 2025

Rialto Theatre

ILAND, a music performance by Cypriot artist ody icon, in collaboration with music producer Alejjo and video artist Diyala Muir, premieres in the frame of the Rialto Associate Artist Residence Scheme 2025. Inspired by the unique geography and layered history of Cyprus, and drawing from the thought of philosopher Gilles Deleuze, ILAND explores the idea of the island not as a place surrounded by sea, but as a possibility for connection. Through electronic soundscapes, folk and traditional songs, spoken words, and animation, ILAND becomes a journey toward community. Where love is not a slogan but a form of resistance to estrangement — an opening to the shared. ILAND is dedicated to the Palestinian people and to all those who struggle for freedom, autonomy, and a life of dignity. Concept & Dramaturgy: ody icon. Music production: Alejjos. Animation: Diyala Muir. Outfits: Frosso Christou. Light design: Vasilis Petinaris €15 / €12

Saturday, 12 July | 21:00 | 120’ | Monika

Rialto Theatre

The radiant and distinctive singer-songwriter Monika, who has earned widespread acclaim both in Greece and abroad, returns to the Rialto Theatre with an all-English acoustic concert. This performance will bring together everything we’ve loved about her since her debut on the music scene. Joined by five musicians and two exceptional vocalists, she will present a concert featuring beloved songs from her earlier albums reimagined through new arrangements. The programme will span from Avatar to highlights from her latest album Proud, along with selections from her three other English-language releases. With her captivating melodies taking centre stage and lyrics that express with poetic delicacy the full spectrum of emotions, thoughts, and messages she seeks to share, Monika promises a cinematic journey brimming with feeling and rhythm. €22 / €18

*Monday, 14 July | 21:00 | 70’ | Eleonora Rousou – Ηara – (Joy)

SEK Parking Area (behind Rialto)

Hará (Joy) is a collection of instrumental compositions and songs inspired by human emotions — their structure, capacity, and impact on the human psyche. A colourful palette of genres is fused together — jazz, soul, classical, Eastern Mediterranean, Balkan, pop and Latin music — to depict the diversity of each emotion. With transparency, sharing, and openness as a creative impetus, these compositions form an amalgam of the composer’s lived experiences so far. Musicians: Elias Ioannou: trumpet, Thomas Lamley: tenor saxophone, Odysseas Toumazou: guitars, Christos Gerolatsitis: piano, Andreas Rodosthenous: bass, Omiros Miltiadous: drums, Rodos Panayiotou: percussion, Eleonora Roussou: vocals, flute, compositions, arrangements. Free entrance

*Wednesday, 16 July | 21:00 | 75’ | Cyprus, Beloved of the Mediterranean – Michalis Kouloumis

SEK Parking Area (behind Rialto)

Under the artistic direction of acclaimed violinist and composer Michalis Kouloumis, five accomplished Cypriot musicians from the folk and jazz scenes have collaborated to reinterpret traditional Cypriot folk music, alongside original compositions by Kouloumis. Featuring: Michalis Kouloumis – violin, viola, voice, Kyriakos Markoullis – lute, pithkiavlin, voice, Petroula Erodotou – voice, percussion, Ermis Michael – jazz guitar, Christos Yerolatsitis – piano, keyboard, Andreas Rodosthenous – fretless bass. Free entrance

*Friday, 18 July | 21:00 | 120’ | Giorgos Papageorgiou & Polkar

SEK Parking Area (behind Rialto)

With humour, heart and a wild mix of styles, Giorgos Papageorgiou and his band Polkar take the stage at the Rialto’s World Music Festival with a refreshingly entertaining and offbeat concert. Expect a high-energy mix of original songs and unexpected covers that blend various genres in equal measure. Polkar consists of musicians: Giorgos Papageorgiou: vocals, ukulele, Giannis Kyratsos: guitars, Giorgos Avramidis: trumpet, Giannis Bellos: bass, Alexis Archontis: drums, Tasos Korkovelos: keys, programming. Free entrance

Saturday, 19 July | 10:30 | 90’ | Kamila Kamilari, Let’s Go to Varosia! – Antama Music Ensemble For children and parents (ages 4+)

Rialto Theatre (on stage)

Learning, singing and illustrating traditional children’s songs of my homeland: an activity designed for children and their parents, aiming to encourage creative expression through music and art, and to inspire children to further explore the cultural heritage of their land in a playful and educational manner. Accompanied by the music group ANTAMA and educator Anna Aristidou, children will discover traditional musical instruments through interactive music games. Participants will also have the chance to creatively express their impressions of this musical journey using their imagination. Visual artist and facilitator Irene Zenonos will then invite children and their parents to illustrate scenes inspired by these traditional songs. In Greek.  For registrations, please contact 77777745 / ntiac@rialto.com.cy. Free Entrance

Organiser: Rialto Theatre

Mega Sponsors: Fameline Holding Group, OPAP Cyprus, MEDOCHEMIE, Island Oil Holdings.

Media Sponsors: Love 100.7 fm 98.1 & 105,7, WIZGUIDE, CITY.COM.CY, KANALI 6, RIK, LIMASSOL TODAY

Hospitality Sponsor: Alinea 

Supporters: In prima, Event Pro, Συνομοσπονδία Εργαζομένων Κύπρου (SΕΚ)

Info & Tickets: www.rialto.com.cy | 77777745