As Sydney prepares to welcome one of its most anticipated cultural celebrations, the 44th Greek Festival of Sydney is set to return to Darling Harbour on Sunday, March 1, bringing with it a full day of food, music, dance and shared heritage in one of the city’s most iconic locations.
At the heart of this year’s festival is Persefoni Mousmoutis-Thliveris, a member of the Board of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW and recently elected President of the Sub-Committee for the Greek Festival of Sydney.
Known to many simply as Persa – or Sue from her high school days – she speaks with warmth, clarity and conviction about what the festival represents, both now and into the future.
A flagship celebration of living culture
The Darling Harbour event remains the centrepiece of the wider Greek Festival of Sydney program, attracting thousands of visitors each year from across Sydney and beyond the Greek Australian community.
“Our flagship Darling Harbour event represents a powerful opportunity to showcase our rich, vibrant and enduring culture — our politismos,” Persefoni tells The Greek Herald.
“It is a celebration of the Greek spirit and creativity in all its forms, shared proudly with the wider community. It allows us to present our heritage not only as something historic, but as something living and dynamic.”
Held at Tumbalong Park from 10am to 10pm, Greek Fest@Darling Harbour will once again transform the waterfront into a vibrant hub of Greek culture. Food stalls will be stacked with festival favourites — souvlakia, lamb souvla, halloumi, barbecued octopus, calamari, pites, loukoumades and traditional Greek ice cream — alongside Greek beer and a touch of ouzo.
Retailers will offer everything from jewellery to t-shirts for children and adults, highlighting the creativity of Greek Australian small businesses.
Live music will fill the park throughout the day, with Greek Australian bands Yianni Trio and Iho Nyx performing contemporary and traditional sounds, while dance groups from Crete, Kalymnos, Cyprus, Pontos and northern Greece take to the main stage, sharing regional traditions with the crowd.
For Persefoni, Darling Harbour’s significance goes beyond its beauty.
“Darling Harbour remains an iconic and inclusive setting where we can build meaningful connections between our Greek heritage and contemporary multicultural Australian society,” she says.
“Especially in times when social cohesion and tolerance are being tested, events like this foster understanding, respect and unity across communities.”
Families, football and community connections
This year, the festival expands its family-friendly offerings with the involvement of Western Sydney Wanderers FC, who will host an interactive marquee from 11am.
“For families – and especially football lovers – we are excited to welcome Western Sydney Wanderers FC, who will host an interactive marquee with competitions, prizes and player meet-and-greets,” Persefoni says. “Special guests include Anthony Pantazopoulos, Alex Gersbach and Kosta Barbarouses.”
Children will also have the opportunity to participate in a free soccer clinic and a juggling competition, blending sport and culture in a way that reflects the festival’s inclusive spirit.
A headline act with heart and energy
Closing the Darling Harbour celebrations will be a free performance by internationally acclaimed Greek singer Ioulia Karapataki, whose appearance has been eagerly anticipated.
“We are delighted to welcome internationally acclaimed singer Ioulia Karapataki as our headline act at Tumbalong Park,” Persefoni says.
“The decision was made by the previous Festival Committee in collaboration with our colleagues at the Antipodes Festival, and it is a wonderful choice. I was introduced to Ioulia about two years ago and was immediately struck by her vibrancy and authenticity. She is one of Greece’s most exciting contemporary artists – energetic, charismatic and incredibly engaging on stage.”
Audiences, she adds, are in for something special.
“Audiences can expect a lively, inclusive and emotionally rich performance that truly brings the stage to life. We are thrilled that Sydney will finally experience her talent live,” she says.
A new chapter in leadership
The 2026 festival also marks the first year under new Chair Pamela Proestos, with a refreshed committee and leadership team guiding the program.
“This year marks a transitional chapter for the Festival,” Persefoni explains. “Our committee comprises many new and highly engaged members who have embraced the responsibility with enthusiasm.”
She highlights the depth of experience within the new leadership.
“Our new Chair, Pamela Proestos, brings significant experience, having previously served as Festival Director for seven years and currently working at the Australian National Maritime Museum. Our new Festival Director, Tilda Sikes, also brings valuable expertise across multiple cultural and event platforms. We are fortunate to have such high-calibre leadership.”
While some events were inherited from previous planning stages, the committee also embraced new opportunities, including a major conversation event with Yanis Varoufakis in discussion with Helen Vatsikopoulos, exploring themes of resistance, history and identity drawn from Varoufakis’ recent book Raise Your Soul.
Reflecting an evolving community
Beyond Darling Harbour, the Greek Festival of Sydney will continue across the coming weeks with a diverse program of theatre, music, comedy and discussion. Highlights include the Greek Australian Comedy Gala, Paravasis, hosted by Anthony Locascio at the Sydney Comedy Store, and the musical tribute Untamed Voices by Elsa Mouratidou & Taxim Trio, honouring the women of rebetiko.
For Persefoni, the 2026 program is both reflective and forward-looking.
“The 2026 program is more concise compared to previous years, but it represents an important period of reflection and strategic planning,” she says.
“We are exploring the idea of concentrating future events primarily in March — a significant month for us, culminating in the celebration of 25 March, Greek Independence Day. It has the potential to become a dedicated ‘month of all things Greek’.
“Our vision is to honour tradition while thinking creatively and innovatively. We want to introduce fresh ideas and exciting proposals that reflect the evolving identity of the Greek Australian community – confident in its heritage, yet forward-looking and inclusive.”
Nearing the finish line
With just days to go before the Darling Harbour celebrations, Persefoni acknowledges the scale of the task behind the scenes.
“This year’s Festival has been a mammoth undertaking, delivered within a short timeframe and with limited resources,” she says. “Despite the challenges, our team has approached the task with determination, passion and optimism.”
As the countdown continues, her message to the community is simple.
“We are nearing the finish line and are proud of what we have achieved together. I look forward to welcoming everyone to celebrate with us — to share in our culture, our music, our food and our spirit,” she concludes.
Event Details
- EVENT: Greek Fest@Darling Harbour
- DATE: Sunday, 1 March 2026
- TIME: 10am–10pm
- LOCATION: Tumbalong Park, 11 Harbour St, Sydney NSW
- ENTRY: Free event – no tickets required
For full program updates, follow the Greek Festival of Sydney on social media or visit the festival website.
