Zig Zag Festival 2026 | Living Among Giants, Psychogeographies
The 6th international Zig Zag Festival returns to Epirus
From July 27 to August 2, nineteen selected artists from Greece and abroad will collaborate on a seven-day interdisciplinary program featuring art installations, performances, participatory events, and guided tours. Through diverse artistic practices, the program explores the region's cultural heritage, architecture, soundscapes, and local traditions, fostering a dialogue between local heritage and contemporary art. Exhibitions and events will take place at the Kypseli Primary School, the "Pantelis Karalis" Museum of Folk Art and Life, and various sites throughout the village.
Zig Zag Festival 2026 presents «Living Among Giants: Psychogeographies», an exhibition and events program that examines the relationship between the community and their landcape, through Kypseli's enduring coexistence with the Tzoumerka Mountains, the «giants» of Epirus. By reactivating memories, pathways, and personal stories embedded in the landscape, the programme opens a dialogue between the local community, its history, and the present. To extend this dialogue, the festival introduces «Traces of Stone», a digital repository and open archive that brings together artistic practices, local narratives, and collective memories, continuing the project's engagement with place beyond the festival.
About Zig Zag Festival
This year marks six years of artistic exploration by the Zig Zag Festival into the natural and historical landscapes of Greece, continuing its mission to build bridges between art, nature, and history. Since its launch in 2021, the festival relocates every two years, aiming to provide artists and curators with networking opportunities and fresh insights into Greece’s hidden regions, local culture, and unique topography. Developed specifically for each host community, every edition of Zig Zag Festival activates the local landscape through a week-long programme of exhibitions, installations, performances, and music events. Following editions in Isternia, Tinos (2021–2022), and Kissos, East Pelion (2023–2024), the festival has been based in Kypseli, Tzoumerka, Epirus, since 2025, where it returns for its current 2026 edition.
Kypseli, Tzoumerka / Epirus / Zig Zag Festival 2026
Participating artists:
Sebastian Boulter
Christian Rupp
Sof Fachouridou
Richard Jochum
Athina Kanela
Babis Karalis
Dimitris Karalis
Eleni Kastrinogianni
Carrot Root
Lars* Kollros
Anna Alexia Papadopoulou
Leftheris Plakidas
Elio Samaras
Mehrta Shirzadian/ Stephan Trimmel
Nefeli Stamatogiannopoulou (Nefeli Stam.)/ Giorgos Gogolos
Athina Vahla
Werner Widmer
Program directors:
Georg Georgakopoulos
Fotini Kapiris
Babis Karalis
Organized by, CHEAPART
With the financial support and under the Auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture
Coordinated by, APART Art Research and Applications
Under the auspices and with the support of the Municipality of Central Tzoumerka
With the collaboration of Kypseli Municipal District, Arta
Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art, Pantelis Karalis
Delta Dyo NPO
More information: https://zigzagfestival.com
Event program
Monday, July 27 – Sunday, August 2, 2026
• Kypseli Primary School
• Pantelis Karalis Museum of Folk Art and Life
• Kypseli Public Space
19:00 – 21:00 | «Living Among Giants: Psychogeographies»
Group exhibition of Greek and international artists and curators
Digital Observatory Launch | «Traces of Stone» | Public Call & Screening
Monday, 27/7
19:00 | Opening
Introduction, presentation and official opening of «Kypseli/ Tzoumerka/ Epirus/ Zig Zag Festival 2026»
Tuesday, 28/7
11:00-12.15 | Athina Vahla, «Early bird routines»
Movement and improvisation practice connecting body, space, and community through breath, awareness, and collective experience.
19:30 | «Dimitris Karalis, the photographer, the man»
Presentation of the photographic archive of Dimitris Karalis, capturing the life and memory of Kypseli from 1960 onwards, customs, and narratives of a village in transition between tradition and the modern world.
20:30 – 20:45 | Athina Vahla with Bablis Karalis, «Τhe glass threshold»
A museum intervention at the Pantelis Karalis Museum of Folk Art and Life
21:00 | Leftheris Plakidas, "Where can photography lead you?”
Presentation and talk
Wednesday, 29/7
11:00-12.15 | Athina Vahla, «Early bird routines»
18:00 | Athina Vahla, «Voices in the riverbed»
Surrendering our voices to the Epirus flow, a gathering
19:00 | The master stonecutter and art of carving
20:00 | "Stone Crosses: The Guardians of Tzoumerka".
Visit to the stone crosses and discussion on establishing a sculpture gallery
Thursday, 30/7
Visit to Kokkini Ekklisia (Red Church), the striking Byzantine monument in Vourgareli
19:30 | Lars* Kollros, «Acoustic Movements»
Sound and Video performance
20:00 | Mehrta Shirzadian, "Soul Exchange" performance
Participatory performance exploring intimacy and trust through a shared ritual of breath, smoke, and a kiss.
21:00 | Sebastian Boulter, «Endless Rowing for Singing Rowers»
Music performance
Friday, 31/7
Excursion to Kipina Monastery and Kalarrytes
20:00 | «Between Worlds - Six Chapters»
Giorgos Gogolos, photography, Nefeli Stam live performance, electronics, electric bass, visuals.
Presentation of an ongoing art project that blends image, sound, and memory as transformative processes.
Saturday, 1/8
21:00 | Carrot Root, «habenichts*in»
Performance of experimental sound / verse exploring patriarchy and the violation of personal boundaries.
Sunday, 2/8
Closing day
