Athens to Host 39th European Film Awards in January 2027

Photo source: HFAC

For the first time in its history, the European Film Academy has chosen Athens as the host city for the 39th European Film Awards.

The European Film Awards were first presented in Berlin in 1988, to promote and support the European film industry. They are held every second year in Berlin and travel throughout Europe in the other years: London, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Warsaw, Copenhagen, Tallinn, Malta, Riga, Wroclaw, Seville, Reykjavík, and, most recently, in Lucerne.

Leveraging the international glow of the event, the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre (HFAC) – Creative Greece proposed Athens as the host city, showcasing Greece as a premier destination for film shoots and a compelling partner for co-productions.

“The selection of Athens highlights the city’s long and rich cultural heritage and also reflects Greece’s growing dynamism and influence in the European film and audiovisual industry,” said HFAC CEO Leonidas Christopoulos.

Events starting from 2026

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) in Athens. Photo source: European Film Academy

For the first time traveling to Southeastern Europe, the 39th European Film Awards ceremony will be held at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) on Saturday, January 16, 2027. The event will be preceded by the traditional Mayor’s Night reception at Zappeion on the eve of the ceremony.

Starting in 2026 with a series of promotional events, Greece will set the stage for the European Film Awards, highlighting its position as a hub for European cinema. Key events such as the Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival and the Thessaloniki International Film Festival will play a central role in the promotional program, offering vital platforms for industry networking and discussions.

The awards ceremony is expected to host 1,300 guests and will be broadcast in Greece and across Europe by the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), with support from the European Broadcasting Union.

“With great enthusiasm, we will welcome the European Film Awards,” said Athens Mayor Haris Doukas.

The European Film Awards ceremony in Lucerne on November 2024. Photo source: European Film Academy

The event will be organized under the auspices of the Ministries of Culture, Tourism, and Economy, along with the Athens Municipality, the Attica Region, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre, and ERT.

HFAC-Creative Greece is the main body exercising the country’s film policy and audiovisual policy.