Hello May, hello spring festivals. Over a dozen festivals are about to pop up and add colour and life to every corner of the island. Here are some not to be missed!
Calling all caffeine lovers is the Cyprus Specialty Coffee Festival on today in Larnaca. Taking over the Municipal Gardens are more than 10 Cypriot coffee roasters from Cyprus, doing what they do best – serving hot and cold brew. Head over for free espresso shots, street food and music in a celebration of really good coffee.
On the following two weekends, Agros celebrates its renowned rose cultivation. The whole village will come to life from May 10-11 and 18-19 with the Agros Rose Festival and its entertainment programme all about rose production. Its activities will feature fragrant pink roses, the rosewater distillation process and guided walks in rose gardens.
For all things entrepreneurship, start-ups, innovation and sustainability, Reflect Festival is where everyone will be headed on May 15 and 16. Activating Limassol hotspots and welcoming international and local speakers, this annual event will be a networking and idea-generator hub for businesses; small or large. Its programme includes talks, a Shark-Tank like competition, wellness discussions and tech presentations.
Next, the Laughter Festival will offer four days of comedy shows at Skali Aglandjias on May 15-18. The majority of the 32 shows will be in Greek yet some sets in English are in the programme as well. Sri Lankan, Austria-based comedian Malinda will perform live after over 30 sold-out performances all across Europe and Asia. Alongside him will be the Cypriot comedian George Kyriakou who will perform bits and pieces from his new solo stand-up comedy in English, following his trip to New York.
In Avgorou village, CyHerbia Botanical Park & Labyrinth will fill with pixie dust and magical fairies as the annual Fairy Festival returns on May 17 and 18 with activities for old and young happening at its lush green grounds. On Larnaca’s Finikoudes Avenue, the biggest classical car and motorcycle festival returns on May 18. This will be the Classic Car Festival’s 6th edition featuring hundreds of vintage vehicles raising money for charity.
And that is not all May has planned for Cyprus. From May 22 to 25, the Limassol Boat Show will be on again at the Marina welcoming over 120 exhibitors. Paphos too will celebrate the season with the Seaside Street Food Festival on May 23 to 24 filling the Medieval Castle Square with dozens of street food choices.
Two music festivals are also part of May’s agenda; the Pharos International Chamber Music Festival brings exquisite nights of chamber music at the Royal Manor House in Kouklia and The Olive Grove in Delikipos from May 27 to June 1, and the 7th Cyprus International Accordion Festival filling Pera Oreinis with tunes on May 30 and June 1.
Cyprus Specialty Coffee Festival 2025
One-day coffee festival featuring 10 Cypriot coffee makers. May 4. Larnaca Municipal Garden, Larnaca. 10am. Free. www.sunmooncy.com
Agros Rose Festival
Annual festival all about rose production. Workshops, tours, activities and live entertainment. May 10-11, 18-19. Agros village, Limassol district. www.rosefest.agros.org.cy
Reflect Festival
Tech festival for start-ups and entrepreneurs in Cyprus, connecting Europe, Africa and the Middle East. May 15-16. Kolla Factory, Limassol. www.reflectfest.com
Laughter Festival
Stand-up comedy shows and more. May 15-18. Skali Aglandjias, Nicosia. Tel: 99-755489
8th Fairy Festival
Annual festival with fantasy games and activities for all ages. May 17-18. CyHerbia Botanical Park & Labyrinth, Avgorou. 9.30am-6pm. www.cyherbia.com
Classic Car Festival
Annual festival raising money for two charities. May 18. Finikoudes Avenue, Larnaca. 9am-5pm. Free
Street food and live entertainment. May 23-25. Medieval Castle Square, Paphos. 6pm-12am
24th International Pharos Chamber Music Festival
Five chamber music concerts and a gala concert by virtuoso musicians from around the world. May 27-31. Royal Manor House, Kouklia. June 1. The Olive Grove, Delikipos. €20. www.pharosartsfoundation.org. Tel. 22-663871
7th Cyprus International Accordion Festival
Annual music festival with performances and workshops. May 30-June 1. Pera Oreinis, Nicosia district. www.cyprusaccordionfestival.com