Matala Beach Festival 2024 in Crete

The Matala Beach Festival stands out as one of Europe's biggest free music festivals. Annually in mid-June, the event provides people of all ages a chance to break away from daily stress and immerse themselves in three days packed with music, dancing, and numerous activities, all set against the backdrop of the renowned beach with its caves.

Program of the Festival

There will be three stages and three full days of performances on the festival's main stage, where big bands and leading artists by Greek and foreign music scenes will perform. The festival kicks off on Friday, July 5th, with The Doors tribute band Riders On The Storm performing live at 10 pm. On Saturday, July 6th, Marina Satti, representing Greece at Eurovision, will take the stage for a live concert at 9:30 pm. Also, on Saturday, Rous will perform at sunset. Closing out the festival on Sunday, July 7th, is COLDPLACE, the world's leading tribute to COLDPLAY, with a live concert at sunset.

Square Stage

The Square Stage at the Matala Beach Festival will feature four concerts: Kevin Jennings on July 5 at 7 pm, Yiannis Kapetanakis on July 6 at 7 pm, GEMMA on July 6 at 9 pm, and Palio Skula on July 7 at 7 pm.

Events & Activities

The Matala Beach Festival is delighted to introduce this year's "Matala Busking Project" as part of its parallel activities. This initiative is closely tied to the culture of Matala and reflects the Festival's philosophy. At its core, the "Busking Project" embraces independent "street artists" within a vast community marked by self-organization and inclusivity. Throughout the Festival, numerous artists actively engage in various areas of the settlement. Furthermore, the Festival is enhanced by the vibrant celebration of art and color known as "Matala Street Painting." Additionally, attendees participate in Zumba, Yoga, and Body Attack activities. Kids' zone will feature various activities as well.

History of the Festival

Matala is a small town on Crete island that is famous for its hippie history. In the 1960s and 1970s, this area belonged to hippie travelers, who lived near the beachside and in the caves. The festival was founded in 2011 to keep the myth of Matala alive. The event attracts lots of people from every corner of the earth. Famous Canadian singer Joni Mitchell used to visit this festival and was inspired to write a song about Matala called “Carey.”