The Ifestia of Santorini
The Ifestia of Santorini is an annual festival held in September on the caldera, in which a pyrotechnic re-enactment of the volcanic eruption is launched from Nea Kameni; the 2026 edition is expected on the third weekend of September 2026.
The Ifestia of Santorini is Thira’s annual pyrotechnic festival — its name taken from Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire — in which a spectacle launched from Nea Kameni, the volcanic islet at the centre of the caldera, re-enacts the Minoan eruption of approximately 3,600 years ago. The festival has been held since 1991, begun by island volunteers and organised today by GEOTHIRA, the municipal enterprise, with the Municipality of Thira’s department of sports and culture. The 2026 edition is expected on the third weekend of September; the municipality publishes the programme as the date approaches.
The spectacle is watched from the caldera rim, with crowds positioned approximately three kilometres from the islet. The 2025 edition introduced a drone light show above the volcano before the fireworks, and included concerts at the Metropolis and at Santo Wines on the same weekend.