Things to Do in Cyprus in October 2026: 12 Picks

Two evenings of jazz bring musicians from Cyprus and abroad into the historic surroundings of Ibrahim’s Khan. The programme moves through standards, contemporary compositions, improvisation and new collaborations. Go for the breadth of the music and the chance to hear different branches of jazz meet under one festival banner.

A French spoken opera pairs a single dramatic voice with eighteen Cypriot musicians from the Commandaria Orchestra. Michael Jarrell’s Cassandre draws on Christa Wolf’s reworking of the Cassandra story, with Jean Deroyer conducting. Greek, Russian and English surtitles make the monodrama accessible across three reading languages.

Kornos potters demonstrate vessels shaped entirely by hand and foot-powered wheel, with workshops letting you learn how the village’s UNESCO-listed red-clay craft survives. Traditional food runs through the celebration. On the final day, Chryso Lefou prepares Korniotikos Ttavas, made with lamb or goat, rice and a clay pot, before live music and a concert close the festivities.

Three distances give runners, walkers and younger participants a practical way into this charity road race. Choose the 10km, 5km or 1,000m Kids’ Race, all starting and finishing near the municipal amphitheatre. Part of the proceeds goes to charity, following previous editions that raised over €15,000.

Aida Garifullina sings opera arias by Verdi, Puccini, Bizet and Tchaikovsky with the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra. Kyrylo Sikora, Semyon Antakov and conductor Miron Michailidis are also listed, and famous waltzes broaden the programme. Kourion’s ancient Greco-Roman theatre overlooking the sea supplies a suitably dramatic open-air backdrop.

Babies, children and teenagers get theatre, dance, circus and special performances staged across Cyprus. Most productions use little or no text, helping families from different language backgrounds follow the action. The age range runs from 0 to 18, so this is a useful festival to build several family outings around.

Evrychou serves traditional breakfast bites before workshops on olive pies, crushed green olives, essential oils and olive-based products. Seminars cover the Mediterranean diet and the place of olives and herbs within it, with music, dancing and sessions for adults and children extending the village celebration beyond food.

Street-food vendors fill Medieval Castle Square for a three-day autumn gathering beside Paphos harbour. The appeal is straightforward: varied food choices, an open public square and the medieval castle as the backdrop. Families can browse at their own pace, stop for different dishes and return across the festival run.

1782 Doom bring occult-laced heavy doom metal, supported by Shipethkies and Crash N Burn. Slow, crushing riffs, distortion and low frequencies define the night, aimed squarely at listeners who want uncompromising volume. Savino Live’s focus on live performance suits a bill built around heaviness.

Yannis Koutis presents his album Words of Silence through oud, composition and research into Eastern Mediterranean traditions. Marios Takousis and Marcus Stockhausen are also listed for the museum concert. The music connects regional history with contemporary practice in a concert at the Cyprus Museum.

Nicholas Van Orton leads a Halloween edition built on deep, hypnotic progressive house, joined by Andrewzvee and Cosmic. The music moves from atmospheric grooves toward darker, driving territory and continues until 02:30. Pick this when you want your final October night centred firmly on the dancefloor.