Breach Festival 2026

Breach Festival 2026 returns to Nicosia to celebrate its landmark fifth season. The event will take place on 9 and 10 October 2026 at Ktirion 53 - Center of Experimental Arts (Athinas St., 25-27). Unique to the island, Breach Festival is a two-day celebration of free improvisation and experimental music, bringing together Cypriot and international artists from the Netherlands, Lebanon and Greece for performances that can never be repeated in exactly the same way.

Ticket prices start at 15 euros (25 euros for both days).

At Breach Festival, music is born in the moment it is experienced. Through active listening and interaction, each performance becomes a unique encounter between musicians, space and audience. This year's programme brings together different generations and musical directions: the Dutch duo Ab Baars and Ig Henneman - iconic figures on the European improvised music scene - will meet Lebanese bassist Ralph Chbeir, the Greek duo Circa 19 and a strong group of Cypriot musicians, including The Portal, the newly formed Breach Trio and the Karşina duo.

Schedule
Friday, 9 October 2026
Doors open: 20:00
Concerts: 20:30
1. Breach Trio (Alkis Nicolaides - electric guitar / Andria Nicodemou - vibraphone / Giorgos Bizios - electric guitar, objects)
2. BAARS-HENNEMAN Duo (Ab Baars - tenor saxophone, clarinet, shakuhachi / Ig Henneman - viola)
3. Karşina (Elena Xida - voice, lavta / Stavroula Constantin - ney)

Saturday, 10 October 2026
Doors open: 20:00
Concerts: 20:30
1. Ralph Chbeir (electric bass, electronics)
2. Circa 19 (Thanos Kazantzis - drums / Dimos Vrizas - violin, electronics)
3. The Portal (Giorgos Holland - flute, electronics / Stelios Antoniou - drums, electronics / Yannis Lautaris - modular synthesizers, voice, percussion)

Breach is organised by the non-profit organisation Make Music Cyprus in partnership with Irtijal Festival (Lebanon) and SPACE21 (Kurdistan/Iraq), with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Curator: Andria Nicodemou.