Calling all Cyprus events-seekers! Get ready for music, street food, art and literature to take over the streets as this might be June’s busiest weekend yet. Here’s what’s on this Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

First and foremost, the first Alternative Brains Rule Festival will surely be an exciting and packed event honouring the AfroBanana Festival’s evolution. It launches on June 19 at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre and unfolds at the Nicosia Municipal Gardens with events on until June 22. Pop-up installations, long-table dinners, DJs, exhibitions, art corners and much more are expected to fill this anticipated return. It is an event not to miss, coming to the heart of Nicosia for the first time.

Also opening on Thursday is a Glyn Hughes exhibition in Nicosia at n_c_annex on Digeni Akrita. Titled Chronicle of Presence: The Unframed 70s, the exhibition will run until early July showcasing an in-depth view of the artist’s work and his experience with Cyprus realities.

In Limassol, the 26th Cyprus Contemporary Dance Festival will present its last two performances; on June 20 the Irish performance Birdboy and on June 22 the Spanish Sonoma. To conclude its annual event, a street party will follow the Sunday performance at Sousou Bar next to Rialto Theatre with DJ Mighty Scoop curating the music.

In Agios Tychonas and its Aphrodite Amathousia car park, the Seaside Street Food Festival will bring flavours of the world on June 20, 21 and 22. Souvlaki, curries, shawarmas, pizzas, burgers, desserts and many other food choices will be served fresh on the spot, enjoyed with an icy beverage and some live music.

Back in Nicosia, a literary weekend awaits logophiles and filmmakers as a festival from Athens brings its actions to the capital city. LEA in Cyprus 2025 is a two-day event that will welcome acclaimed Cuban writer Leonardo Padura for a roundtable discussion on June 19 at Soloneion Book Centre and screenwriter Lucia López Coll who will discuss transforming text for TV. The second event will take place at bookshop To Erma and will include a screening of López Coll’s work, while both evenings will be facilitated by Cypriot creative professionals.

If it is music you are after, you are in for a treat as on Saturday, Nicosia will once again join the global celebrations of World Music Day. The annual Make Music event will activate public spaces in Nicosia – squares, streets, parks and coffee shops – by bringing some 350 professional and amateur musicians to the forefront. From 5pm onwards, dozens of local musicians will perform live at different locations in downtown Nicosia so stroll the city centre to listen to all kinds of music genres.

Sunday has two new festivals in store; one in Limassol and one in rural Nicosia. The first edition of the Zero Trace Festival will launch this week with activities, workshops and discussions of living more consciously and sustainably, from transforming food scraps, to composting and learning where trash actually goes.

In Askas village, En Typois Publications organises the Regional Book Festival with a book exhibition, market and screening about the life and work of writer, painter and calligrapher Nikos Nikolaidis. The event runs throughout the day, from 10.30am to 8pm, adding to the weekend’s very full events agenda!

Alternative Brains Rule Festival

AfroBanana evolves into a new festival with community events, live music, art installations, street food and more. June 19-22. Nicosia Municipal Gardens and Nicosia Municipal Theatre. www.abrfest.com. www.more.com

Chronicle of Presence: The Unframed 70s

Glyn Hughes exhibition. Curated by Athina Antoniadou and Yianna Tsolaki. June 19-July 9. n_c_annex, Digeni Akrita, Nicosia. Opening night: 7pm. Tel: 22-429837, 94-086726, 99-486772

26th Cyprus Contemporary Dance Festival

10 productions from 7 countries. Until June 22. Rialto Theatre, Limassol. www.rialto.com.cy

Seaside Street Food Festival

Street food and live entertainment. June 20-22. Aphrodite Amathousia car park, Agios Tychonas, Limassol. 6pm-12am

LEA in Cyprus 2025

Roundtable discussion with acclaimed Cuban writer Leonardo Padura and Cypriot journalist Stavros Christodoulou. June 19. Soloneion Book Centre, Nicosia. Discussion and film screening with renowned Cuban screenwriter Lucia López Coll and Cypriot film director Stavros Pampallis. June 20. Bookshop To Erma, Nicosia. 7.30pm. Free. Tel: 99-678132

Make Music Cyprus 2025

Over 350 musicians perform live around town to celebrate World Music Day. June 21. Downtown Nicosia. 5pm-12am. Map: https://www.makemusiccyprus.org/line-up-2025. Tel: 7000-0216

Zero Trace Festival

1st festival edition. June 22. Throughout Limassol. Workshops require pre-booking. @zerotracefestival

Regional Book Festival

Book exhibition, sale and documentary screening. By En Typois Publications and Askas Community Council. June 22. Askas village, Nicosia district. 10.30am-8pm