The capital city prepares for the Nicosia Antiracist Festival this month, brought to realisation by Generation for Change CY, in collaboration with YEU Cyprus, Visual Voices and Generation 2.0 for Rights, Equality & Diversity.

Two days of workshops, performances and community engagement will take place at the University of Nicosia on March 27 and 28, opening the discourse for the city’s communities. Plus, all of the festival’s activities are offered for free.

Soon local and migrant communities, artists, NGOs and activists will come together to celebrate diversity and stand against racism and discrimination through education, culture and community engagement.

“At a time when conflicts around the world continue to be fuelled by racism, exclusion and narratives of superiority,” says Etinosa Erevbenagie-Johnbull, Co-founder and Managing Director of Generation for Change CY, “and when ideologies promoting hatred are increasingly visible across Europe and increasingly affecting our societies, including Cyprus, it is more important than ever to create spaces where people can come together.”

“The Nicosia Antiracist Festival is about bringing communities, activists, artists and organisations together to learn from one another, celebrate diversity and collectively reaffirm that our societies must be built on dignity, equity and solidarity.”

Day one will kick off at 4pm, dedicated to Education and Dialogue. The festival’s events open with workshops on LGBTQI healthcare access by ACCEPT, feminist solidarity challenging racism by the Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies (MIGS) and antiracism in education by the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR).

The programme also includes short film screenings and discussions on racialised peoples’ experiences, identity and belonging, as well as human trafficking, featuring documentaries by Documentism and STEP UP Stop Slavery. Roundtable discussions with Far Right Watch, Tap Seu Pouh and other organisations will examine Cyprus’ migration history, public opinion shifts, racially motivated crime and refugees’ legal rights.

Day two focuses on culture and community, with more events spanning the day, from noon to 9pm. The day opens with a conference on migrant cultural creativity and inclusion from 12.30 to 2.30, featuring guest speakers from local and European cultural institutions, organised by RELATE.

From 2pm to 9pm, the university’s open amphitheatre comes alive with creative workshops for all ages, craft and book vendors, clothing stalls, food from around the world, a children’s corner, art exhibitions, and NGO kiosks showcasing civil society organisations standing against racism and discrimination.

DJ Andreas provides live music throughout the afternoon.

At 3.30pm, the cultural programme begins with spoken word poetry, traditional and contemporary dance, and djembe performances by local artists of migrant backgrounds.

The evening culminates in live concerts starting at 5.30pm, featuring Tatadana, Fuzz Bus, Julio and MC Yinka, followed by a party celebrating community and solidarity.

Nicosia Antiracist Festival 2026

Two-day festival with talks, workshops, discussions, screenings and more. Organised by Generation for Change CY and YEU Cyprus. March 27-28. Friday: 4pm-8pm. Saturday: 12pm-8pm. University of Nicosia Campus, Nicosia