GENERAL INFORMATION

What is the purpose of Sappho Women and the International Eressos Women's Festival?

Sappho Women was established to bring women together, promote women’s talents, creativity and achievements, strengthen women’s networks and opportunities, support women’s initiatives and organisations, and organise the International Eressos Women’s Festival.

The festival itself was created as a space in which women from Greece and around the world can meet, create, learn, celebrate and connect.

It has deep roots in the lesbian history and community of Skala Eressos, which remain an important part of its identity and character.
When does the festival take place?

The International Eressos Women’s Festival takes place each September in Skala Eressos, Lesvos.

The 2027 festival will run from 6–18 September 2027.

Festival dates may vary slightly from year to year, so please check our website for the latest confirmed dates and programme information.
Where is the festival held? Is accommodation available nearby?

The festival takes place throughout Skala Eressos, a seaside village on the southwest coast of Lesvos, Greece.

Events are held at a variety of locations including our open-air cinema, local bars and restaurants, workshop spaces, the beach and other outdoor venues.

Skala Eressos offers hotels, guesthouses, studios and apartments. September is a busy period, particularly during the festival, so we recommend booking accommodation as early as possible.

If you would like help finding accommodation, you can contact Sappho Travel, our local travel agency in Skala Eressos.

They can provide up-to-date availability, prices, and recommendations based on your preferences and budget.
How do I get to Skala Eressos?

Most visitors arrive on Lesvos via Mytilene International Airport or Mytilene Port.

From Mytilene, Skala Eressos can be reached by rental car, taxi, private transfer or public bus. Journey times and public transport schedules vary, so we recommend planning your onward travel in advance.

Sappho Travel can also assist with airport or port transfers and car hire.

PARTICIPATION / ACCESS

How can I apply to perform, facilitate a workshop, DJ or otherwise contribute to the festival?

We welcome applications from performers, DJs, workshop facilitators, authors, filmmakers, volunteers and others who would like to contribute to the festival.

Application categories may include live performance, DJing, workshops and activities, book launches and author presentations, film screenings, product presentations and tastings, and volunteering.

Please visit our Participate page for the latest information, application requirements and available forms.
Can I volunteer at the festival?

Yes. Volunteers are an important part of the festival and assist with a range of practical tasks before and during the event.

Volunteer opportunities vary each year according to the needs of the festival. When applications are open, information about available roles, commitment and any volunteer benefits will be published on our Participate page.
Can I sponsor or support the festival?

Yes. Sappho Women welcomes support from businesses, organisations and individuals who share an interest in supporting the festival and our wider work.

Support may take the form of financial sponsorship, services, equipment, products or other practical assistance.

If you are interested in supporting the festival, please contact us at contact@sapphowomen.org.
Who can participate in festival activities?

Different parts of the festival programme have different access arrangements.

Our workshops, talks, organised excursions, sports activities and certain other organised activities are intended for women, including trans women, and non-binary people whose identities and lived experiences align with women’s and lesbian communities.

People who identify as men, including transgender men, are not eligible to access activities reserved for these participants.

Other parts of the festival programme are open to a wider public, including selected cinema events, parties, lunchtime concerts, early-evening performances and other events taking place at participating venues.

For full details, please read our Festival Access & Eligibility Policy.
Do I need a festival wristband?

A festival wristband is the main way to access the International Eressos Women’s Festival programme.

Wristband holders are guaranteed access to the festival’s main open-air cinema events.

Workshops, excursions and other activities may have limited capacity and may require advance registration. A wristband therefore does not guarantee a place in every individual activity once available places have been filled.

Some activities or services may carry an additional charge where this is clearly stated in the programme.

A limited number of public-facing events may also be available to people without a festival wristband.

For current wristband information, please see our Wristbands / Tickets page.
Can I buy wristbands for several people through one account?

No. Each attendee must purchase their own festival wristband through their own website account using their own email address.

Your account is used to recognise you as a registered wristband holder and enables access to online bookings and activities that are made available exclusively to wristband holders.

If you are travelling with friends or as part of a group, each person should therefore create their own account and purchase their own wristband.
How do I receive my festival wristband?

Festival wristbands are collected in person from the Sappho Women Festival Office in Skala Eressos during the designated collection hours.

Please bring a digital or printed copy of your invoice or ticket voucher when collecting your wristband.

Wristbands are personal, non-transferable and non-refundable except where otherwise required by law or expressly agreed by Sappho Women.

If your wristband is lost or damaged, please contact the Festival Office as soon as possible.

Full conditions are available in our Terms & Conditions.

ACCESSIBILITY / CHILDREN / PETS

Is the festival accessible for people with mobility or other accessibility needs?

Skala Eressos is a traditional village with uneven terrain, narrow streets and limited step-free access in some locations. Not every festival venue or outdoor activity is fully accessible.

If you have specific accessibility requirements, please contact us in advance so that we can advise you about individual venues and activities.

Email: contact@sapphowomen.org
Can I bring children to the festival?

Skala Eressos is an open village and families are welcome to visit during the festival period. The International Eressos Women’s Festival itself, however, is an adult programme and is not organised as a children’s or family festival.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, workshops, organised activities and excursions are intended for adults. We do not provide childcare, children’s programming or supervision for minors.

Where an individual event is open or suitable for children or young people, this will be stated in the programme. Parents and guardians remain responsible for minors in their care.
Can I bring my dog or pet?

Pets are welcome in many parts of Skala Eressos, but access depends on the individual venue or activity.

Owners are responsible for keeping animals under proper control, cleaning up after them and ensuring that they do not interfere with festival events or other participants.

Please also check your accommodation’s pet policy and follow any local rules applying to animals on beaches and in public spaces.

EVENTS / ACTIVITIES

What types of events and activities can I expect?
Each year’s programme is different, but typically includes:

Live music, concerts, performances and DJs

Workshops, talks and creative sessions

Dance, yoga, fitness and wellbeing activities

Sports and outdoor activities

Walks, swims, excursions and trips

Film screenings

Parties, lunchtime concerts and social events

Activities range from relaxed and reflective to active, creative and social. Please check the programme for individual event details, participation criteria, capacity and any advance sign-up requirements.
What happens if an event is cancelled or rescheduled?

We aim to deliver the programme as advertised, but changes can occasionally occur because of weather, performer or facilitator availability, technical issues, transport, safety considerations or other circumstances.

Where possible, updates will be published on our website and social channels and communicated through the Festival Office or relevant venue.

A replacement or alternative event may be offered where appropriate.

Festival wristbands remain valid for the festival as a whole. Refunds are not normally provided solely because an individual programme item is changed or cancelled. Please see our Terms & Conditions for full details.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

What should I bring with me?
We recommend bringing:

Your festival voucher for wristband collection

Valid identification where required for travel, vehicle hire or particular activities

Any medication you need

Comfortable clothing and footwear

A light layer for cooler September evenings

Swimwear and beach items

Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat

Insect repellent

A small bag or backpack

Please follow any event-specific safety, photography or equipment requirements shown in the programme.
What food and drink options are available in Skala Eressos?
What is the weather like in September?
How can I stay updated?

CONDUCT / PHOTOGRAPHY / SAFETY

Does the festival have a Code of Conduct?

Yes. Everyone attending or participating in festival events is expected to behave respectfully, respect personal boundaries and follow reasonable instructions from festival staff, facilitators and venue staff.

Harassment, intimidation, threats, verbal abuse, unwanted physical or sexual behaviour, persistent boundary violations and deliberate disruption are not accepted.

Please read our full Code of Conduct before attending.
Are there photography, filming or live-streaming rules?

Yes. Photography and recording rules vary according to the type of event.

Unauthorised live-streaming or live broadcasting of festival performances, concerts, workshops, activities or other organised festival events is not permitted.

At concerts, performances and other public-facing events, personal photography may generally be permitted unless otherwise stated. Video recording is only permitted where it has been allowed for the event or by the performer.

Workshops and sensitive activities may have stricter photography or recording restrictions, and additional rules may apply to the Alternative Fashion Show and other sensitive performances.

Please see the Code of Conduct for the full photography, filming and privacy rules.
What should I do in case of an emergency?

If you experience or witness an emergency, contact festival or venue staff where possible.

For immediate emergency assistance in Greece, call 112.

The nearest local health services and other emergency information will also be available through the Festival Office during the festival.
I have a question that is not covered here. How can I contact you?

Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL INFORMATION

PARTICIPATION / ACCESS

ACCESSIBILITY / CHILDREN / PETS

EVENTS / ACTIVITIES

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

CONDUCT / PHOTOGRAPHY / SAFETY