Gorillaz – David Byrne: The popular band and the influential artist coming to Athens in the summer of 2026

Two of the astir innovative and influential names successful modern euphony are coming to Athens successful the summertime of 2026, brought by Release Athens Festival and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). David Byrne volition execute connected June 21 astatine the Great Lawn of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), and the Gorillaz volition instrumentality the signifier connected June 25 astatine Plateia Nerou.

David Byrne

Best known arsenic the frontman of the legendary Talking Heads, David Byrne has earned adjacent acclaim done his adventurous solo career, fearlessly exploring divers philharmonic directions. Since the band’s breakup successful 1991, Byrne has undertaken countless projects — from solo albums and movie oregon theatre productions to founding his statement Luaka Bop, which played a cardinal relation successful introducing Western audiences to groundbreaking artists from South America and Africa.

His passionateness for unsocial rhythms, endowment for archetypal and infectious melodies, and crisp lyrical penetration specify a discography filled with iconic albums specified arsenic My Life successful the Bush of Ghosts (with Brian Eno), Rei Momo, Catherine Wheel, Love This Giant (with St. Vincent), The Last Emperor, and, of course, the Talking Heads classics Remain successful Light and Fear of Music.

Now successful his sixth decennary of music-making, Byrne has won an Oscar, Golden Globe, Grammy, and a special Tony Award, and is simply a subordinate of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His astir caller album, Who Is the Sky? (2025), recorded with the Ghost Train Orchestra, continues his originative evolution.
During his Athens performance — portion of the Who Is the Sky satellite circuit — helium volition execute some Talking Heads hits and highlights from his solo career.

Gorillaz

The Gorillaz, the groundbreaking virtual set created by Damon Albarn (of Blur) and Jamie Hewlett successful 1998, volition execute successful Greece for the archetypal time, delivering a spectacular audiovisual show. From their basal astatine Hewlett’s Kong Studios, Gorillaz became synonymous with philharmonic innovation, collaborating with an astonishing array of artists including Elton John, Little Simz, MF Doom, Grace Jones, Robert Smith, Stevie Nicks, Tame Impala, Bad Bunny, Beck, and galore others.

With eight acclaimed albums — Gorillaz (2001), Demon Days (2005), Plastic Beach (2010), The Fall (2011), Humanz (2017), The Now Now (2018), Song Machine: Season One – Strange Timez (2020), and Cracker Island (2023) — the set is simply a global phenomenon. Their debut sold implicit 7 cardinal copies and earned them a Guinness World Record arsenic the astir palmy virtual band, portion Plastic Beach surpassed 8 million worldwide sales. Gorillaz person won Grammys, BRIT Awards, and topped charts crossed the globe.

Ticket Information

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is partnering with Release Athens arsenic portion of its 30th day of philanthropic activity, bringing civilization and euphony person to everyone. Thanks to SNF’s support, summons prices volition beryllium 40–50% lower than those for comparable planetary events.

Ticket presales statesman Wednesday, October 15 astatine 11:00 a.m.

• David Byrne & much TBA: starting astatine €40, past €45 and €50
• Gorillaz & much TBA: starting astatine €50, past €55