Lofoupoli hosts Heraklion Hills 2026 sports and music festival on August 29-30
Lofoupoli is preparing to welcome athletes and visitors from Greece and abroad for Heraklion Hills 2026, a two-day event scheduled for the weekend of August 29-30. The event combines running and cycling races with music performances and Cretan hospitality, and organizers say it aims to promote Lofoupoli as well as Heraklion and Crete more broadly.
The program opens on Saturday, August 29, at 17:00, with a blessing ceremony conducted by the Archbishop of Crete. The running races will start an hour later, at 18:00.
On Sunday, August 30, the cycling race will take place as part of the official competitive calendar of the Hellenic Cycling Federation. Technical support for the running races is being provided by the “Minoites” team and the Cretan Marathon Runners’ Association “Ikaros,” while Hellenic Cycling Federation coach Nikos Koumpenakis is overseeing the cycling event.
Music and a Cretan night
Music is also part of the schedule. On Saturday at 21:30, Maria Asteriou and Vangelis Vellos will open the musical part of the event, an addition that complements the island’s broader lineup of summer events in Crete.
Heraklion Hills 2026 will close on Sunday with what organizers describe as a large Cretan night, featuring Aris Roulios and his band — a format similar to other traditional gatherings held around the island, such as the recent free full moon concert at Knossos Park.
The event is being held with the support of the Region of Crete, in cooperation with cycling club P.O.H. “Kastro” and the Hellenic Cycling Federation, and with institutional backing from the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce. Sponsors, businesses and professionals are also taking part, with organizers saying they aim to connect local entrepreneurship with sport, culture and the community.
Following last year’s edition, which drew participants from Greece and abroad, Heraklion Hills returns to Lofoupoli this year for a two-day program of events on August 29 and 30. Visitors looking for other ways to spend time on the island can also browse experiences in Crete.
