ANIMASYROS 2026 International Animation Festival | Open Call for film sumbissions
Skwigly
ANIMASYROS, the largest International Animation Festival in Greece and one of the largest in Europe, returns to the capital of the Cyclades from September 21 to 27, 2026, inviting creators from all over the world to submit their films until June 1st, 2026.
The ANIMASYROS 2026 programme includes seven competition sections, special tributes, the Agora – a key reference point for the animation industry in the Eastern Mediterranean – educational workshops, a VR lounge, parallel events, as well as new international and local collaborations.
The main thematic focus of this year’s edition is dedicated to “200 Years of Hermoupolis,” marking the anniversary of the Syros capital naming and founding in 1826, and the birth of Hermoupolis, the city of Hermes, god of commerce and eloquence – an anniversary celebrated throughout the year by the island of Syros. Within this framework, the Festival presents a rich screening programme that explores key historical and social transformations that shaped the modern world; the formation of new cities, migration and mass population movements, the transition from rural to urban societies, and industrial and technological development.
This year’s focus country of ANIMASYROS is Ireland, in recognition of the Irish animation scene which combines a strong and long-standing tradition with impressive contemporary momentum and has emerged in recent years as one of the most creative and dynamic in Europe. In collaboration with Animation Ireland, the Festival presents a tribute featuring screenings of feature-length and short animated films by contemporary Irish creators, round tables within the Agora, and a major networking event.
The ANIMASYROS Agora, one of the Festival’s most vibrant sections, continues its development by cultivating international collaborations within the framework of the Pitching Forum. Meanwhile, presentations, round tables, seminars, masterclasses, networking events, speed dating sessions, and work-in-progress showcases, offer professionals the opportunity to promote their work, connect with industry leaders, engage with the international animation community, and discover the success stories of the future.
Greek animation continues to play a central role in the Festival. For the fourth consecutive year, the Animation Agora Days, the well-established two-day event dedicated to Greek creators will be held in Athens this summer, ahead of the Festival.
As every year, the educational programme of ANIMASYROS 2026 includes animation workshops for all ages and abilities – children, teenagers, young professionals, people with disabilities, families, and senior citizens. Inspired by the Festival’s main thematic focus, the workshops will explore the relationship between animation and other art forms, such as literature, poetry, theatre, architecture, and dance. On the final weekend of January, the Inclusive Cultural Workshop – the first of 2026, celebrating the 200 years of Hermoupolis – was held, led by educator Anna Oikonomou, in collaboration with the Documenting Heritage Festival, KDAP MEA Syros, and the group Little Guides of Syros, with the support of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture.
The Visual Identity of ANIMASYROS 2026
The visual identity of the 19th edition of ANIMASYROS is designed by illustrator, author and creator of the ANIMASYROS mascot Petros Christoulias.
Petros Christoulias is an illustrator, comics creator, and author. A graduate of the School of Fine Arts in Thessaloniki, he has been active for over 15 years in illustration, storytelling, and animation, developing works that move between literature and visual narrative, with a particular focus on creative dissemination of cultural content. His work has received both national and international recognition (including the White Ravens List 2024, Anagnostis Literary Award 2025, EBGE, and Comicdom Awards). He has collaborated closely with ANIMASYROS since its early years, having designed the festival’s mascot and contributing over time to shaping its visual identity.
Speaking about his inspiration, the creator notes:
The idea behind this year’s use of the ANIMASYROS mascot was to transform it into Hermes, as a way of honoring the 200 years of Hermoupolis and its historic role as a port and hub of commerce. I thus created an image that brings together a slightly transformed vision of the city with the idea of the character flying among its emblematic buildings. In the joyful universe I imagined, Hermes becomes a kind of animator – a figure in constant motion, moving through the city, connecting places and people, and activating the imagination.
Call for Submissions
Applications for the competition sections of ANIMASYROS 2026 are accepted exclusively via the festival’s FilmFreeway page.
The submission deadline is June 1st , 2026. The call for participation in the Agora Pitching Forum of ANIMASYROS 2026 will be announced soon.