Summary
- “OLYMPUS: BEYOND THE MYTH” is a photography exhibition at Philoxenia 2026 in Thessaloniki.
- Twenty-five photographers explore Pieria’s landscapes, monuments and religious heritage.
- The display combines new work with photographs previously exhibited in Athens in 2024.
- Visitors can see it on 13–15 November on the footbridge between Halls 13 and 15.
Event Details
Mount Olympus, its gorges and waterfalls, along with Pieria’s monasteries and historic landmarks, take centre stage in a group photography exhibition coming to Thessaloniki on 13–15 November 2026.
Titled “OLYMPUS: BEYOND THE MYTH – Nature, Faith & Heritage of Pieria”, the Greek Instagramers Events exhibition will be presented at the 41st Philoxenia – Hotelia fair, on the connecting footbridge between Halls 13 and 15 at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre.
Nature, sacred sites and history through the camera
The images trace different routes around Olympus, from mountain scenery and natural trails to places where religious tradition and history are woven into the landscape. New photographs appear alongside works previously shown in “En Olympo: A Photographic Journey through the Nature and Pilgrimage Sites of Pieria”, exhibited at the Numismatic Museum of Athens in 2024.
The work grew out of the #My_Olympus_Riviera travel photography project, involving 25 invited photographers. Its subjects reveal the region’s visual range, from the detail of a historic site to the mountain’s dramatic scale and the movement of water.
Mount Olympus joins UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2026
The exhibition takes place in the year when the wider area of Mount Olympus was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The official 2026 inscription, reference 1719, recognises a landscape notable for its landforms, biodiversity and enduring role in Greek mythology.
That range of identities gives the photographic project depth: rather than focusing solely on mountain summits, the photographers also explore the human imprint on the landscape.
A photography community with an established Philoxenia presence
Greek Instagramers Events is taking part in Philoxenia for the ninth year, following a collaboration that began in 2017. At the 2025 Philoxenia photography exhibition, the community brought together 60 photographers around the theme of Greek hospitality. This year focuses on a single region and the different ways photographers interpret it.
Greek Instagramers Events is responsible for organising and curating the show, in cooperation with the Pieria Tourism Development and Promotion Organization (POTAP), the Pieria Regional Unit and the Holy Metropolis of Kitros, Katerini and Platamon.
The 25 participating photographers
The participating photographers, listed alphabetically as provided by the organisers, are: Elli Agiannidi, Nancy Andritsopoulou, George Vergados, Ilias Georgouleas, Babis Gkiritziotis, Asimina Delilamprou, Christina Demertsidou, Dimitris Kontodimitropoulos, Argyro Kounadi, Ifigeneia Krikeli, Maria Mazarou, Argyro Manoli, Koula Melachroinaki, Rania Binou, Christos Orlis, Nikos Paraponiaris, Ioanna Platanisioti, Emmanouil Pozos, Vaso Pochou, Vasileios Stergiopoulos, Alexandra Stefanidou, Chara Syndikiotou, Roula Tsami, Anastasia Chatzipetrou, Giannis Chousos.
Dates, location and opening hours
Dates: Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November 2026.
Venue: Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre (DETH–HELEXPO), footbridge linking Halls 13 and 15.
Friday 13 November: 11:00–20:00.
Saturday 14 November: 10:00–20:00.
Sunday 15 November: 10:00–18:00.
For admission requirements and any ticket arrangements, visitors should consult the official exhibition page.
What we think
What appeals to us about this exhibition is that it doesn’t treat Olympus merely as a spectacular backdrop. A waterfall, a hermitage and a medieval castle can tell three entirely different photographic stories from the same region.
For those of us who photograph landscapes and travel, that matters. Good travel photography goes beyond the obvious viewpoint: it takes research, time and an interest in how people and places relate to each other. Bringing together different photographers also gives visitors a chance to compare distinct personal perspectives on the same subject.
It is also good to see this work displayed at a major tourism event. The images can reach people who might never enter a photography gallery, but who may stop in front of one photograph and come away with a different view of Olympus.
