Open-air cinemas are one of Cyprus's most beloved summer traditions, with a history reaching back to the first decades of the 20th century. From the earliest outdoor screening venues to today's festivals and screenings in courtyards, gardens and on beaches, summer cinema remains an inseparable part of the island's cultural life. And this summer, Cyprus offers dozens of opportunities to enjoy cinema under the stars.
In the courtyards
Some of the most charming cinematic venues of the summer are found in courtyards and gardens.
The season opens on 13 July 2026 at 8.30pm in the garden of the Cyprus Family Planning Association, where, in collaboration with the International Short Film Festival of Cyprus (ISFFC), the Deputy Ministry of Culture and the Rialto Theatre, an open-air screening of four award-winning short films is being organised.
The programme includes Overnight Coup (dir. Marina Xenofontos, Cyprus, 2025), The Devil and the Bicycle (dir. Sharon Hakim, Lebanon/France/Egypt, 2024), Because Today is Saturday (dir. Alice Eça Guimarães, Portugal, 2025) and Dear Mother (dir. Theodor Solin, Sweden, 2025), creating a cinematic evening in dialogue with questions of identity, relationships, family and coming of age.
In the courtyard of the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation, the FANEROMENI Arts Festival continues its open-air screenings this year in collaboration with the Friends of the Cinema Society, combining family choices and classic films. Specifically, on 23 July 2026 the live-action remake of Disney's classic animated film Lilo & Stitch will be screened, on 6 August 2026 the fantasy film Big Fish, and on 27 August 2026 Dumbo, both directed by Tim Burton. All performances and film screenings begin at 8.30pm, while children's film screenings begin at 8pm.
In old Nicosia, the Summer Cine Erma returns to its familiar home at the bookshop and reading café, hosting a small but carefully curated programme of European and contemporary cinema on Mondays throughout the month, with free entryand screenings starting at 8pm. On Monday 13 July 2026, the classic Greek film Thanasi, Pare t' Oplo Sou (Thanasis, Get Your Gun), directed by Nikos Katsouridis, will be screened.
In Larnaca, the garden of the Pierides Museum is once again transformed into a summer cinema through the screenings of the Larnaca - Famagusta Film Club, combining quality cinematic selections with the unique atmosphere of the historic museum. The organisers invite the public to support this year's screenings, every Tuesday at 8.30pm. [Full screening programme at www.larnakacinema.com]
By the sea
The sea is the ultimate backdrop for summer cinema. In Limassol, Starlit Screens returns for a third year at a new location on Parekklisia beach, between Malindi and the GrandResort Hotel, continuing to invest in the experience of open-air cinema literally on the waves. [For information www.starlitscreens.com]
In Paphos, the Petridion Foundation continues its "Cinema by the Sea" institution. This year's programme includes four screenings, on 21 and 28 July 2026 and on 12 and 19 August 2026, at the Geroskipou Municipal Beach (Plage) and Venus Bleu Beach. Screenings begin at 8.30pm and entry is free.
A few days later, on 26 July, Mandria beach hosts a screening of Palm Springs (2020), an open cinema evening with free entry. A romantic science-fiction comedy, it follows two wedding guests trapped in a time loop, living the same day over and over at a Palm Springs resort. Amid the chaos, they fall in love. The screening begins at 8.30pm with free entryfor the public.
At the open-air cinemas
There is no shortage of venues that have long been synonymous with the Cypriot summer. The Constantia Open-Air Cinema in Nicosia welcomes the Summer Screenings Marathon for its 27th year, one of the most important cinematic institutions in the country. From 15 July to 13 September 2026, the historic Constantia open-air cinema hosts award-winning films, documentaries and significant productions from Cyprus, Greece and around the world. Screenings will take place every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 9pm. [For more information tel. 22348203, theatroena.com.cy, cypruscinemaoffice.cy, and on the Festival's Facebook page: Μαραθώνιος Θερινών Προβολών]
In Episkopi, the Apollon Open-Air Cinema continues the free screenings of the Limassol Film Club, with an emphasis on classic works and auteur cinema.
In Paphos, the Garden Screenings at Attikon programme, organised by the Kimonos Art Center, makes use of the open-air Attikon theatre for a wide-ranging programme featuring emblematic works by great directors such as Wes Anderson, Stanley Kubrick, Andrei Tarkovsky, David Lynch and Orson Welles, as well as bold contemporary Greek productions. Every Wednesday and Friday at 9pm. [Tickets: Presale via the Kimonos Art Center website, www.kimonosartcenter.com]
The Rooftop Cinema of Premier Cinemas, on the roof terrace of Nicosia Mall, offers a more contemporary take on the open-air cinema, with daily screenings of commercial productions.
The festivals of summer
Festivals hold a special place in the summer cinematic landscape, enriching the programme each year with screenings, tributes and activities for children and adults alike.
The Protaras Summer Film Festival returns for its 12th year with 19 days of screenings on the open-air stage of the "Lefkolla" Municipal Events Square, combining new releases with a family programme. Notably, on Fridays and Saturdays the festival hosts double screenings, with the first dedicated to children's films. [Full programme at psff.cy]
On 7-9 August 2026, the Cyprus International Animation Festival "Views of the World" moves to Koilani, where cinema meets the visual arts, music and workshops for all ages. The event is one of the longest-running institutions for the art of animation in Southern Europe, and each year it hosts, in the Cypriot countryside, distinguished films in their first Cyprus-wide screening, many of which have been shown and awarded at the world's most important festivals. There is also a strong presence of Cypriot productions, exhibitions, workshops, music concerts and activities for all ages. [Information at animafest.com.cy]
The 21st Lemesos International Documentary Festival returns in the first week of August to the Lanitis Carob Mills, next to the Medieval Castle of Limassol. Although the screenings do not take place outdoors, we felt it certainly deserves a place on the list of the island's summer cinematic experiences. This year's programme will include 21 films from contemporary international and local production, in exclusive first Cyprus-wide screenings. As every year, the screenings will be accompanied by discussions with guest filmmakers, music events, performances, DJ sets and open-air parties. [The screening programme and all relevant information will soon be available at www.filmfestival.com.cy]
