The Chania Book Festival (CBF) returns for its fourth consecutive year, taking place from Wednesday 25 June to Sunday 29 June 2025 in the vibrant heart of Chania’s historic Venetian Harbour. The festival’s main venues will once again be the Center of Mediterranean Architecture (Grand Arsenal) and the Mikis Theodorakis Theatre.
Under the central theme ‘Our Home, the Planet,’ this year’s edition brings together over 160 distinguished writers, academics, intellectuals, publishers, translators and artists from 16 countries, who will participate in a rich programme of panel discussions, book presentations and public talks. The festival explores timely topics that connect literature with broader social, environmental and political issues, offering a space for dialogue, reflection, and exchange.
Building on the success of its previous editions, the 4th CBF continues to evolve as a platform that celebrates the breadth and depth of contemporary Greek and international literature, with a focus on prose, poetry, essays, children’s literature and all literary genres – without restriction.
The Chania Book Festival aspires to become a landmark cultural institution, showcasing the dynamic landscape of Greek literary and intellectual life while fostering international exchange by hosting prominent voices from around the world.
In collaboration with the Chania Book Festival, we are pleased to present a talk by acclaimed historian and author Ben Wilson on Friday 27 June 2025 (20.00–21.00) at the Mikis Theodorakis Theatre.
About Ben Wilson
Ben Wilson is the author of the international bestseller Metropolis: A History of the City, Humankind’s Greatest Invention and recipient of the Somerset Maugham Award for his book What Price Liberty?. His work explores the complex interconnections between urban development and the natural environment. In Metropolis, Wilson dispels the myth that cities can thrive independently of nature, asserting instead that they are fundamentally dependent on it.
Rather than taking a dystopian view of climate change and environmental decline, Wilson presents a cautiously optimistic perspective on how cities can give back to nature – through urban parks, rooftop gardens, hydroponic farms in abandoned buildings and other regenerative strategies.
Wilson holds both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in History from the University of Cambridge and has authored six books. His work has appeared on national television and radio in the UK, Ireland and the US, and he has contributed to publications including The Spectator, The Literary Review, The Guardian Online, The Scotsman, Men’s Health and GQ.
Prior to the talk by Ben Wilson, on Friday 27 June 2025 (17.00–18.00), Maria Papaioannou, Head of Arts at the British Council, will be joining a panel discussion exploring the role of festivals in fostering international literary exchange entitled Festival Connectivity Practices: How can festivals bring authors and books from different countries closer together? at the Mikis Theodorakis Theatre.
This session brings together cultural leaders and festival organisers from across Europe to share insights, strategies and best practices on how festivals can act as bridges between authors, books and audiences from different countries.
Panellists
- Anouk Rigeade, Cultural Attaché, French Institute of Greece
- Pilar Tena, Director, Cervantes Institute
- Antoine Derlon Weider, Organising Team Member, Festival Oh les beaux jours! (Marseille)
- Adriana Martinez, Director, LEA Festival (Athens)
- Anna Ioannidou, Co-founder, Limassol International Book Fair (Cyprus)
- Maria A. Ioannou, Artistic Director, Sardam Literature Festival (Cyprus)
- Maria Papaioannou, Head of Arts at the British Council
For more information, visit the Chania Book Festival (CBF) website.