BAUTOPIA is a three-day culture & creativity festival bringing together artists, creative professionals, cultural organisations, creative hub managers, researchers, designers, technologists, policymakers, students, and anyone interested in the future of culture and creativity.
More than just a conference, BAUTOPIA is a place to exchange ideas, discover inspiring projects, meet new people, and experience a rich programme of talks, workshops, exhibitions, performances, networking events and much more.

BAUTOPIA has always been about imagining better ways of creating, collaborating and building creative communities.
In the literal sense, it means something like building a place (from the German word bau + the Greek word topos). And then there is the notion of utopia, hovering above it all. And for the most part, this is exactly how we feel when organizing and attending these events, as well as running our network, in itself a utopian and symbolic space which we built together.
Every edition explores a different theme shaping the future of the cultural and creative sectors. This year’s edition, Creative Agency: Sustaining Culture & Creativity in the Age of Intelligence, looks at how creative people can maintain agency, resilience and meaningful work in a rapidly changing world shaped by AI, technological shifts and global challenges.

Everyone with an interest in culture, creativity and innovation is welcome!
Whether you’re an artist, designer, architect, cultural manager, policymaker, researcher, entrepreneur, student, freelancer, member of a creative hub, or simply curious – you’ll find something for you at BAUTOPIA.
Some networking sessions are reserved for invited guests or ECHN members only, but the larger part of the festival programme is open to the general public.

Not at all.
While BAUTOPIA is organised by the European Creative Hubs Network (ECHN), many sessions are open to anyone interested in culture, creativity and innovation.
Some meetings, networking activities and the ECHN General Assembly are reserved for members, but the festival itself welcomes a much broader audience.
This is especially the case this year, when we present our festival format for the very first time, and thus the most extensive and diverse BAUTOPIA program ever.

BAUTOPIA takes place across multiple venues in Athens, Greece.
The festival is hosted by BIOS, together with other cultural spaces and partners across the city, creating a distributed festival experience that encourages participants to discover Athens’ vibrant creative ecosystem.
Creative Guided Tours will also take you on a stroll around central Athens, and offer a unique experience of getting to know the cultural background of specific neighborhoods, or some of the legendary creative, or gastronomic toponyms.
Have a look at our confirmed venues!

Expect three days filled with:
-inspiring keynote talks
-panel discussions
-hands-on workshops
-artistic performances
-exhibitions
-networking opportunities
-participatory sessions
-music and cultural events
-opportunities to meet creatives from across Europe

The programme is designed to balance discussion, inspiration, collaboration and social experiences.

Initially intended as a couple of complementary music interventions to support the afterhours networking, our music program grew into a small festival within a festival. And hence, received its own “tag” and narrative. SONOTOPIA is a series of several music and club events taking place during BAUTOPIA, open to general audiences and presenting an exciting selection of established artists, emerging talent and site-specific projects bridging an array of contemporary music styles.

Look out for a dedicated page on this website for SONOTOPIA – coming soon!

Absolutely! Meeting new people and creating new alliances and synergies is one of BAUTOPIA’s core experiences and purposes.

Throughout the festival you’ll find plenty of informal and organised networking opportunities, community gatherings, evening events and collaborative sessions where conversations continue beyond the stage.

Yes.

All participants should register for the conference program in advance. Registration helps us prepare the venues, manage capacities and keep you informed about programme updates.
Without registering, you will not be able to attend the conference program.
For all of the workshops, separate registration forms will be announced
Once registrations open, you’ll find all the information on this website.

Some activities may be free, while others may require registration or a ticket, depending on the event format.
SONOTOPIA events will be ticketed individually, and as a festival pass, but will not be related to the registrations for the main conference program. For ECHN members and partners, SONOTOPIA program will be free of charge.

Full ticketing information, participation options and registration details will be announced on September 1st.

Yes.
If your schedule doesn’t allow you to join the full festival, you’re welcome to attend individual days or selected sessions, depending on availability.

Yes.
The complete festival program will be held in English, welcoming participants from across Europe and beyond

Athens has an extensive public transport network including Metro, buses and trams.
Many festival venues are located within central Athens and are easily accessible on foot or by public transport.
We’ll also provide maps and practical information closer to the event.

Food and drinks will be available at, or near the festival venues, subject to pricing menus of the respective venues. Most of the venues we are using run bars within their premises. And there may also be pop-up food stands.
Additionally, plenty of cafés, restaurants and bars are just within walking distance. Athens is known for its vibrant food scene, so you’ll have lots of options throughout your stay.

We aim to make BAUTOPIA as accessible and welcoming as possible.
Accessibility information for each venue will be published ahead of the festival.
If you have specific accessibility requirements, please get in touch with us info@creativehubs.net before your visit and we’ll do our best to help.

No problem 🙂
If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, just get in touch with us at info@creativehubs.net, and we’ll get back to you promptly.