DELPHIC FESTIVAL
An initiative by the World Human Forum
3RD DELPHIC FESTIVAL
The Re-Generation of the Delphic Festival, 1927-2027
A celebration for Humanity
In 2027, we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first Delphic Festival – the initiative by Angelos Sikelianos and Eva Palmer that embodied the vision of the Delphic Idea.
Their dream was not only artistic but deeply human: to make Delphi once again a living center of harmony, unity, and cultural renaissance. Today, as the world stands at a critical crossroad, this visionary effort is more relevant than ever.
Drawing inspiration from this legacy and in view of the centennial anniversary, the World Human Forum initiates and coordinates the revival of the Delphic Festivals. After all, Delphi was the symbolic and geographical starting point for the creation of the World Human Forum in 2017.
Eight years and three gatherings later, we return to the emblematic land of Apollo, bringing with us the experiences and partnerships we have built along the way. We aim to bring together diverse forces that break the silos, connect the dots and believe in the value of a global movement for spiritual awakening through art, science, tradition and humanistic values. The 3rd Delphic Festival will be a celebration for Humanity.
A Journey that Starts in Delphi, but Concerns the Whole Planet
Building on the Delphic ideals, the 3rd Delphic Festival aims to bring together people – organisations, initiatives, institutions and individuals – from around the globe. The goal is to invite them on a journey of self-awareness, to reconnect with each other and with nature. Together, we will seek solutions to today’s great challenges – climate crisis, inequalities, loneliness, and the crisis of democracy –, we will learn, imagine, and try to create a better world. We will plant collective seeds so that in the fertile ground of Delphi, a new narrative for humanity may blossom.
In the anniversary year of 2027, this meta-Delphic Festival will honor the work and highlight the legacy of Angelos Sikelianos and Eva Palmer with concerts, performances, symposia, workshops, multidisciplinary events and more. The aim is for these events to be held every three years as an international triennial dedicated to art, tradition, science, dialogue and inner development.
The Delphic Idea: A Vision Rooted in Ancient Wisdom
In the early 20th century, poet Angelos Sikelianos and his wife Eva Palmer, deeply influenced by ancient Greek culture and the universal values it promoted, envisioned a more united, spiritual, and meaningful world. They believed that culture, as expressed through science, religion, and especially art, could serve as a bridge between people, leading to the moral and spiritual elevation of humanity. The Delphic Idea they articulated is based on the concept of global unity. It proposes a return to a deeper connection with our roots, not as nostalgia for the past, but as a foundation for reimagining the future.
Central to this vision are the Delphic Festivals, organised in 1927 and 1930, which brought together ancient drama, music, sports, dance, public participation, and spiritual exploration. These celebrations were made possible thanks to the participation of many Greeks and international supporters, and above all through the active involvement of the people of Delphi.
The “Delphic Polis” they envisioned, with Delphic Centers active around the world, was a call to action, reflection, and co-creation. In a world marked by division, conflict, and crisis, the need for shared values, genuine communication, and the cultivation of the human spirit through art is more urgent than ever.
The regeneration of the Delphic Festivals, as an immersive experience and spiritual proposition, seeks to offer meaning, perspective and hope.
1927–2027: Re-Generating the Delphic Idea for the Future of Humanity
The programme of the 3rd Delphic Festival takes shape
At Delphi, the ancient navel of the world—the Omphalos—, conversations have always mattered. This was once a sanctuary of encounter, a space where conflicts paused, where dialogue replaced confrontation. A spiritual but also political space where questions were asked. A space of ideas and principles that still echo: Know thyself. Nothing in excess. It is no coincidence that this is also where the World Human Forum was born.
During the “1927–2027: Re-Generating the Delphic Idea for the Future of Humanity” discussion at the Delphi Economic Forum, Alexandra Mitsotaki, President and co-founder of the World Human Forum, spoke with Thodoris Georgakopoulos, Founder of 1830 lab, about the need to make Delphi relevant today.
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As she underlined, drawing on the work of historian and author Michael Scott, Delphi “must never remain silent.” Its relevance is not symbolic but urgent in a world of deep global fractures—climate, democracy, inequality, meaning—that can no longer be addressed with top-down solutions.
From Fragmentation to Integration: The World Human Forum Perspective
A central idea presented during the discussion—and reflected in the World Human Forum “Delphic Cube” methodology—is that complex global challenges cannot be addressed in isolation. They require an integrated approach connecting regeneration, democracy, education, inner transformation, science & technology and the arts.
The World Human Forum is grounded in the belief that citizens are not passive observers, but active agents of transformation when given the space and tools to participate meaningfully. Since its inception in Delphi in 2017, the Forum based on collective intelligence, has worked across continents and disciplines to connect initiatives, ideas and communities.
The 3rd Delphic Festival
Re-connecting to Delphi, its symbolic base, the World Human Forum is preparing the 3rd Delphic Festival in 2027, marking 100 years since the first Delphic Festival initiated by Angelos Sikelianos and Eva Palmer. Back in 1927, they believed that Delphi could serve as a focal point for solidarity of people all over the world and for the preservation of classical, universal values. A space that would assist in the strengthening of a harmonious and peaceful coexistence through the interdisciplinary interaction of culture, science, philosophy, but also through the embodiment of the arts and crafts.
Building on that, the upcoming edition will connect the Delphic Idea with the challenges of the 21st century, initiating a new endeavour “The Parliament for the Future”. It will bring together grassroots’ initiatives, artists, academia, policy thinkers & makers, citizens from all walks of life, in a shared conversation on governance, democracy and planetary challenges.
A powerful artistic programme curated by Jochen Sandig, co-founder and vice-president of the World Human Forum, will play a strong role in amplifying the message and sharing it with a wider audience. An emphasis will also be placed on local craftsmanship, reflecting the World Human Forum’s belief that regeneration must be rooted in living communities and cultural continuity.