Oxi Day 2026: the 28 October holiday in Greece and what's open
Oxi Day falls on Wednesday 28 October 2026. It is a national holiday in Greece and in Cyprus. If you are in Greece that day, three things matter: state archaeological sites and museums are free, most shops are closed, and towns hold parades in the morning.
Quick answers
| Date | Wednesday 28 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Public holiday? | Yes, in Greece and Cyprus |
| Museums and ancient sites | Free entry at state sites run by the Ministry of Culture |
| Supermarkets | Closed |
| Main parades | Military parade in Thessaloniki, student parades in Athens and other towns |
Free entry to the Acropolis and other state sites
The Hellenic Ministry of Culture lists 28 October as one of the days when all visitors get free admission to archaeological sites, historical sites, monuments and museums that the state owns and the ministry runs (culture.gr). The other free days are 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, and the first and third Sundays of each month from November to March. Free days are busy at the most famous sites, so arrive early. The Acropolis Museum is a separate institution and sets its own free days, so check its website.
Shops, supermarkets and services
28 October is a compulsory holiday for workers in Greece. On the 2023 holiday, iefimerida reported that supermarkets, retail shops and services such as hairdressers were closed. Mini-markets, bakeries, patisseries and other businesses that normally open on Sundays and holidays stayed open (iefimerida). Do your food shopping on Tuesday 27 October.
Parades: where and when
Every year towns across Greece hold parades on the morning of 28 October. Schoolchildren march with flags, and local groups take part in traditional dress.
- Thessaloniki hosts the big military parade, in front of the President of the Republic, on Megalou Alexandrou Avenue along the seafront. In 2022 it started at 11:00 and ended a little after 13:30 (CNN Greece).
- Athens holds a student parade in the city centre, past the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Amalias Avenue (Alfavita).
Exact times and road closures for 2026 are announced by the authorities in the days before the holiday. We will add them here when they are out.
What Oxi Day marks
"Oxi" (Όχι) means "No". Shortly after 3 a.m. on 28 October 1940, Italy's ambassador, Emanuele Grazzi, handed Greece's prime minister, Ioannis Metaxas, an ultimatum: let Axis forces occupy unnamed "strategic locations" in Greece, or face war. Metaxas refused. At 5:30 a.m. Italian troops in Albania attacked the Greek border, and Greece entered the Second World War (Wikipedia). Greeks and Greek communities abroad mark the anniversary of that refusal every year.
