Climbing in Leonidio · 30 October to 1 November 2026
Three days of climbing, workshops, films and music in a red-cliff town, with Chris Sharma as special guest. Here is what to expect, and how to make a trip of it.
The short answer
The 12th Leonidio Climbing Festival is announced for 30 October to 1 November 2026. The town fills with climbers from across Europe at the start of the best season, and the crags are at their warmest and busiest.
Past editions have mixed guided sessions on the rock with workshops, yoga, film screenings, talks and evening parties, so you do not need to climb hard to enjoy it. The 2026 edition has Chris Sharma, one of the best-known names in sport climbing, as special guest, and registration is open on the official festival website.
We run a small hotel on the coast at Sampatiki, about seven kilometres from the town, so we see the festival from the inside every year. This page is the short guide we would give a friend.
Written by the Sampatiki Suites team. Updated September 2026.
Dates
30 Oct to 1 Nov 2026
Edition
The 12th festival
Special guest
Chris Sharma
Where
Leonidio, Arcadia
What happens
The full 2026 programme is still being announced. Here is what the festival has offered before, which is a good guide to what to expect.
On the rock
Coaches and guest climbers lead sessions for different levels, from sport climbing tactics for intermediates to technique days. The 2024 edition had workshops with visiting British and Swiss-French climbers.
Challenge
A friendly climbing marathon where you tick routes against the clock and a distance target. It has been run in past editions, with routes logged in a climbing app.
Evenings
Film screenings, talks on the local landscape and wildlife, traditional Greek dance and live music or a DJ at the end of the day.
Off the rock
Yoga classes, climbing games, museum visits and walks, which suit rest days and non-climbing friends.
Our tip
Check the official festival page for the 2026 programme and the registration link. It is the only source for times, prices and venues.
The special guest
Chris Sharma is one of the most influential climbers of his generation and a pioneer of modern sport climbing. Having him in a small town means the chance to climb, listen and talk with someone who changed how people think about hard routes.
Spots for sessions with a special guest tend to go quickly, so register early and read the official page for how places are given out.
The festival sits in the middle of the best climbing season.
The setting
Leonidio has more than 2,600 single-pitch routes in around 110 sectors, so a festival can spread its guests across the valley and nobody queues for long. In late October the sun-facing walls are warm, the days are clear and the sea is still a pleasant temperature at the end of the day.
In 2024 the events centred on the climbing area at Theos and a cultural venue in town. Expect something similar, but check the 2026 details before you book anything.
Climb
Sectors, grades, season and gear for planning the days around the festival.
Make a trip of it
Leonidio is a small town and it fills up fast around the festival, so book your bed first and register second. Arrive a day early to climb before the crowds, and stay a day or two after to enjoy the quieter crags.
If you are travelling with a partner who does not climb, the festival is still a good weekend: there are walks, a spa, a beach and a monastery within half an hour.
Our tip
Climbers fill the weekend and the crags get busy by mid-morning. Start early and keep a rest day for the coast.
From us at Sampatiki
We serve breakfast from 07:00 and can pack a takeaway box for an early start. The sauna and jacuzzi are free for every guest, and reception is open 24 hours for late finishes.
Keep exploring
Questions
When is the Leonidio Climbing Festival 2026?
The 12th Leonidio Climbing Festival is announced for 30 October to 1 November 2026, in Leonidio, Arcadia.
Who is the special guest at the 2026 festival?
Chris Sharma, one of the best-known sport climbers in the world, is the special guest.
How do I register for the festival?
Registration is open on the official festival website, climbinleonidio.com. Check the festival page for the registration link, prices and how places are allocated.
What is on the festival programme?
Past editions have included climbing workshops, guided sessions at the crags, yoga, climbing games, film screenings, talks, traditional dance and music. The 2026 programme is still being published, so check the official page.
Do I need to be an expert to join?
No. Past festivals have offered workshops for different levels, including intermediates. Routes in the area run from 5a to 9a, so there is something for most climbers.
Where should I stay for the festival?
Book early, because Leonidio is small. Our hotel at Sampatiki is about seven kilometres from the town, with sea-view suites, a spa and an early breakfast with takeaway boxes.
Stay with us
Eleven sea-view suites, breakfast from 07:00 and a spa for tired forearms, a few minutes from the crags. Book direct for the best rate.
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