In-Person Biennale "Arts & Edges" 2027
Travelling to Mytilene, Lesvos island, Greece
May 28–30, 2027
The In-Person Biennale Arts & Edges 2027 will be hosted at the University of the Aegean, one of Greece’s leading research universities with campuses on multiple Aegean islands.
The Mytilene campus — the university’s administrative and academic heart — is located on University Hill, a short distance from the centre of Mytilene, overlooking the city and the sea. It brings together Schools of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Environmental Sciences, making it a natural setting for the interdisciplinary dialogue at the core of the Biennale’s Arts & Edges theme.
Address: Administration Building, University Hill, 81100 Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece+30 22510 36093–5 erua-eui@aegean.gr
Sessions will take place in lecture halls and seminar rooms on the Mytilene campus. Specific rooms and room assignments for each session will be confirmed and published closer to the event.
The campus is approximately 4 km from Mytilene city centre and about 12 km from Mytilene International Airport “Odysseas Elytis” (MJT).
Event shuttle bus arrangements will be announced when the programme is confirmed. See the Travel to Mytilene section below for full arrival information.
Accommodation options, the University of the Aegean campus, and key locations in Mytilene, Lesvos.
This interactive map requires functional cookies to load.
To facilitate your stay in Lesvos, special rates will be available for Biennale participants through a selected network of partner hotels in Mytilene. Information on participating hotels and reservation arrangements will be communicated as we approach the Biennale.
Mytilene is served by Mytilene International Airport “Odysseas Elytis” (MJT), located approximately 8 km from the city centre.
Regular daily flights from Athens and Thessaloniki are operated by Aegean Airlines and Sky Express. Athens flights take approximately 50 minutes. Seasonal direct connections from other European cities are also available during summer.
Ferries to Mytilene port depart from Piraeus (Athens port), Thessaloniki, and Kavala (northern Greece).
Ferry schedules for May 2027 will be published by operators in early 2027. Current timetables are available at Hellenic Seaways.
Lesvos is the third-largest Greek island — a lush and historic island with olive groves, forested hills, coastal villages, and geological wonders. It is known as the birthplace of the ancient poet Sappho, for its ouzo tradition, and for the Petrified Forest (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
May is an ideal time to visit: the weather is warm and pleasant, the countryside is in bloom, and the tourist crowds of summer have not yet arrived. We encourage participants to arrive a day early or extend their stay to experience the island.
Official tourism resources:
Lesvos is a lush and historic island with olive groves, forested hills, coastal villages, and geological wonders. As the third-largest Greek island, it is known for being the birthplace of ancient poet Sappho, the ouzo tradition, and the Petrified Forest (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
The Biennale programme has been designed to allow flexibility for exploration. Participants are encouraged to arrive early or stay after the event to make the most of their visit to Lesvos — whether for cultural exploration, relaxation, or island adventures!
We invite you to explore the official tourism websites to help plan your trip:
Have a look, get inspired, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you need any further information to make your visit unforgettable!
Several ATMs are available in Mytilene city centre and one at the University of the Aegean campus.
For visitors outside the Eurozone:
Withdraw cash only if necessary, preferably from National Bank of Greece ATMs. Always choose the “no currency conversion” option to avoid additional fees.
Visa, MasterCard, and most major credit and debit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, and shops. The official currency is the Euro (€).
This information is subject to updates. Please check this page regularly for the most current information.
The ERUA In-Person Biennale “Arts & Edges” 2027 is an academic and creative event taking place on May 28–30, 2027, at the University of the Aegean in Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece. It creates a space for interdisciplinary dialogue, creative exchange, and in-person collaboration between the academic community, local communities, and social actors around the central theme of Arts & Edges.
The call is addressed to academics (faculty members, post-doctoral researchers, doctoral students, postgraduate students) from ERUA member and associate member institutions, researchers and artists collaborating with these institutions, as well as local organisations from ERUA Alliance regions active in the relevant field.
The In-Person Biennale will take place on May 28–30, 2027. Submission deadlines and other key dates will be published when the Call for Papers opens. See the Pre-call page for the current timeline.
Registration details will be provided when the Call for Papers and programme are confirmed.
Yes. After the Biennale concludes, digital certificates of attendance and participation will be sent to registered participants within a reasonable period of time.
No, a full paper is not required for the in-person presentation. However, Proceedings will be published following the event. Guidelines and requirements for the Proceedings will be published on the Proceedings page in due course.
The In-Person Biennale 2027 is the continuation of the academic dialogue initiated during the Online Biennale 2025. It builds on the same thematic framework of Arts & Edges, bringing the community together in-person at the University of the Aegean, Mytilene, Lesvos.
Complete information about abstract requirements, the submission process, and evaluation criteria will be available in the Call for Papers when it opens. In the meantime, see the Pre-call page for confirmed details and the expected timeline.
No. Only an abstract is required for the submission process. Full paper submissions are not required for presentation at the Biennale. Proceedings will be published separately after the event, with their own guidelines.
Standard presentations are allocated 20 minutes including Q&A. Keynote speakers have 1 hour including Q&A. Specific timing will be confirmed in the programme and in your speaker briefing closer to the event.
No, you are not required to use a specific template. We recommend keeping your slides visually engaging and not overcrowded with text. Event logo assets for optional use in presentations will be made available closer to the event.
Room equipment details (projectors, screens, microphones) will be confirmed and published with the programme. Presenters requiring specific technical setup should contact the organising team in advance.
Arrangements for speaker briefings and rehearsals will be communicated to accepted speakers as the event approaches.
Your Rights:
For all enquiries regarding the In-Person Biennale 2027, please visit the Contact page.
Scientific Committee Chair: Prof. Elena Theodoropoulou
Event Framework: ERUA’s WP5, “Achieving Social Change in ERUA’s Local Communities and Regions”
Creative & Interregional Knowledge Communities (CIKCs) — ERUA WP5
Knowledge Communities are ERUA core collaborative spaces that bring together students, academics, early-career researchers, regional authorities, civic actors, and societal partners to address shared challenges through structured dialogue and co-creation. The Biennale is a flagship activity of the Creative & Artistic Engagement Knowledge Community (CIKC3), fostering intercultural dialogue, artistic experimentation, and societal change across the ERUA alliance.
Linking SDG-based knowledge with regional transformation and green transition agendas. Connects academic expertise with place-based innovation, positioning regions as living laboratories for sustainable development and interregional cooperation.
Fostering democratic participation, inclusion, and community-based solutions. Brings together universities and civic actors to address coexistence, governance, and social cohesion — from structured dialogue to community-based pilots across ERUA regions.
Bridging arts and sciences to stimulate intercultural dialogue and creative experimentation. Recognises creativity as a method of knowledge production and societal change, building on the momentum of the ERUA Arts & Edges Biennale and cross-partner artistic initiatives.
ERUA (European Reform University Alliance) is an alliance of European universities committed to reform and innovation in higher education. The alliance focuses on interdisciplinary collaboration, social engagement, and creating dynamic partnerships between academic institutions, local communities, and external stakeholders to address complex social challenges.
The University of the Aegean is a multi-campus public university in Greece, established in 1984. With campuses across several Greek islands including Rhodes, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Syros, and Lemnos, it offers a unique educational environment that combines academic excellence with the distinctive character of insular Greece. The university is known for its innovative programs and strong connections to local communities and regional development.