The “La Nomad House” Arts Festival returns to Thessaloniki for its third edition, taking place from November 6 to 8, 2026. It will host a rich program of artistic and cultural activities at Labattoir (the Old Slaughterhouses of Thessaloniki). The festival is organized by the United Societies of Balkans (USB), under the auspices and with the co-funding of the Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the Municipality of Thessaloniki—specifically the Deputy Mayor’s Office for Culture, Tourism Development, and Inter-municipal Cooperation.
This year’s edition of La Nomad House focuses on "Mental Journeys" and mental health through the lens of art, centered around three key performances:
● “HereLess” by Smaro Platioti – A performance exploring grief as a physical experience, as well as the gradual loss of orientation and familiarity with one’s own body.
● “Material BACCHAE – sparagmata” by Polyxeni Spyropoulou, featuring students from the Drama School of the National Theatre of Northern Greece (NTNG) – An immersive, experiential journey into the landscape of *bacchanalia* and frenzy, drawing inspiration from Euripides’ *The Bacchae*. ● "Normal Days" by the group Non-Ophelia – A performance exploring the "restless calm" of everyday life, mental fatigue, and the weight of routine—elements that coexist quietly alongside what we deem "normal."
Additionally, the program features a series of experiential workshops—including drama therapy, dance therapy (via ecstatic dance), and physical theater—inviting the public to explore emotional expression and connection with oneself and others through movement, the body, and the creative process. The festival also hosts a multidimensional visual arts exhibition, where painting, sculpture, photography, video art, and poetry converge to highlight various facets and experiences of mental health, as presented through the works of 18 artists. The festival aims to serve as an artistic platform for dialogue, experiential engagement, and awareness-raising regarding mental health, grief, and loneliness, while also involving local artistic groups and organizations.