A heady meld of film, art, dance and history presented within a context of philosophy will be the essential ingredients for the Mykonos Biennale cultural festival, Sept. 1–5 on the Greek island of Mykonos. More symposium than standard festival, the biennale event mixes contemporary art with tradition and ritual. Events include performances, art and works-in-process displayed in unexpected public spaces such as pirate houses, windmills, warehouses and churches, along with established galleries, museums and cultural venues.

One of the most anticipated events will be an art treasure hunt in nearby Delos, the birthplace of Apollo. Participants will search among the Doric temples, markets and ancient amphitheater for small, boxed works commissioned by international artists especially for this hunt. Other events will include a film festival, performances by International Dance Theatre and Video Graffiti — video projections cast onto the white walls of Mykonos. Featured artists for 2017 include Swedish multimedia performance artist Karin Victorin, American large-scale painter Dan Walsh, Tunisian performance artist Collette Lumiere and Greek artist-inventor Takis, who creates electromagnetic constructions that often include sound and movement.