The 12th Panhellenic Student Art Games, organized by Mandoulides Schools with the approval of the Greek Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, were successfully completed from Thursday, February 12 to Saturday, February 14, 2026.
This year’s event brought together 51 schools from across Greece and the Greek Diaspora, with more than 900 students participating in a three-day celebration filled with inspiration, expression, collaboration, and creative dialogue. Contestants competed in six artistic categories: video, theatre, poetry, music (instrumental and choral ensembles), painting, and photography.
The Art Games, a well-established institution and reference point for student artistic creation, once again confirmed their educational value by giving young people the opportunity to express themselves through art, sensitivity, and collective effort. It is worth noting that in 2024 the event received a Gold Award at the Education Leaders Awards, further enhancing its prestige and impact.
“The Art Games inspire young people to believe in the power of creativity and teamwork, to collaborate and express their inner world in a meaningful and human way through the language of art. At a time when school life needs more opportunities for creativity, cooperation, and authentic expression, the Student Art Games function as a living educational workshop: they strengthen aesthetic cultivation, highlight skills such as critical thinking and teamwork, foster respect for diversity, and give students the opportunity to engage with art as a tool of culture and social awareness,” stated Ms. Aspa Chasioti, General Academic Director of Mandoulides Schools, who was responsible for the organization together with her distinguished colleagues.
In his address, Deputy Minister of Education Mr. Nikolaos Papaioannou emphasized to the participating students that “no one would disagree that lower and upper secondary schools should normally, not only within the framework of a competition, be doing what took place these days at the School’s campus. The future is not only mathematics, nor ancient Greek, nor physics; though it includes them, but also emotion and the value of being human. And in order to understand ‘what I am’ and ‘why I am human,’ culture provides the proper foundation. Do not hesitate to ask, to question, to explore.” He also noted that “excellence is not the same for everyone,” stressing that the essence lies in the journey, the love for what one does, and one’s personal goals.
Student creations were evaluated by distinguished figures from the artistic community, who served on the judging committees, highlighting the best entries and expressing their satisfaction with the high level, dedication, and talent demonstrated by the students.
The event culminated on Saturday, February 14, 2026, with the awards ceremony held at the Cultural and Athletic Center of Mandoulides Schools. The ceremony opened with a special musical and dance performance by students of the Zografeio Gymnasium–Lyceum of Constantinople, symbolically connecting education, art, and the Greek Diaspora.
In addition, the theatre group of Mandoulides Schools’ Gymnasium–Lyceum presented a surprise performance dedicated to love, fittingly honored on that day.
Among those attending and presenting awards were Deputy Minister of Education Mr. Nikos Papaioannou, Member of Parliament for Thessaloniki Mr. Dimitris Kouvelas, Regional Vice Governor for Culture & Sports Mr. Christos Mittas, Head of Europe Direct of the Municipality of Thessaloniki Ms. Olia Panagiotopoulou, representatives of the education authorities, academics, journalists, educators, parents, and students from participating schools.
The 12th Panhellenic Student Art Games once again confirmed that when young people are given space, time, and a stage, art becomes a common language: it unites schools, bridges places and generations, and transforms student creativity into a cultural event of broader significance.
Participating Schools in This Year’s Event
1st General Lyceum of Thermaikos
1st Gymnasium of Anatoli, Ioannina
1st Gymnasium of Ptolemaida
1st Day Gymnasium of Livadochori, Lemnos
1st Day Gymnasium of Stavroupoli
2nd Gymnasium of Alexandria
2nd Gymnasium of Kalyvia
2nd Gymnasium of Chrysoupoli
3rd General Lyceum of Evosmos
4th General Lyceum of Kalamaria
4th Experimental General Lyceum of Trikala
5th General Lyceum of Kavala
5th General Lyceum of Katerini
5th Gymnasium of Xanthi
6th Gymnasium of Evosmos
7th Gymnasium of Corfu
8th Gymnasium of Ioannina
General Lyceum of Agia Varvara
General Lyceum of the American Farm School
General Lyceum of Litochoro
General Lyceum of Nea Kallikrateia
General Lyceum of Skiathos
General Lyceum of Chrysoupoli
Gymnasium of Metsovo
Gymnasium of Nea Artaki
Gymnasium of Nea Kallikrateia
Gymnasium of Skiathos
Model Public General Lyceum of Xanthi
Model Public Day General Lyceum of Kozani
Public Special Gymnasium of Thessaloniki
Special Vocational Education & Training Workshop of Agios Nikolaos (E.E.E.E.K.)
Mandoulides Schools
N. Bakogianni Schools
Evening Gymnasium of Alonnisos
Evening Gymnasium with Lyceum Classes of Amaliada
Evening Vocational Lyceum (EPAL) of Alonnisos
Zografeio Gymnasium–Lyceum of Constantinople
Day General Lyceum of Arkalochori
Day Gymnasium of Neapolis, Lasithi
Private General Lyceum “Educational Renaissance – Antonopoulou Schools”
Private Gymnasium “Educational Renaissance – Antonopoulou Schools”
“Pnoi Agapis” (Breath of Love) Lyceum of Argyrokastro
Music School of Drama
Music School of Heraklion
Music School of Thessaloniki
Music School of Larissa
Pancyprian Gymnasium of Nicosia, Cyprus
Experimental General Lyceum of the University of Macedonia
Experimental Gymnasium of the University of Macedonia
Axion Schools (Gymnasium & Lyceum)
Media Sponsors
Newspapers | Thessaloniki, Makedonia tis Kyriakis, Typos Thessalonikis
Websites | emakedonia.gr, thitanews.gr, typosthes.gr
Radio | status107.7
Sponsors
Educational Institutions | CITY College, University of York Europe Campus
Catering | Albus Bakery
Awards
- THEATRE AWARDS
Teacher in Charge: Konstantinos Syrris
1st Prize
• 2nd Gymnasium of Kalyvia – The Trojan Women
• Mandoulides Schools – Hamlet
2nd Prize
• N. Bakogianni Schools – Pandrologimata
3rd Prize
• 2nd Gymnasium of Chrysoupoli – General Lyceum of Chrysoupoli – Love, I Suppose
Choreography Award
• 4th Experimental General Lyceum of Trikala – The Murderess (Alexandros Papadiamantis)
Direction Award
• Mandoulides Schools
Teamwork Award
• 2nd Gymnasium of Chrysoupoli – General Lyceum of Chrysoupoli
Set Design Award
• 2nd Gymnasium of Chrysoupoli – General Lyceum of Chrysoupoli
Evangelos Mandoulidis Award
• Anastasios Kotzapanagiotis – Erotokritos
Audience Award
• 1st Day Gymnasium of Livadochori, Lemnos – Offenbach’s Helen
- VIDEO AWARDS
1st Prize
• Pancyprian Gymnasium of Nicosia, Cyprus – Calculus of Men
2nd Prize
• Mandoulides Schools – The Label
3rd Prize
• Public Special Gymnasium of Thessaloniki – I Choose Peace
• E.E.E.E.K. Agios Nikolaos & Day Gymnasium of Neapolis, Lasithi – It Wasn’t Helen… It Was Us
Audience Award
• 4th Experimental General Lyceum of Trikala – White Routes
- POETRY AWARDS
1st Prize
• Alexandra Pavli – Aeolian Aversion – Pancyprian Gymnasium of Nicosia
2nd Prize
• Despoina Gerovasili – Promise of Light – 5th General Lyceum of Katerini
• Evdoxia Goltsiou – I Saw Him Passing Almost Every Day – Music School of Larissa
3rd Prize
• Anastasios Kottos – The Man of War – Mandoulides Schools
• Evangelia Moustaka – A Villanelle for Helen – 4th General Lyceum of Kalamaria
• Christina Bizou – Helen’s Song – General Lyceum of the American Farm School
Honorable Mention
• Dimitrios Ravanos – The Shadow of Victory – Mandoulides Schools
• Konstantinos Sgouros – Collateral Lives – E.E.E.E.K. Agios Nikolaos
- PAINTING AWARDS
Lyceum
1st Prize
• Seilia Vosynioti – Private General Lyceum “Educational Renaissance – Antonopoulou Schools”
2nd Prize
• Artemis Kourtesoglou – Zografeio Gymnasium–Lyceum of Constantinople
• Markela Ligu – “Pnoi Agapis” Lyceum of Argyrokastro
3rd Prize
• Maria Tortopidou – 5th General Lyceum of Katerini
• Athanasia-Maria Leina – General Lyceum of Litochoro
• Konstantina Apostolopoulou – Private General Lyceum “Educational Renaissance – Antonopoulou Schools”
Gymnasium
1st Prize
• Angeliki Kolokotroni – 2nd Gymnasium of Kalyvia
2nd Prize
• Yuri Kouzma – Pancyprian Gymnasium of Nicosia
• Christiana Dimopoulou – 1st Day Gymnasium of Stavroupoli
• Elena Atesoaié – Pancyprian Gymnasium of Nicosia
3rd Prize
• Kristina Vourmo – 1st Day Gymnasium of Livadochori, Lemnos
• Eirini Strantzali – Gymnasium of Nea Kallikrateia
Audience Award
• Artemis Kourtesoglou – Zografeio Gymnasium–Lyceum of Constantinople
- PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS
Lyceum
1st Prize
• Paris Bakirtzis – 5th General Lyceum of Kavala
2nd Prize
• Stelios Kargakis – General Lyceum of Agia Varvara
3rd Prize
• Christina Gravani – 4th Experimental General Lyceum of Trikala
• Maria Karagiannidou – General Lyceum of Nea Kallikrateia
Gymnasium
1st Prize
• Marina-Eirini Tambakologou – 2nd Gymnasium of Kalyvia
2nd Prize
• Nikolia Kechagia – Evening Gymnasium with Lyceum Classes of Amaliada
• Laura Lars – E.E.E.E.K. Agios Nikolaos
3rd Prize
• Rafael Pafitis – Pancyprian Gymnasium of Nicosia
• Christos Farakliotis – Gymnasium of Nea Artaki
Audience Award
• Sokratis Tsagkaropoulos – 4th Experimental General Lyceum of Trikala
- MUSIC AWARDS
1st Prize
• Music School of Larissa
2nd Prize
• Mandoulides Schools
3rd Prize
• Music School of Thessaloniki
• Music School of Drama
Commendation
• 4th Experimental General Lyceum of Trikala
• 7th Gymnasium of Corfu
• Gymnasium & General Lyceum of Nea Kallikrateia
• Music School of Heraklion
Audience Award
• 4th Experimental General Lyceum of Trikala
