Oxi Day 2026

Oxi Day (Ochi Day) is one of Greece’s two national holidays, observed on 28 October each year. The date commemorates Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas’s rejection of the Italian ultimatum in the early hours of 28 October 1940 - a refusal that brought Greece into the Second World War on the Allied side.

Parades and Ceremonies

The main commemorations take place in Athens and Thessaloniki. The Athens parade runs along Vasilissis Sofias Avenue in central Athens, with military units, school groups, and civic organisations marching past the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Hellenic Parliament. The Thessaloniki parade, held along the seafront near the White Tower, is generally considered the more prestigious of the two and draws larger crowds - the President of the Hellenic Republic typically attends.

Ceremonies begin around 09:00 in Athens and are usually complete by midday. Wreath-laying at war memorials and church services precede the parades in both cities.

What Travellers Need to Know

28 October is a national public holiday. Banks, government offices, and most shops close. Major tourist sites - the Acropolis, museums, archaeological parks - remain open, and public transport runs a reduced Sunday service. Restaurants and cafes stay open in tourist areas.

Athens and Thessaloniki city centres experience road closures for the parade routes from early morning. Taxis and ride-hailing services operate normally outside the parade corridors.

If your travel dates cover 28 October, arriving the evening before avoids the morning road closures. Both Athens and Thessaloniki are straightforward bases for the day: the parades are free to watch from the roadside, and the afternoon opens for normal sightseeing.

For Athens tours and activities around the national holiday period, browse options on GetYourGuide.