Aiming to foster closer ties between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities in London, the second Bi-Communal Cyprus Festival took place on Sunday in the British capital.

According to the organizers, hundreds of people visited the Festival from noon until 6 p.m. Held once again at the Cypriot Community Centre in North London, the event celebrated Cypriot culture and unity.

Visitors enjoyed a wide range of Cypriot products, traditional dishes, drinks, and sweets, as well as a cultural program. Musical groups from both communities performed songs in Greek and Turkish, while students from community schools danced traditional dances.

The event also featured the bi-communal ensemble of the Cyprus Song Association from Cyprus. Meanwhile, the Centre’s small theatre was transformed into a children's play area, complete with an inflatable bouncy castle, face painting, temporary tattoos, and other kids’ activities.

Official greetings were delivered by the High Commissioner of Cyprus to the UK, Dr. Kyriakos Kouros; the Mayor of Barnet, Tony Vourou; the Mayor of Haringey, Sue Jameson; and the President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, Christos Karaolis. The festival was opened by Committee Coordinator Fotios Kouzoupis and hosted by Adem Turkdogan.

On the Friday preceding the Festival, a discussion was held on how to further promote cooperation between the two communities—not only within the Cypriot diaspora but also across British society. The discussion included Festival Committee members, representatives of supporting organizations, and the President and Vice President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK. It was agreed that the next Festival will take place in May 2026.

The idea for the Bi-Communal Cyprus Festival began on 15 June 2022, when the first committee was formed with representatives from community organizations including the Enfield Cypriots Association, the Turkish Cypriot Association for Democracy, the Union of Cypriots of England, the Cyprus Artist Platform in UK, AKEL Britain, and the Republican Turkish Party of Britain.

Together, they organized the first Bi-Communal Festival in October 2023. The committee was later renamed the Bi-Communal Cyprus Festival Committee, with three more community centres joining: the Cypriot Community Centre, the Turkish Cypriot Community Centre, and the Hackney Cypriot Centre.

The Committee also includes representatives from the student organization DIKFΑ-Proodeftiki, the youth organization EKON, the bi-communal youth group Kalimerhaba, and various artists. Fotios Kouzoupis continues to serve as the Committee’s Coordinator.