Thessaloniki sets new Guinness World Record for zeibekiko dance

On June 14, 2026, 830 dancers gathered in Aristotelous Square, Thessaloniki, to perform a simultaneous zeibekiko choreography. This achievement earned the city a Guinness World Record, surpassing the previous record of 754 participants held by Cyprus. The participants included dancers from Greece, Cyprus, China, the United States, and several European countries, including Bulgaria, Romania, France, Germany, Austria, Norway, Serbia, Poland, and Turkey. The dancers performed to the song "Mia Thessaloniki" by Konstantinos Argyros. The initiative was spearheaded by dance instructor Themis Parastatidis in cooperation with the Greek Alzheimer's Association and the Friends of the Greek Association of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders. The primary objective of the event was to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. While the event offered no cash prize, participants were officially recognized by a Guinness World Record representative for their coordinated effort. The project reflects a year of planning aimed at promoting dance as a means of social cohesion.