# Death and funeral of Greek folk singer Lakis Chalkias

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/death-and-funeral-of-greek-folk-singer-lakis-chalkias
> Updated: 2026-08-06T02:50:00.000Z. Sources: 65. Developments: 2.

Greek folk singer Lakis Chalkias died on 2 August 2026 at age 82. Over a six‑decade career he recorded for Columbia and worked with leading artists such as Sotiria Bellou, Stelios Kazantzidis, Grigoris Bithikotsis, Nikos Xylouris and composers Vassilis Tsitsanis and Mikis Theodorakis, becoming a central figure in traditional and popular Greek music. He also ran as a Communist Party candidate in 2007 and was known for his advocacy for the working class.

A public funeral was held on 6 August 2026 at the Holy Temple of the Holy Fathers in the First Cemetery of Athens. The viewing began at 10:00 a.m. and the burial ceremony took place at 12:00 p.m., attended by family, friends, fellow artists and political figures including Athens mayor Haris Doukas and KKE spokesperson Dimitris Koutsoumbas. The family asked mourners to donate, rather than send wreaths, to the Greek Association for the Protection and Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (EL EPAP), providing an IBAN for contributions. Chalkias, born in 1943 into the historic Chalkias musical family in Ioannina (some sources cite Giannena), is remembered for works such as the 1981 album *Pikraméni mou genía*.

## Claims

- Lakis Halkiá died at age 82 on 2 August 2023. (corroborated by 9 sources)
- His funeral was held on 6 August 2023 at 12:00 p.m. at the First Cemetery of Athens, inside the Holy Temple of the Holy Theodoroi. (corroborated by 9 sources)
- The coffin was open for public visitation from 10:00 a.m. on the day of the funeral. (corroborated by 9 sources)
- The funeral was financed with public funds. (corroborated by 9 sources)
- The family asked for donations to the Greek Association for Protection and Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (ELÉPAP) instead of wreaths, providing IBAN GR2701401150115002002018609 (BIC CRBAGRAA). (corroborated by 9 sources)
- He was a leading interpreter of Greek folk music, collaborating with artists such as Sotiria Bellou, Grigoris Bithikotsis, Stelios Kazanidis, Nikos Xylouris and many composers. (corroborated by 9 sources)
- He authored the reference work “2,500 years of Greek Music”. (corroborated by 9 sources)
- Lakis Halkiá was born in Ioannina in 1943 and belonged to the historic Halkiá musical family. (corroborated by 8 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-06: Laki Chalkias funeral takes place at Athens' First Cemetery

Laki Chalkias’s funeral was held on 6 August at Athens’ First Cemetery, with public viewing from 10 am and a ceremony at noon; the family requested donations to ELPEAP instead of wreaths.

24 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lakis-halki-funeral-held-in-athens

### 2026-08-02: Greek folk singer Lakis Chalkias dies at 82

Lakis Chalkias, iconic Greek folk singer and member of a historic musical family, died on 2 August 2026 at 82, leaving a six‑decade legacy of collaborations and cultural advocacy.

49 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/greek-folk-singer-dimitris-xanthakis-dies-at-82

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Cite as: Death and funeral of Greek folk singer Lakis Chalkias. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/death-and-funeral-of-greek-folk-singer-lakis-chalkias