Christmas in Tbilisi 2026: Where to Go, What to Do & Georgian Holiday Traditions

Everything you need to know about spending Christmas and New Year in Tbilisi, including the best things to do in Tbilisi at Christmas, a full listing of markets and events, Orthodox traditions to be on the lookout for, and much more.

Are you looking for information about Christmas 2026/2027 in Tbilisi? Official dates for the markets and lights will be confirmed later this year, and I will be updating this guide regularly as announcements are made. In the meantime, scroll on to see how Tbilisi has celebrated New Year and Christmas in the years past.

Christmas is a very auspicious time of year in Georgia, when the country’s deep Christian roots and family traditions combine with a legendary reputation for feasting, toasting and partying.

Along with Orthodox Easter and the Rtveli wine harvest in autumn, the Christmas and New Year period is one of the most festive and fun seasons in Georgia.

Back in 2023, CNN even named Tbilisi as one of the most ‘magical at Christmas’ destinations in Europe alongside Colmar, Bruges and Hallstatt.

And lucky me, this year I will be celebrating my seventh Christmas in Georgia.

Georgia follows the Julian calendar and thus Christmas falls later than it does in the West, in the first week of January. But December 31 is the main event that sees raucous celebrations in Tbilisi, Batumi and the regions.

Combined with other holiday traditions unique to Georgia, you have almost an entire month of religious and national holidays. The festive mood fires up in early December when the lights go on in Tbilisi, and only ends with Orthodox Epiphany in the middle of January.

If you happen to be visiting Georgia and Tbilisi during the winter months of December and January, you’re in for a festive treat!

Here is everything you need to know about spending New Year’s Eve and Christmas in Tbilisi, including where to see the fireworks, Christmas lights and markets; special Georgian holiday traditions to know about; Georgian holiday foods; holiday etiquette tips; and much more.

I’ve included links throughout to different venues so that you can check precise times for the markets and other events.

I have also added confirmed events and dates for the 2025/26 Christmas period and will keep adding more information as it becomes available.

Watch my Christmas in Tbilisi vlog!

Here’s a quick tour of the markets and light displays. We filmed this over the 2021/22 holidays.

Planning a Christmas trip to Tbilisi?

The holiday season here runs from mid-December to mid-January, with different traditions on different days. I have created a free Tbilisi Christmas Calendar & Map so you know exactly where to be and when. Download it here:

(2026/2027 edition available later this year).

When is it Christmas in Tbilisi?

Georgia is an Orthodox Christian nation and follows the ‘old’ Julian Calendar. So instead of celebrating Christmas on December 25 like nations that follow the Gregorian Calendar, Christmas in Georgia is precisely 13 days later.

The date is the same every year: Georgian Christmas always falls on January 7. (We have to wait until the year 2101 for the date to change to January 8.)

Georgia’s festive season starts in mid-December when the Christmas lights and tree go up in Tbilisi (full details about that later).

The biggest date on Georgia’s holiday calendar is definitely December 31, which usurps even Orthodox Christmas in terms of celebration and fanfare (but not in terms of religious significance).

This is a hangover from the Soviet period, when Christian holidays were banned and all celebrations were deferred to a secular date. Some other former Soviet countries still celebrate on December 31 as well.

Do Georgians celebrate December 25?

December 25 is not celebrated in Georgia. It is not a national holiday nor a day of religious significance for Orthodox Christians, thus for most people it goes by without any fuss.

Georgia’s Catholic community (around 2% of the population) celebrates Christmas on December 25 with mass and other special events. In Tbilisi and Batumi in particular, the expat community organises Christmas lunches and parties.

My top picks for this year are an intimate Christmas Eve expat get together at La Mano, and a sit-down Christmas Eve Dinner with turkey and festive fare at the rooftop ATI Restaurant.

There are several Catholic churches in Tbilisi that host English-language services for Christmas:

• Christmas Eve Mass & Carols at St. Peter & Paul Church| December 24, 2025, 5pm, 7pm & 8pm
• Christmas Eve Service at The Open Door Center | December 24, 2025, 6-7pm & 8-9pm
• English Language Liturgy at The Peace Cathedral (Baptist Church) | December 28, 2025, 10am

Christmas & New Year Dates in Tbilisi (Holiday Calendar for 2025/2026)

The program for 2025/2026 is as follows (any dates marked TBC are an educated guess based on last year’s dates):

• December 12, 2025 (confirmed): Lighting of the Tbilisi Christmas tree at First Republic Square & illumination of the city’s light displays
• December 12, 2025 – January 7 January 14, 2026 (confirmed): Official Christmas Village (Christmas Market) & various other events
• December 31, 2025 (confirmed): New Year’s Eve Gala Concert at First Republic Square
• January 7, 2026 (confirmed): Alilo Procession for Orthodox Christmas Day

In addition, there are several other dates in January to be mindful of:

• January 1, 2026: New Year’s Day 1 (Mekvleloba)
• January 2, 2026: New Year’s Day 2 (Bedoba)
• January 14, 2026: Orthodox New Year’s Day
• January 19, 2026: Orthodox Epiphany (Natlisgheba)

January 1, 2, 7 and 19 are public holidays, so you’ll find that banks, government offices and some smaller businesses will be closed. Public transport runs as normal, and the majority of restaurants/cafes/bars remain open.

In the next section I’ll explain the significance of each day and how you can get involved in the celebrations.

Tbilisi in December: Christmas lights, markets & music performances

If you’re visiting Georgia in the weeks leading up to the holiday season, there are plenty of festive things to do in Tbilisi in December. You’ll hear fireworks and crackers going off every single night around the city in the lead-up to December 31.

Tip: To wish someone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in Georgian, you can say Gilotsav shoba-akhal tsels. Or a shorter version for Merry Christmas in Georgian: Gilotsavt shobas.

Barbaroba (December 17)

Though not technically associated with Christmas, I want to quickly mention St. Barbara’s Day (Barbaroba) because it falls right around the time that holiday celebrations start.

According to Georgian tradition, it’s customary to bake and eat lobiani (bean pie) on this day. Like Bedoba which is coming up later in January, Barbaroba is considered a ‘day of destiny’, a time to reflect on the past year’s triumphs and shortcomings in preparation for the new year ahead.

Fun fact: Christians in some Middle Eastern countries including Jordan, Syria and Lebanon also celebrate St. Barbara’s Day or Eid il-Burbara with a different kind of food: A special dessert made from boiled wheat, rose water, cinnamon and nuts.

Christmas illuminations & lighting of the tree

This year, Christmas will officially kick off in Tbilisi on Friday December 12, when elaborate light displays are turned on around the city.

As in years past, there will be a big display at Freedom Square (around the statue of St. George) with lights all the way down Rustaveli Avenue until the metro station.

There are also lights in Orbeliani Square and on Atoneli Street, and along Kostava Street and Chavchavadze Avenue in Vera/Vake.

At Christmastime, you can often find beautiful light displays along Aghmashenebeli Avenue in Chugureti, too. The sight of lights draped over heritage Art Nouveau facades and wreaths decorating mascarons is something very special!

Every year, the light display has a different theme. Previous themes have included ‘World Landmarks’ (2020/21) and ‘The Solar System’ (2019/20).

For Christmas 2023/24, the city had brand new light displays under the theme ‘European City’. The million stars hanging over Rustaveli Avenue was absolutely gob-smacking, both at night and during the day. The theme for 2024/25 was ‘City Full of Victories’.

These same displays get recycled year after year and are once again lighting up Tbilisi in 2025/26 – so you can expect to see lights and festive decorations very similar to those in the photographs in this post.

I definitely recommend checking out the light display inside the Rustaveli-Mtatsminda Cable Car lower station, close to Rustaveli Metro.

The gondolas just relaunched in October 2024. The historic station building was renovated to mark the occasion, and boy does it look beautiful at Christmastime.

A fun thing to do in Tbilisi in winter is ride the cable car up to Mtatsminda mountain and take in the panoramic city views.

On the same evening, December 12, there is a ceremonial lighting of the New Year Tree in First Republic Square (at the top of Rustaveli Avenue). This is a new location for 2025 – previously the tree was always located in front of Parliament.

Christmas Village & Christmas markets

Here is a breakdown of the various markets happening in Tbilisi this year.

Tbilisi Christmas Village (Dec 12-Jan 7)

In previous years, the Tbilisi City Hall Christmas Village (i.e. the official Tbilisi Christmas Markets) have always been held across different venues in Orbeliani Square and Dedaena Park.

In 2025/2026, the official Tbilisi City Hall Christmas Village is being staged at one location: First Republic Square.

It will be open daily until 10pm from December 12, 2025 until January 7, 2026 extended until January 14, 2026.

As well as market stalls selling traditional handicrafts and souvenirs, food and drink, there are stages for live music and dance performances, various kids’ activities, and an ice skating rink.

Here are some photos of the Christmas Village from previous years:

Christmas Agrarian Market (Dec 20-21)

This year, there will also be a food market at Dedaena Park (near the Dry Bridge Market), focusing on Georgian cheese, sweets and other locally made products, plus classic Christmas fare (including gourmet hotdogs) and mulled Saperavi Georgian wine.

Organised by STALL and the FAO, the Agrarian Market will be held over one weekend, Saturday December 20 and Sunday December 21, from midday until 7pm.

Fabrika Christmas Fair (Dec 20-21)

Another must-visit is the Fabrika Christmas Fair. Held every year on the weekend leading up Western Christmas, it features a wonderful array of gifts and souvenirs from 45 local businesses – everything from retro Georgian film posters to handmade jewellery. I always save my Christmas shopping for this event!

Food and drink is provided by Fabrika Courtyard residents, plus there will be a marching band, hands-on ornament-painting and gift-wrapping workshops, and more.

In 2025, the fair will be held on the same weekend, Saturday December 20 and Sunday December 21 from 1pm until 9pm.

Other fairs & markets (Nov 29-Dec 21)

Other special markets this year include:

🌟 IWA Winter Fair – November 29, 2025

• 100 local artisan vendors, food, carols & kids’ activities
• From 4pm | Sheraton Grand Hotel | Free entry

🌟 Gardenia Shevardnadze New Year Fair – December 2-28, 2025

• Christmas displays & botanical gifts
• Daily from 10am except Mondays | 5 GEL

🌟 Tbilisi Book Fair – December 20 & 21, 2025

• Books, posters & souvenirs from local publishers
• From 5pm | ExpoGeorgia | Free entry

🌟Chateau Mukhrani Christmas Market – December 21, 2025

• Christmas fair, live music, kids’ activities & cooking workshops
• From 1pm | Free entry

New Year’s Eve in Tbilisi (December 31)

Most Georgians celebrate Christmas on December 31, making this night a double-whammy combo of festive and new years fun.

The big NYE gala is held on a stage in First Republic Square (in front of Rustaveli Metro) and there is sometimes a second concert on Epiphany to mark the end of the holidays.

Tip: Shops and supermarkets are usually very crowded on this day as people are busy stocking up on food and fireworks. Some shops close early in the mid-afternoon.

The evening of December 31 is traditionally spent with family. After exchanging gifts and enjoying a supra feast with special Christmas foods and a few glasses of sparkling wine, people then meet up with friends for part two, the afterparty.

By this point you would have heard fireworks going off at all hours in the days and weeks prior. Tonight is when they reach a crescendo.

There is not really an official fireworks display, but rather everyone chips in by sending off their own fireworks purchased from markets and corner stores.

Being from a country where fireworks are illegal, it all feels very strange to me!

As soon as it gets dark, amateur pyrotechnics start firing off from street corners, rooftops and apartment windows.

You can just imagine what it looks like when thousands of rockets are being launched (both vertically and horizontally!) from all over the city at midnight. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen or heard before.

Just a few years ago, more than 700 tons of pyrotechnics were purchased in Georgia during the holidays. But with new regulations around the sale of fireworks, that has fallen by about 30%. This year, there were noticeably fewer fireworks in Tbilisi on New Year.

Where to go to watch the fireworks in Tbilisi

The best place to watch the fireworks in Tbilisi and ring in the New Year is any vantage point with a good view. That’s not difficult to find in a city surrounded by hills, so you shouldn’t have any trouble staking out a spot.

Mtatsminda, Narikala Hill, the stairs to Tabori Monastery, and Betlemi Rise in the Old Town are all good places to sit and watch the show.

Public transport is extended until 3am on January 1 and January 7 and is free to use, making it a lot easier to get around the city.

People continue to set off fireworks every night well into January, so don’t be alarmed if you hear loud bangs in the early hours.

Tbilisi New Years events

Some venues around the city host dinners, live music and DJs on December 31. Many restaurants and bars around town put on special dinners as well.

Confirmed New Year events for 2025 range from a cosy jazz party with the Rezo Kiknadze Quintet and a Beatles Tribute at 1984 Jazz Club, to a 72-hour marathon club celebration at Left Bank.

The Facebook Group ‘Tbilisi Events in English’ usually publishes a full list of events in the run up to NYE. Since most locals eat dinner at home with family, these parties are mostly designed for tourists and expats.

Other places to spend New Year’s Eve in Georgia

The fireworks aren’t limited to Tbilisi: There are also extravagant displays on December 31 in Batumi (which also has a Christmas market on Europe Square) plus smaller celebrations in Kutaisi and other cities.

Georgia’s main ski resorts at Bakuriani and Gudauri host Christmas and New Year’s events.

For something more low-key, you can observe special regional traditions in Svaneti or Guria throughout the months of December and January. The most interesting of these is Lamproba in Svaneti, AKA Georgia’s Day of the Dead.

Georgian Christmas celebrations in January

December 31 is the biggest night of the year, but it’s only the start of the fun. There are several more important traditions – some of them unique to Georgia – that roll out through January, including of course Orthodox Christmas.

Tip: It’s a tradition for Georgians to exchange candies or chocolates with friends and neighbours during the festive period. If you’re visiting Georgia in January, buy something sweet to give to your guesthouse host or guide – and don’t be surprised if your taxi driver offers you a fist-full of candy.

Mekvleloba (January 1)

While most of us know January 1st as New Year’s Day, in Georgia it’s Mekvleloba.

Mekvleloba begins at midnight with an old superstition. Your first guest of the new year – the first person to cross the threshold of your home – will determine your fate for the year ahead. Thus it’s important to select someone for the job who embodies the characteristics you’re looking for (be it prosperity, generosity, etc.). 

The Mekvle should step into the house with their right foot first and promptly shower the homeowners with sweets. According to the tradition, candies represent youthfulness, happiness and prosperity – this is why you’ll see people exchanging them on the street (and why you should carry some with you too).

Bedoba (January 2)

Bedoba, celebrated on January 2, is my favourite Georgian holiday tradition. The ‘day of luck’ or ‘day of fate’ sets the tone for the year ahead and must be spent in a way that’s meaningful to you. Essentially, whatever happens to you on Bedoba will dictate how the rest of your year pans out.

Bedoba is a day for self-care when you should do the things you love and spend time with the people you value most. Eat your favourite food, drink good wine, or pamper yourself with a trip to the Sulfur Baths. A friend of a friend always goes to the airport on Bedoda in the hope of bringing more travel opportunities into their life!

Orthodox Christmas Eve (January 6)

On the night before Orthodox Christmas, Georgians traditionally light candles and place them next to their windows so the light can be seen from the street. This tradition is a homage to Joseph and Mary – a guiding light to help them in their search for shelter.

Take a walk through the streets of Tbilisi and see the lights flickering in every window.

In smaller cities and villages, Alilo singers (usually groups of children) go door to door singing carols on Christmas Eve. This tradition is a bit like Georgian Halloween: The kids perform a ditty, then you give them some sweets or fresh fruit. We have kids visit us every year over Christmastime in Kutaisi.

In Tbilisi, midnight liturgy at Holy Trinity Cathedral is led by the Georgian Patriarch on the night of the 6th. It lasts until 5 or 6am on January 7th.

Orthodox Christmas Day & the Alilo Parade (January 7)

Orthodox Christmas Day is another national holiday in Georgia and a day of great reverence for the entire country.

The main event is the Alilo Parade, a procession that takes place in Tbilisi and cities around the country. Alilo is a religious ritual that sees thousands of people march in unison down the streets, dressed in special robes and carrying Georgian flags, crucifixes and other icons.

Christmas night is another family celebration for most households, with feasting and toasting. As this is the end of the Orthodox fast, there’s normally a lot of meat going around! See the next section to learn about traditional Georgian Christmas foods.

Orthodox New Year (January 14)

Orthodox New Year or ‘Old New Year’ falls a week after Orthodox Christmas. It is not an official holiday in Georgia and although it’s celebrated with a smaller fireworks display and family dinners the night before on January 13, it’s nowhere near as popular as December 31.

Orthodox Epiphany (January 19)

In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, Epiphany (known in Georgia as Natlisgheba or ‘Acceptance of Light’) commemorates Jesus’ baptism. It also marks the official end of the festive period in Georgia.

On Epiphany eve (January 18), all churches around the country perform a mass water consecration and on Epiphany day, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia performs a mass baptism at Sameba Cathedral in Tbilisi, becoming godfather to hundreds of infants. It is traditional for all godchildren to congratulate their godparents on Epiphany day.

Water is a running theme: In Adjara region and elsewhere, people flock to the sea (or the nearest lake or river) to go night swimming after the evening liturgy.

In Javakheti, a hole is cut from the surface of the frozen Paravani Lake and people participate in an ice-bathing ritual. I was lucky enough to attend in 2025 – it was an unforgettable experience!

January 19 is the deadline to take down your Christmas decorations. The lights in Tbilisi are gone by this date.

But there’s one more ritual to take care of: The burning of one’s Chichilaki. While most people pack away their Christmas trees, Georgians set theirs on fire. Torching the Chichilaki on Epiphany Eve symbolises letting go of one’s troubles and misfortunes from the previous year and welcoming fresh beginnings.

Christmas in Georgia: Interesting facts & holiday traditions

Chichilaki, Georgian Christmas trees

There are two kinds of Christmas trees used in Georgia: Typical Western Christmas trees, and special trees called Chichilaki. The latter is made from dried hazelnut wood that is shaved into strips (some say to resemble St. Basil’s beard). The trees are then decorated with candies, fruits and coloured ribbons.

The Chichilaki tradition comes from Western Georgia but many families around the country have a small one to display alongside their regular Christmas tree. In Tbilisi, you can often see Chichilaki on show outside the Gabriadze Theatre and inside the Christmas Village.

If you want to buy a mini Chichilaki, they are sold at the Dezerter Bazaar. See the next section for where to buy a real Christmas tree in Tbilisi.

If you are visiting Tbilisi at Christmas time, I highly recommend taking a stroll around the Dezerter Bazaar and Bazroba market area in front of Central Station. You can see all kinds of traditional (and non-traditional) decorations being sold, along with fireworks.

Interestingly, you will notice lots of paraphernalia themed according to the upcoming Lunar New Year. In 2023, there was dragon merchandise for sale at every turn.

Tovlis Babua, Georgian Santa Claus

Tovlis Babua (literally ‘Snow Grandpa’) is Georgia’s answer to Santa Claus. Quite naturally he lives in the mountains of Svaneti and is dressed in a traditional Svan felt hat and white felt coat. He carries his goodies in a saddle bag rather than a sack.

Tovlis Babua visits children on New Year’s Eve. Families traditionally exchange gifts on the evening of December 31 or on January 1.

Georgian Christmas foods

Like most countries, Georgia has several special Christmas foods that are traditionally eaten during holiday Supras. Some are available year-round while others are only prepared in December and January.

Satsivi (a cold appetiser made with poultry and walnut sauce) is available year-round at restaurants in Tbilisi and beyond. Satsivi is an essential part of every Christmas meal and is traditionally made with turkey (instead of the regular chicken) during the holidays.

Roasted suckling pork with adjika sauce is another fixture of most homespun Georgian holiday feasts. It’s more difficult to find this dish in restaurants, but those that host special Christmas lunches may include it on the menu.

Gozinaki is one of few traditional Georgian desserts and it only comes out for New Year. The star-shaped sweet is quite simple, consisting of caramelised walnuts or hazelnuts set in honey (sort of like a very sweet peanut brittle).

It can be soft or very hard depending on how it’s prepared. You can find trays of Gozinaki for sale at Carrefour supermarkets, at Georgian Kalata, and at some of the holiday markets.

Gurian Khachapuri is a regional version of the famous ‘cheese bread’ made in Western Georgia’s Guria region. Here, it’s eaten on Orthodox Christmas (though you can find it at some bakeries and restaurants year-round). Gurian Khachapuri is crescent-shaped and more like a calzone. It’s stuffed with not only cheese, but also boiled egg. Yum.

The lead-up to Christmas is one of four Orthodox fasting periods, where people abstain from eating animal products (meat, egg, dairy) and oils.

Lots of people observe at least a couple of fasts every year, while the very devout also fast every Wednesday and Friday. This is the reason why so many Georgian foods are naturally vegan-friendly and why so many venues offer special ‘fasting menus’ all year long.

Tips for visiting Tbilisi during the holidays

• Closures: January 1, 2 and 7 are public holidays in Georgia so banks, government offices and some businesses will be closed on these days. There will always be some shops, pharmacies and restaurants open. Some smaller family businesses close completely for the first week of January.
• Public transport: The metro and buses normally have extended hours on January 1 and January 7. Public transport (including the Rike Park Ropeway) will usually operate until 3am free of charge.
• Traffic & taxis: Holiday traffic in Tbilisi is something else. It starts piling up around mid-December and gets progressively worse until NYE. It can be very difficult to get a taxi as many drivers take time off work or leave the city. On many occasions this December, I struggled to get a Bolt even during the day. My advice is to walk and avoid being on the roads as much as you can.

Where to buy Christmas supplies

If you live in Tbilisi or you’re planning a longer stay over the holiday period, you might want to pick up some festive supplies.

Where to buy a real Christmas tree in Tbilisi

Fun fact: Up to 90% of Christmas trees sold in Europe are grown from Nordmann fir seeds harvested in Georgia’s Racha region. Some cut trees are illegally ‘poached’, so be careful who you buy from.

Buying a real Christmas tree in Georgia can be a bit tricky. People like to replant their trees after the holidays, so most are sold with the root systems and soil still attached. This means they’re very heavy and cumbersome to transport.

You can either buy a potted tree or an un-potted tree with the roots wrapped in plastic. In the latter case, the tree will need to be transplanted into a pot before you can display it. Both can be replanted in the garden when you’re done.

The best place to buy an un-potted tree is near Station Square at the intersection of Abastumani and Mghvdeli Streets. Some vendors sell cut trees mounted on wooden stands. Prices start from around 130 GEL for a 1.5-metre tree. If you don’t want a full tree, they also sell individual cut branches for a few GEL a piece.

Prices drop significantly after December 15 so hold off until then if you can.

Gardenia Shevardnadze sells potted trees. Prices are higher, from 300 GEL for a small tree, and delivery is available for an extra fee (around 50 GEL).

Homeware stores Gorgia and Domino East Point also sell potted trees at a lower price. If you just need a pot, prices start from 45 GEL at Domino.

Where to buy Christmas decorations in Tbilisi

Christmas decorations can be found at all ‘dollar store’ type shops, markets and Carrefour supermarkets. I particularly like the vintage Soviet-era Christmas ornaments sold at the Dry Bridge Market.

Social enterprise Babale makes delightful Christmas ornaments, cards and other accoutrements, with proceeds going towards programs that support the down syndrome community.

Christmas fairy lights are sold at Miniso, Jysk, Domino and Bricorama

Where to buy Christmas cards in Tbilisi

Babale and Geoposter both make beautiful illustrated Christmas cards with Georgia-inspired motifs. You can find a nice range of greeting cards by different local artists at Gallery 27 in the Old Town.

Packets of standard Christmas greeting cards are available at some supermarkets and homeware stores including Container.

Where to buy a Christmas turkey or ham in Tbilisi

A couple of butchers sell locally raised turkeys around Thanksgiving and Christmas time, including Agro Meat Market. You can also find turkeys at some Carrefour supermarkets.

Saidanaa does a special honey-mustard glazed ham for the holidays.