2026 Georgia Cultural Calendar: Holidays, Milestones & Festivals in Georgia to Plan Your Trip Around

There’s always something special happening in Georgia, whether it be a cultural festival, a food or wine event, or a religious celebration.

This Georgia Calendar for 2026 brings together the major festivals, events, holidays and celebrations slated for this year plus other milestones that define the seasons.

I hope it comes in handy for planning your Georgia travel itinerary.

Is there something I missed? Please leave a comment at the end with your suggestion.

→ If you’re looking for more insights on the best time to visit Georgia, my guide to visiting Georgia through the seasons includes a month-by-month breakdown of the weather and other factors you should consider.

An important note about festivals in Georgia

The dates for most festivals in Georgia are not confirmed until a few weeks (or sometimes a few days) in advance. Seasonal events such as the Rtveli wine harvest are weather-dependent and harder to predict.

As much as I’d love to create a neat and tidy calendar, it’s just not possible! The best I can do for some of these events is give you approximate dates.

If you see any festivals marked ‘TBC’, please come back and check again closer to the time. I have made an educated guess as to the 2026 date based on previous years, and promise to update any gaps as soon as they are confirmed.

Mekvleloba & Bedoba

• Date: January 1 & 2, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Nation-wide

Georgia’s cultural calendar kicks off with two religious traditions that are a continuation of the New Year period: Mekvleloba and Bedoba. While not always obvious to visitors, they are part of Georgia’s Orthodox Christmas tradition and very interesting to observe.

Mekvleloba begins at midnight on January 1. According to tradition, a family’s first guest of the new year – the first person to cross the threshold of their home – will determine their fate for the year ahead.

Bedoba (January 2) AKA the ‘day of luck’ or ‘day of fate’ sets the tone for the year ahead and should be spent in a way that’s joyful and meaningful. Bedoba is a day for self-care when you should do the things you love and spend time with the people who mean the most to you.

On Mekvleloba and throughout the holiday period, lollies are exchanged between friends and neighbours as a symbol of youthfulness, happiness and prosperity. It’s a good idea to carry some with you – and remember to bring of box of chocolates or similar if you’re invited to someone’s home.

Orthodox Christmas & Old New Year

• Date: January 7 & 14, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Nation-wide

Christmas is celebrated a fortnight later in Georgia according to the Julian calendar. Orthodox Christmas Day (January 7) is a day of reverence, when believers attend midnight mass.

The biggest events of the day are the Alilo Parades, religious processions that see hundreds or thousands of people sing and chant their way through the streets. As they walk, participants collect food and other donations from onlookers to distribute to people in need.

Alilo Parades take place in all major cities and some towns and villages. In Tbilisi, the parade starts at around 2pm from First Republic Square and culminates at Sameba Cathedral, the biggest Orthodox temple in the country and Tbilisi’s main church.

Orthodox New Year or ‘Old New Year’ (January 14) is not an official holiday in Georgia, but it is marked with a small fireworks display on the night of the 13th.

For more insights into Georgian holiday traditions, see my detailed guide to Christmas in Tbilisi.

Natlisgheba (Orthodox Epiphany)

• Date: January 19, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Nation-wide (including on Paravani Lake, Samtskhe-Javakheti)

Epiphany or Natlisgheba in Georgian falls on January 19 and commemorates Jesus’ baptism. It also marks the official end of the festive period.

Like in many Orthodox countries, Georgia marks the day with traditions that evoke Bethany beyond the Jordan and revolve around water. The most famous Natlisgheba event takes place on Paravani Lake in Javakheti, where the local priest cuts a hole in the frozen lake in the shape of St. Nino’s Cross. Some people brave the freezing cold for an ice plunge, while others are blessed by the priest with water from the lake.

Paravani is an important location in Georgia’s Orthodox tradition: St. Nino entered Georgia from Armenia at Javakheti, and rested on the lake’s shore for several days. It was here that a vision appeared and instructed her to travel to Mtskheta, where she would baptise King Mirian and Queen Nana, precipitating Georgia’s adoption of Christianity.

For photos and practical tips for attending, see my account of Natlisgheba on Paravani Lake.

Lamproba

• Date: February 14, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Mestia & around Svaneti

Lamproba or the ‘Festival of Lamps’ is a special ritual in Svan culture. On the night of Lamproba, people craft torches from birch or oak tree branches and walk them to their relatives’ graves before setting them alight. A big bonfire is lit in front of the church in the centre of Mestia and fed with bundles of wood.

According to some sources, Lamproba is a platitude for the souls of the dead and a way to ensure a good harvest season ahead. Its likeness to Día de Muertos is why you’ll sometimes hear this festival referred to as ‘Georgia’s Day of the Dead’.

Fires light up the night sky in Mestia and in the villages around Svaneti Region, as well as in ethnic Svan communities in Kvemo Kartli. In Upper Svaneti, the festival is also known as Svimonoba (‘Simon’s Festival’), and in Mestia, the local tourism office sometimes stages an event on the same evening for visitors.

Learn more about Lamproba in this article.

Gemo Fest Mestia

• Date: February 21-22, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Mestia

Gemo Fest is a food festival run by the Georgian Tourism Administration. The first edition for 2026 will be held in Mestia on the weekend of February 21-22, coinciding with the Freeride World Tour ski competition in Tetnuldi.

Gemo is designed to spotlight regional Georgian cuisines. Chefs, wine producers and talented home cooks are all invited to set up stalls and showcase their skills, alongside live music and other celebrations.

Other confirmed Gemo Fest events for 2026 include:

• Samtskhe-Javakheti (Akhaltsikhe), June 6-7, 2026
• Imereti (Kutaisi), June 26-28, 2026

Guria (Shekvetili) and Racha (Ambrolauri) festivals were held in August in 2025, with 2026 dates TBC.

For more information, visit the Gemo Fest Facebook Page.

Berikaoba festivals in Georgia

• Date: February 22, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Didi Chailuri & Patara Chailuri

Held approximately 50 days before Orthodox Easter, the Berikaoba Festival likely has pagan roots and is tied to the coming of spring and associated values of abundance, rebirth and fertility. Once celebrated all over Georgia, it is still marked in several villages in Kakheti, with the biggest and most colourful events taking place in Chailuri, 65 kilometres east of Tbilisi.

Not unlike similar celebrations in Europe such as the Surva Festival in Bulgaria, Berikaoba sees people dress up in elaborate costumes and don imaginative masks to walk in procession down the village’s main street. Chidaoba wrestling matches, feasting and folk music are also part of the fun.

Learn more about Berikaoba and its origins in this Atlas Obscura article.

For reference, here is a Berikaoba event from last year with more information about the festivities.

Orthodox Easter

• Date: April 10-13, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Nation-wide

Orthodox Easter falls later in Georgia, a few weeks after Roman Catholic Easter. Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday (April 10-13) are all public holidays in Georgia. Some businesses close for this period to allow people to spend time with their family.

This is the most important religious holiday in the country. Orthodox observances centre around midnight mass, which begins on the Saturday night and runs until the early hours of Resurrection Sunday. In the lead up to Easter, many people observe a strict 40-day fast. On the Sunday and Monday, it is customary to visit the cemetery and commune with the dead.

Eggs are dyed red with madder root and displayed at home on a bed of wheatgrass. You can see these supplies being sold at local markets around Tbilisi and elsewhere in the weeks preceding Easter. Another tradition is eating paska, a dense fruit cake that you can find at most bakeries.

Learn more about Orthodox traditions and how to get involved in my guide to spending Easter in Georgia.

Lelo Burti

• Date: April 12, 2026 (confirmed, later cancelled)
• Location: Shukhuti, Guria

As a mark of national mourning following the Patriarch’s passing, Lelo Burti 2026 was not held.

Every Easter Sunday, Guria region hosts a special event known as Lelo Burti. This is a full-contact, rugby-like ball game that sees two villages, Zemo and Kvemo Shukhuti, go head to head.

Lelo Burti is played with a 16-kilogram ball made from sand and dirt soaked in wine. The goal post is a stream, and the aim of the game is get carry the ball 500 metres over the rival village’s waterway. Whoever crosses first is declared the winner and that village holds the trophy for the next year.

Live music, food, and a small market are staged as part of the celebrations. This is one of my favourite festivals in Georgia and a must-do if you happen to be here for Easter.

I have been lucky enough to attend the festival several times now. Learn more about Lelo Burti in my write-up.

Zero Compromise Wine Festival

• Dates: May 1-2, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Tbilisi

When spring arrives in Georgia, winemakers crack open last year’s clay qvevri for the first taste of the previous year’s harvest. Zero Compromise is an opportunity for them to come together, sample each other’s new bottles, and share their creations with the public.

One of two festivals staged by the Natural Wine Association (also see Amerimeri in Tskaltubo in December), Zero Compromise is normally the first of many wine festivals to take place in Tbilisi each year. The NWA has more than 120 members around Georgia, and many of them gather for this flagship event in Tbilisi.

Zero Compromise is normally held in the first or second week of May. It is a ticketed all-you-can-drink event, with a two-day pass costing around 30 GEL. This year, it will be held at Radio City.

Find more details on the Natural Wine Association Facebook Page.

Kolga Tbilisi Photo Festival

• Date: May 1-4, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Tbilisi

The Kolga Tbilisi Photo Festival is one of the most established photography festivals in the Caucasus and a key event on Tbilisi’s cultural calendar. It began in 2002 as a university-based photography competition and has since grown into a major international event, bringing together emerging and established photographers from Georgia and abroad.

Held annually in early May, Kolga unfolds as a citywide programme of exhibitions, talks, workshops and portfolio reviews, staged across galleries, museums and public spaces in Tbilisi. The festival showcases a broad range of photographic practices – from documentary and reportage to contemporary and conceptual work – and plays an important role in supporting new talent.

More information on the Kolga website.

Gviriloba (Kutaisoba)

• Date: May 2, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Kutaisi

‘Day of’ festivals commemorate different cities, towns, mountain peaks and monasteries around Georgia and are held all throughout the warmer months. The first major festival of the year, Kutaisoba or the ‘Day of Kutaisi’ is held in spring.

Also known as Gviriloba (the ‘Day of Chamomiles’), the festival takes place every year in Kutaisi on May 2. It celebrates all things Kutaisi and Imereti Region, with stages for live music and dance, and a pop-up market showcasing regional food and wine.

Why chamomiles? The tradition goes back to the beginning of the 20th century when Kutaisi schoolgirls sold chamomile (gvirila) flowers to raise funds for tuberculosis patients. That’s why you’ll see many festival goers dressed up like Madeline with flowers pinned in their hair.

This year, the festival is set to return to Kutaisi Central Park in the centre of the city.

National Day of Georgian Wine

• Date: May 8, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Tbilisi

Marked for the first time in 2026, this is a new national holiday created to celebrate Georgia’s 8000-year-old tradition of winemaking. To mark the occasion, a small wine-themed festival took place on Gudiashvili Square in Tbilisi.

The New Wine Festival

• Date: May 9, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Tbilisi

The New Wine Festival traditionally takes place at the start of May after Zero Compromise. It is held outdoors in Mtatsminda Park.

Supported by the National Wine Agency, it sees hundreds of winemakers – from commercial wine companies down to tiny family cellars – exhibit their latest creations. 2025 was a record harvest year in Kakheti, so the 2026 edition of this festival won’t be one to miss!

The free festival commences with a ceremonial opening the qvevri, and there is a food market and live music throughout the day to accompany.

For details, see the 2026 Event Page.

Georgian Independence Day

• Date: May 26, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Tbilisi & nation-wide

May 26 is Independence Day in Georgia and an official public holiday. It commemorates the adoption of the Act of Independence in 1918, which ushered in the short-lived Democratic Republic of Georgia.

Street fairs and different events are held in all cities around the country in commemoration. In Tbilisi, the entire length of Rustaveli Avenue is closed off for a food market, wine showcase and handicraft bazaar. During the day, there is a military parade and in the evening, concerts and fireworks.

Bolnisi PDO Wine Festival

• Date: May 31, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Bolnisi

The Bolnisi PDO Wine Festival celebrates Georgia’s wine heritage with a specific focus on wines that carry a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).

Held annually in the historic town of Bolnisi 60 km outside Tbilisi – a place known for its old German heritage and its slogan as the ‘City of Golden Wine’ – the festival brings together PDO producers from across the country for tastings, competitions, awards and live music in a festive town atmosphere.

More details on the Bolnisi Wine Fest Facebook Page.

Batumoba

• Date: TBC
• Location: Batumi

Batumoba or the ‘Day of Batumi’ is normally the second major festival to be held in spring. It sees the resort city transform into a colourful celebration of tradition and folklore, with jazz concerts, a handicraft and gastronomic market, and other events.

In 2025, the festival took place on the Old Boulevard on the first weekend of May. A follow-up festival, Gandagana, is held in autumn (see below).

Lomisoba

• Date: June 3, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Zemo Mleta (near Kazbegi)

Held annually on the Wednesday after Easter in Zemo Mleta, a village in the Greater Caucasus close to Gudauri, Lomisoba is a festival that combines pagan, pre-Christian and Christian traditions. It is the biggest and most important festival in Mtiuleti, and attracts thousands of visitors from all around the area.

At sunrise, hundreds of people gather to make a pilgrimage on foot to Lomisa Church, a 9th-10th century shrine high on the ridge above the village. Special rituals are performed for healing the sick, while in the lowlands, a massive sacrifice of sheep takes place. This is quite controversial, and often animal rights activists hold demonstrations on the day. Read this first-hand account of the festival before you go.

A word of warning: If you are planning to drive along the Georgian Military Highway on the day of the festival, I suggest you adjust your plans. We tried it a couple of years ago and got stuck in an hour-long traffic jam.

WinExpo Georgia

• Date: June 5-7, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Tbilisi

Now in its 18th year, WinExpo is the only international trade fair for wine and spirits in the Caucasus. It is primarily an industry event, however anyone is welcome to drop in and sample beverages from the 100-plus exhibitors. WinExpo is always held outdoors at Expo Georgia.

Find more info here on the WinExpo website.

Tbilisi Cheese Festival

• Date: June 7, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Mtatsminda Park

Mtatsminda Park hosts a range of food and drink-themed festivals throughout the year – including a Beer Festival, an Ice Cream Festival (both held in July), and a Coffee Festival (held in September). My top pick has to be the Tbilisi Cheese Festival, which is staged to honour Georgia’s larder of more than 250 regional and specialty cheeses.

Founded in 2015, it sees dairy producers and artisan cheesemakers descend on Tbilisi to showcase their products, including rare cheese types such as tenili pulled cheese from Samtskhe-Javakheti and punchy guda cheese from Tusheti. In recent years, cheesemakers from Armenia and Azerbaijan have also joined in the fun.

The festival is free to attend and alongside tastings, features live music and other festivities. Find more information on the Mtatsminda Park Facebook Page.

SuperNatural Wine & Music Festival

• Date: June 28, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Tbilisi

More than 100 natural producers from around Georgia gather every year for this Tbilisi wine festival, which pairs low-intervention wines with all-local food and vinyl sessions.

This year, the festival will once again be held at the new Ninoshvili Bazaar. This is a ticketed event, with discounts available if you pre-purchase online.

Find more information on Instagram.

The Abano Pass to Tusheti opens

• Date: Late, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Tusheti

The road to Tusheti is completely closed in winter and normally reopens in June, marking the official start of the season in Georgia’s most remote mountain region.

In mid-May, families start to move back to their high-altitude villages, and preparations are made for the start of trekking season. In 2024, late snowfall pushed this back to the first weekend of June. In 2025, the road officially reopened on May 25 – but in 2026, a wet spring and large volume of snow delayed the opening until late June. Note that some guesthouses don’t open until as late as July.

The transhumance, where shepherds make the month-long journey by horseback from Shiraki and Vashlovani up to Tusheti – taking their flocks with them – is an incredible spectacle. Some companies including Shetidze organise tours where you can accompany riders on the Tusheti Horse Drive. Talk about a bucket-list experience!

Tbilisi Open Air

• Date: July 4-5, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Tbilisi

Tbilisi Open Air is Georgia’s largest and most iconic music festival, drawing thousands of locals and international visitors each year for a weekend of live music, art and outdoor revelry. Known for its eclectic line-ups that span rock, electronic, indie and alternative genres, the festival has become a defining event in the city’s cultural calendar and a major platform for both Georgian and international artists.

In 2026, the festival will return to Lisi Lake in Tbilisi in July. There was also a special Winter Edition that took place at Gudauri Ski Resort in February.

For reference, see the Tbilisi Open Air website.

Blues Fest Lagodekhi

• Date: July 11-August 1, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Lagodekhi

This popular music festival founded by Victor Kervalishvili and Natalia Kalandadze brings blues luminaries from the USA and beyond to Georgia, inviting them to jam out on stage and perform with local musicians.

The festival has been going since 2016.

The venue, the purpose-built ‘Blues Village’ in Lagodekhi, is located in Kakheti Region, close to the beautiful Lagodekhi Protected Areas national park.

Find more information on the Blues Village Facebook Page.

The Black Sea Jazz Festival

• Date: July 10-12, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Batumi

One of Georgia’s biggest music festivals, Black Sea Jazz brings together local and international acts from a range of genres, including jazz, hip-hop and soul. In 2024, The Jacksons headlined the closing night.

2026 is the 19th year of the festival, and promises to deliver a stellar program.

Find more details on the Black Sea Jazz Facebook Page.

Art-Gene Fest

• Date: July 23-26, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Tbilisi Open Air Museum of Ethnography

The Art-Gene Festival takes place every summer at the Open Air Museum of Ethnography in Tbilisi. It brings together folk ensembles from every region of Georgia, plus international guests for a series of evening concerts.

During the day, food producers, wine makers, brewers and craftspeople showcase their wares at market stalls set up around the outdoor museum. Festivities run from late afternoon until evening, and normally the Sukhishvili ensemble makes an appearance.

Tickets normally cost 60 GEL, and can be purchased online through TKT.GE.

Find more details on the Art-Gene Facebook Page.

Kvirikoba

• Date: July 28, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Kala, Svaneti

One of the biggest folk festivals in Svaneti Region, Kvirikoba takes place on July 28, the anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Kvirike and St. Ivlita.

Celebrations are held at the church in Kala village (roughly halfway between Mestia and Ushguli), attracting huge crowds from the region and across Georgia for traditional Svan blessings.

In the afternoon, villagers compete to see who can haul a massive church bell and go head to head in a boulder tossing competition known as sajildao kvis atseva. I was lucky enough to attend the festival last year and will be back for more in 2026!

Shuamtoba

• Date: August 2, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Beshumi, Upper Adjara

The village of Beshumi in Upper Adjara (a 3-hour drive from Batumi) hosts the Shuamtoba Festival on the first weekend of August every year. Similar to the Atengenoba festivals in the east of the country (see below), the day features horse racing and folk music, Georgian wrestling and horse races along with a showcase of regional food and wine, and a display of traditional costume.

The festival typically features vocal ensembles, horse racing, and ethnographic showcases. See here for this year’s program.

Atnigenoba

• Date: Throughout late July and August, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Tusheti & Khevsureti

Atnigenoba (Atengenoba) is the collective name for the series of festivals that take place across villages in Tusheti and Khevsureti throughout the summer. Tradition dictates that festival season commences 100 days after Easter Sunday, which will be July 21 in 2026.

This is a roving cycle of feasts that moves from place to place throughout the month of August (and this year, during the final weeks of July). If you’re visiting Tusheti on a weekend, you will find there are horse competitions and other festivities happening in at least one of the villages.

Days that are more tourist-focused, for example Tushetoba in Omalo, feature horse riding and khinkali-making, Tushetian embroidery and felt work demonstrations, folk song performances and more – all against a backdrop of stone towers and mountain panoramas.

Every year on August 19, Tusheti (and some other mountain regions) celebrate Peristsvaleba. This auspicious day marks the end of summer and the start of autumn. In honour of the changing colours, it is a customary to smear a sign of the cross on your forehead (Ash Wednesday style) with the juice of forest berries.

Photographer Magdalena Konik leads small group tours to Tusheti for Peristsvaleba that are specially focused on the festival and other regional traditions. Contact her through Facebook for more details.

Dates are normally finalised a few weeks in advance. Follow Tusheti National Park on Facebook for updates.

One Caucasus Festival

• Date: August 20-22, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Tserakvi

This cultural festival is staged in the culturally diverse village of Tserakvi in Kvemo Kartli. The closest thing Georgia has to Burning Man (actually a lot more similar to the Woodford Folk Festival in my homestate of Queensland), One Caucasus is a volunteer-led festival that is co-created with the local community.

Musicians, artists and educators from around the world are invited to participate in concerts, workshops and masterclasses. A major aim of One Caucasus is to bring together Georgian, Armenian and Azerbaijani creatives to foster regional collaboration and promote peace.

After 11 years, the festival took a break in 2025 and will return in 2026.

More information on the One Caucasus website.

Bakhmaro Horse Race (Bakhmaros Doghvi)

• Date: August 19, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Bakhmaro, Guria

Held in Bakhmaro, one of Guria’s two high-mountain resorts, Bakhmaros Doghvi or the Bakhmaro Cup is a high-octane race that spotlights the region’s traditions of horsemanship. Riders from around Guria come to test their mettle on a circuit track that runs across the top of the mountain and through a river.

The event marks the end of the high summer season and coincides with the Feast of the Transfiguration.

KefalFest

• Date: August 22, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Poti

This summer festival is held on Maktakva Beach and around the Golden Lake, just outside the Black Sea city of Poti. Geared towards families, it includes watersports, scavenger hunts and other kid-friendly activities, plus concerts and a fishing competition.

As with all Georgian festivals, there is plenty of food (in this case Megrelian cuisine) plus a small market showcasing handmade products.

See the KefalFest website for reference.

Rtveli Wine Vintage

• Date: From early September, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Kakheti, Kartli, Imereti, Racha-Lechkhumi & around Georgia

Autumn in Georgia is an auspicious time of year, especially the first weeks of September when the annual grape vintage gets into full swing. Eastern Georgia’s Kakheti Region takes its turn first, kicking off the Rtveli with mass picking events, grape pressing, feasting, song and dance.

The whole country is engulfed in a festive atmosphere during the harvest period, which lasts until early October in the east and continues well into November in the western regions of Racha, Imereti and Samegrelo.

For more information, read my full guide to Rtveli in Georgia, including a list of wineries that host special events and Rtveli wine tours from Tbilisi.

Tsinandali Festival

• Date: September 3-13, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Tsinandali, Kakheti

One of Georgia’s most prestigious music festivals, the Tsinandali Festival has been held at the historic Chavchavadze Estate outside Telavi in Kakheti every September since 2019.

For 10 days, outdoor stages and halls host a gamut of world-class classical musicians from around the globe as well as composers, conductors and scholars. The festival aims to ‘create opportunities for young musicians from the Caucasus to explore the world of music and advance their musical education’.

The festival is open to the public, with a lengthy program of concerts and other music and wine-themed events. Tickets are available online.

Oktoberfest Asureti

• Date: September 19-20 & 26-27 + October 3-4, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Asureti (south of Tbilisi)

Georgia’s very own Oktoberfest-style celebration takes place in Asureti, a village south of Tbilisi that was founded in the 19th century as a German colony (formerly Elisabethtal).

Drawing on this heritage, the festival combines beer, food, live music and community celebrations at the Bahnhof Station beerhall. While not affiliated with Munich’s Oktoberfest, it has become a popular autumn event and a distinctive addition to Georgia’s October calendar.

Purchase tickets on the Bahnhoff website.

Batumi Eagle Week

• Date: September 24-October 1, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Batumi & the Black Sea Coast

Timed to coincide with the peak of the autumn raptor migration, Batumi Eagle Week brings birdwatchers to the forests, wetlands and watchpoints around Batumi for eight days of organised birding.

Late September is prime time for Steppe Buzzards, with more than 100,000 raptors sometimes passing through in a single day. Several eagle species can also be spotted, including Lesser and Greater Spotted, Steppe, Imperial, Short-toed, and Booted Eagles.

The program includes sessions at the raptor watchpoints and guided excursions to birding hotspots including the Chorokhi Delta, Mtirala National Park and the Kolkheti wetlands.

More information on the Batumi Birding website.

Tbilisoba

• Date: October 3-4, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Tbilisi

Tbilisoba is the biggest event on Tbilisi’s cultural calendar. Held over two days, the festival celebrates the capital and Georgia’s autumn harvest with seasonal produce displays, food and handicraft markets, live entertainment, and children’s activities. It’s a modern, family-friendly city celebration rather than a traditional folk festival, though some events, such as Georgian wrestling, showcase local traditions.

The official festivities are concentrated in five areas of the city centre. In 2026, these were Orbeliani Square, Rike Park, Gudiashvili Square, Europe Square and Metekhi Bridge, and Abanotubani and Leghvtakhevi Gorge. You might also encounter smaller, informal neighbourhood celebrations, such as the street party held on Kosta Khetagurov Street in 2026.

Tbilisoba usually takes place on the first weekend of October, but the dates vary from year to year and are confirmed only a few weeks in advance. A detailed program is normally released the week of the festival.

Previous years:

• September 20-21, 2025
• October 5-6, 2024
• September 30-October 1, 2023
• October 1-2, 2022

Gurjaani Wine Festival

• Date: October 10, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Gurjaani, Kakheti

Drawing hundreds of exhibiting winemakers and huge crowds (more than 30,000 people!), the Gurjaani Wine Festival is the biggest celebration of wine in Georgia. It is held annually in October inside Akhtala Park in Gurjaani city, around 2 hours from Tbilisi. A free shuttle service between Tbilisi and the festival venue is provided.

As well as wine, this festival boasts the biggest outdoor BBQ you have ever seen. Dozens of people set up their grills and cook mtsvadi skewers over charcoal – it is a phenomenal sight. Be sure to try a glass or two produced by Bolero, Georgia’s biggest wine factory which is located near Gurjaani.

Find more information on the Gurjaani Wine Festival website.

Tushetian Guda Cheese Festival

• Date: October 11, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Kvemo Alvani

If you fancy yourself a wine and cheese weekend, the Tushetian Guda Cheese Festival normally takes place in Kakheti on the day after the Gurjaani Wine Festival. It is held in Kvemo Alvani, the town where many Tush families spend their winters.

The free program includes a farmers’ market, Tushetian cuisine masterclasses, folklore performances, traditional Tushetian games, and more.

Find full details on the Guda Cheese Festival Facebook Page.

Svetitskhovloba (Mtskhetoba)

• Date: October 14, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Mtskheta

Svetitskhovloba (Mtskhetoba) is held in honour of Georgia’s former capital, Mtskheta, every year on October 14. It is an official public holiday in Georgia. Festivities take place on the streets of Mtskheta and centre on the 11th-century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.

Mtskhetoba has a more reverent tone compared to some other Georgian festivals of the same ilk. As part of the event, the Catholicos-Patriarch hosts a ceremony for pilgrims and a mass-baptism. Song and dance performances and a food market are staged in the square outside the cathedral.

Be warned that traffic in Mtskheta, and in and out of Tbilisi in the surrounding area, is absolute mayhem on this day.

The Tusheti Transhumance

• Date: Mid October, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Tusheti to the Alazani Valley & Vashlovani

What goes up must come down. In preparation for winter, Tushetian shepherds travel back down into the Alazani Valley to wait out the colder months, bringing their thousands-strong flocks of livestock with them.

For the Tush community, this is an auspicious time of year steeped in tradition. If you’re lucky enough to be in the area, you can stand back and witness the spectacular mass migration like I did last year.

Tbilisi Book Days

• Date: October 30-November 1, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Tbilisi

The Tbilisi Book Days Festival is one of the city’s biggest literary events, bringing together readers, writers, publishers and illustrators for a lively celebration of books and ideas. Each year, the festival combines large-scale book fairs with talks, presentations, signings and children’s activities.

In 2025, events were held at ExpoGeorgia over a long weekend.

For reference, see the 2025 Event Page.

Tbilisi EthnoFest

• Date: Not held in 2026
• Location: Tbilisi

Held biannually at Expo Tbilisi, the Tbilisi International Summit of Crafts and Design (AKA Ethno Fest) is a celebration of Georgian handicrafts. Makers, designers and retailers gather for three days of exhibitions, talks and festivities, with a big maker’s market where you can purchase beautiful items direct from the source.

The last edition of the festival last took place on October 11-13, 2024. Follow the Ethno Fest Facebook Page for announcements.

Feast of the 100,000 Holy Martyrs of Tbilisi

• Date: November 13, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Tbilisi

One of the Orthodox Church’s most important Feast Days and impressive spectacles, the Day of the 100,000 Holy Martyrs commemorates those who lost their lives safeguarding Tbilisi from the Persian invasion of 1227.

A special open-air liturgy led by the Patriarch of Georgia is held on Metekhi Bridge in the Old Town. Thousands of people pile onto the bridge to pay their respects – the crowd is always huge, and the crush of people can be quite intimidating. You will also see people throwing flowers into the Mtkvari to honour the martyrs who were tossed into the river.

Gandagana

• Date: November 14-15, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Batumi

Gandagana takes its name from a traditional Adjarian dance. Lasting for two days, this festival is a tribute to rural tourism and the highlands, and aims to recreate a village atmosphere in the heart of Batumi city.

Five Adjarian hamlets – Kobuleti, Khelvachauri, Keda, Shauhevi and Khulo – are showcased, with vibrant displays of regional food, wine and produce, song, dance and costume.

Mandarinoba (Mandarin Fest)

• Date: November 21, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Tsikhisdziri

Mandarins are a way of life in Western Georgia, particularly along the Black Sea Coast. On the heels of winter, the tangerine harvest takes over the region and you will see citrus of all shapes and sizes slowly filter its way into the country’s marketplaces.

For the past couple of years, Castello Mare Hotel in Tsikhisdziri (near Kobuleti) has hosted a Mandarin Fest to celebrate the ritual of the harvest. The day features fruit picking, Georgian dance recitals, and a showcase of delicious citrus-based products including cakes and jams.

Full details on the 2026 event page.

Amerimeri Natural Wine Festival

• Date: December 5, 2026 (confirmed)
• Location: Tskaltubo

Amerimeri is a special wine festival dedicated to vineyards and vintners in Imereti, Georgia’s second-biggest wine region after Kakheti. It is organised by the Natural Wine Association and exclusively showcases vintners who use organic methods.

If you happen to be visiting Kutaisi at the start of winter, it’s well worth the short detour to Tskaltubo. The venue, Legends Spa Resort in Tskaltubo, is quite phenomenal. This is a ticketed, all-you-can-drink event – entrance normally costs 20 GEL.

Tbilisi New Year / Christmas village

• Date: December 12, 2026 – January 14, 2027 (TBC)
• Location: Tbilisi

The festival season typically lasts for a whole month in Georgia, commencing with the inauguration of the Tbilisi Christmas Tree and lighting of illuminations in mid December, and ending with Orthodox Epiphany in the middle of January.

During this period, festive markets spring up around the city. The official Tbilisi Christmas Village, organised by city, was staged in First Republic Square last year, while other privately organised food, handicraft and gift markets were held on various dates throughout December.

The dates for the Christmas Markets change every year – see my full guide to celebrating Christmas in Tbilisi for all the latest info.

New Year’s Eve

• Date: December 31, 2026 (definitely confirmed!)
• Location: Tbilisi & nation-wide

The night of December 31 is the biggest celebration on Georgia’s Christmas calendar, superseding Orthodox Christmas. The celebration culminates with a raucous NYE fireworks display that lasts all night long.

If you like to party, Tbilisi is the best place to ring in the New Year, with the largest and loudest fireworks extravaganza (managed by everyday Tbilisians who set off crackers from street corners, parks and apartment balconies), a concert and other events. Smaller celebrations are held in Batumi, Kutaisi, Gudauri, and beyond.

Festivals in Georgia by genre

Festivals in Georgia by location

Seasonal travel highlights in Georgia

These aren’t calendar events, but seasonal windows that define the best times to travel in Georgia if you’re interested in things such as hiking, wine, wildlife or the arts.

March-May: Spring bloom & cultural season

Wildflowers emerge across the lowlands and mountain regions, with mild temperatures ideal for sightseeing and photography. This period also includes major spring religious observances, including Orthodox Easter, with its processions and traditions.

April-October: Birdwatching season in Javakheti

Wetlands and lakes in southern Georgia attract migratory birds in both spring and autumn, making this one of the country’s best long-duration wildlife seasons. Visit between April and October for your chance to see some of the park’s 140 species of nesting and migratory birds, including flamingos (sadly not the pink kind, though!).

May-June: New wine & wine festival season
This is when winemakers open their qvevri and bottles from the previous harvest, coinciding with a wave of wine festivals and tastings in and around Tbilisi.

Late May-October: Hiking season in the Greater Caucasus

As snow clears from alpine passes, trekking routes in regions such as Juta Valley, Svaneti and Tusheti gradually open up. July to September generally offers the most reliable conditions.

June–August: Highland travel & summer festival season

Summer brings reliable access to Georgia’s mountain regions including Tusheti, Khevsureti and Svaneti, with highland villages coming alive for traditional festivals, cultural celebrations and outdoor events set against alpine landscapes.

August-October: Autumn raptor migration in Adjara

One of Europe’s most important raptor migration corridors centres around Batumi and the Black Sea Coast, with thousands of birds passing overhead during peak weeks.

Mid September: Velvet season on the Black Sea coast

The weeks after school resumes are a favourite time for coastal travel, with warm sea temperatures, fewer crowds and gentler weather compared to high summer.

September-November: Rtveli wine harvest across Georgia

The traditional wine harvest takes place nationwide, rolling out east to west from the last week of August until November. Expect harvest rituals, supra feasts and hands-on winemaking experiences.

September-December: Theatre & arts season in Tbilisi

Autumn/winter is peak cultural season in the capital. Georgia’s national ballet, Sukhishvili, normally returns to Tbilisi in September for a limited run of autumn shows at their outdoor stage, Takara. Other events include: Autumn Tbilisi at the Djansug Kakhidze Music Centre with symphonic, big band and orchestral performances (late September); the International Festival of Literature (September); Tbilisi Baroque Festival (October); the International Festival of Theatre (September/October); and the Tbilisi International Film Festival (November/December). Use the TKT.ge website to find events and buy tickets online.

October-November: Autumn colours season

Forests and mountain landscapes take on rich autumn hues, particularly in Borjomi, the Greater Caucasus, and forested national parks.

December-January: Christmas & New Year festive season

Georgia marks the winter holidays with markets, decorations, church celebrations and public festivities.

Late December-March: Winter sports season at Georgia’s ski resorts

Though the dates change slightly every year depending on snowfall, you can count on Georgia’s ski resorts to turn their chair lifts on by the end of December. The skiing and snowboarding season is in full swing by the end of January and lasts until March or April depending on the location. For the best snow coverage, I recommend holding off until February.