21 Events & Festivals in Tbilisi to Plan Your Trip Around

If you’re planning a trip and want to experience the city beyond the usual sightseeing, timing your visit around festivals in Tbilisi can add a completely different layer to your stay.

From wine and food festivals to book fairs, concerts, and cultural gatherings, Tbilisi hosts events throughout the year that are easy to join, even if you’re only in the city for a few days.

I’ve put this guide together to help you figure out what’s on when you’re in town, without chasing all over the internet.

Below, you’ll find the most consistent festivals and events in Tbilisi, grouped by type, with practical notes on when they usually happen, and what to expect—so you can plan around or simply stumble into something interesting while exploring the city.

How Tbilisi festivals work

Most of these events outlined here are annual and follow a similar rhythm each year, though exact dates can shift slightly. Festivals are typically scheduled around weekends and public holidays to attract more crowds and last 2-4 days. Some of them start on Thursdays or Fridays and continue through the weekend.

Many events in Tbilisi are free, especially food markets, some cultural festivals, and outdoor celebrations. Mtatsminda Park, Expo Georgia, and the Botanical Garden are the most popular venues to organize and host a large share of festivals, followed by STALL and a few other smaller initiatives.

Those festivals that require an entrance fee usually offer early-bird discounts and are sold on local ticketing websites, such as TKT.ge or Biletebi.ge. Some events also sell tickets at the door, but they are usually more expensive than those bought in advance.

Major annual festivals in Tbilisi

Tbilisoba

• 📅 Date: First weekend in October
• 📍 Location: Old Town, Rike Park, Orbeliani Square
• 🎟️ Entrance: FREE

Tbilisoba is the city’s biggest celebration and one of those weekends when Tbilisi feels fully turned outward.

Usually held in the first weekend of October, this festival brings together food stalls, wine producers, folk performances, artisans selling handmade products that can easily double as your Georgian souvenir, concerts, regional displays, and farmers bringing their homemade produce to a few neighborhoods.

The main action, with big decorations, ornaments, and concerts, is often centered on Abanotubani (Old Tbilisi), Rike Park, and Orbeliani Square.

Expect lots of crowds, especially from the afternoon onwards. Locals treat it as a proper city holiday, so you’ll see families wandering between stalls, people queuing for churchkhela or grilled mtsvadi, and simply enjoying the weekend. It’s one of those loud, busy, and chaotic events in Tbilisi, but a lot of fun for visitors to have a glimpse of local celebrations.

If you’re planning a trip in autumn in Tbilisi, Tbilisoba is an easy one to add to your itinerary. The weather is usually mild, the city is covered in fall foliage, and the long daylight still allows you to enjoy wandering the iconic Tbilisi landmarks and sights.

New Wine Festival

• 📅 Date: Second weekend in May
• 📍 Location: Mtatsminda Park
• 🎟️ Entrance: FREE
• 🔗 More info: Facebook page

The New Wine Festival is one of the most anticipated Tbilisi events of the year, especially if you’re curious about Georgian wine.

Held in spring, this open-air festival brings together dozens of small and medium wineries from across the country, many of whom pour wines you won’t easily find in shops or restaurants.

The focus here is on all kinds of wine, whether made in qvevri, stainless-steel tanks, small or large production, mass factories, or family wineries. You can walk from table to table, talk directly to winemakers, taste different styles, and buy bottles on the spot. The atmosphere is social rather than formal, making it approachable even if you’re not a wine expert.

I often recommend timing a trip around this festival because spring in Tbilisi is already pleasant, and the event itself gives you a quick overview of Georgia’s wine scene.

If wine is a big part of your travel plans, there are plenty of other wine festivals in Tbilisi and across Georgia worth checking out or planning your trip around.

Tbilisi Open Air Festival

• 📅 Date: Mid-June
• 📍 Location: Lisi Wanderland
• 🎟️ Entrance: Ticketed
• 🔗 More info: Facebook page 

Tbilisi Open Air is the largest music festival in Tbilisi and a clear highlight of the summer calendar. Usually held in mid-June, it brings international and local artists together for three days of live music, food trucks, and open-air stages in an open field close to Lisi Lake.

The festival starts in the afternoon, so people come early, stay late, and treat it as a full-day experience in nature rather than just a single concert. Even if you’re not familiar with all the artists, the atmosphere alone makes it worth checking out. 

Moreover, you might even like some modern Georgian bands that also have a few English-language songs, such as LOUDSpeakers or Belforf Falls.

Art Gene Folk Music Festival

• 📅 Date: July (dates vary each year slightly)
• 📍 Location: Ethnographic Museum of Tbilisi
• 🎟️ Entrance: Ticketed
• 🔗 More info: Facebook page | Website

Art Gene is one of the most important folk and traditional music festivals in Georgia. Held over several summer evenings, it brings together folk ensembles, polyphonic singers, dancers, and craftspeople from different regions, turning the Ethnographic Museum into a living showcase of Georgian traditions.

What makes Art Gene special is its setting and pace. Performances mainly take place on the open-air stage, but other mini-arrangements and concerts are spread across the museum’s vast space. 

It never feels rushed or overcrowded, and the audience is a mix of locals and visitors who are genuinely interested in traditional culture.

Tbilisi Jazz Festival

• 📅 Date: Early May
• 📍 Location: Varies each year
• 🎟️ Entrance: Ticketed
• 🔗 More info: Facebook page

Tbilisi Jazz Festival has been part of the city’s cultural calendar for decades and remains one of the most established music events in Tbilisi.

Each year, it brings internationally known jazz musicians of various genres and usually mixes classic jazz, contemporary interpretations, and experimental sounds. Concerts are well organized, and the vibe is lively.

If you love jazz and are in Tbilisi during spring, attending one of the concerts, or all, can be a fun way to spend an evening here.

ZEG Storytelling Festival

• 📅 Date: June 19-21, 2026 (Confirmed)
• 📍 Location: Honore Restaurant
• 🎟️ Entrance: Ticketed
• 🔗 More info: Facebook page | Website

ZEG is a relatively new festival, but it has quickly become one of the most talked-about creative gatherings in the city. Focused on storytelling in its broadest sense, the festival brings together journalists, writers, filmmakers, photographers, activists, and creatives from Georgia and abroad.

Talks, panels, film screenings, and workshops take place across multiple rooms, often spilling into informal discussions long after sessions end. The topics range from media and culture to social change and personal narratives, making it engaging even if you don’t work in a creative field.

If you’re interested in ideas, conversations, and creative exchange rather than performances alone, this festival offers a different but very rewarding way to experience the city.

International Film Festival

• 📅 Date: Late November or early December
• 📍 Location: Amirani Cinema
• 🎟️ Entrance: Ticketed
• 🔗 More info: Facebook page

Tbilisi International Film Festival is one of the city’s longest-running cultural events and an important platform for both Georgian and international cinema. Each year, the festival presents a curated selection of European and international films alongside a strong lineup of new Georgian productions.

The program is traditionally divided into thematic sections that focus on different national cinemas and perspectives, while a dedicated Georgian Panorama highlights recent local feature films and documentaries. 

Screenings are often accompanied by discussions and jury selections that recognize standout Georgian work across fiction and documentary categories.

While the scale of the festival can vary from year to year, its focus remains consistent: artistic freedom, human stories, and socially engaged filmmaking. This is a good opportunity to experience cinema in a local context rather than just through commercial releases.

Moreover, it works particularly well for early winter visits when evenings are cooler, it gets dark earlier, and you need more indoor activities. 

Tbilisi International Festival of Theatre

• 📅 Date: From late September to mid-October
• 📍 Location: Various theaters across Tbilisi
• 🎟️ Entrance: Ticketed
• 🔗 More info: Facebook page | Website

The Tbilisi International Festival of Theatre brings together international and local productions, turning the city’s theaters into busy cultural hubs for several weeks. 

The program usually includes contemporary plays, experimental performances, and reinterpretations of classical works, often staged in both traditional theaters and alternative spaces.

You don’t need to understand Georgian to enjoy many of the performances, as physical theater, visual storytelling, and international productions play a big role. Some shows are subtitled, while others rely more on movement and staging.

Europe Days

• 📅 Date: May (usually within the first week or so)
• 📍 Location: Expo Georgia
• 🎟️ Entrance: FREE
• 🔗 More info: Facebook page | Website

Europe Days in Tbilisi is a large, open-format public festival that focuses on culture, education, dialogue, and everyday connections between Georgia and European countries. It’s set up as a full-day event with multiple pavilions and themed spaces you can move through at your own pace.

You can explore country stands representing EU member states, learn about education programs, youth initiatives, development projects, and cultural exchanges, and join talks or discussions led by speakers from Georgia and Europe.

There are also exhibitions, interactive installations, and activities for both adults and kids, making it an easy stop if you’re traveling as a family.

Food and crafts are a big part of the day, with regional Georgian products and artisan stalls set up outdoors, where you can learn more about the country’s farm produce or even get some of the unique Georgian souvenirs to take home.

Christmas Markets in Tbilisi

• 📅 Date: Mid-December to early January
• 📍 Location: Various locations across the city
• 🎟️ Entrance: FREE
• 🔗 More info: My blog post

Christmas markets and New Year celebrations are among the most anticipated major annual Tbilisi events, especially for travelers visiting toward the end of the year.

From mid-December onward, festive villages, seasonal markets, and light installations appear across the city, creating a completely different atmosphere from the rest of the year.

What you’ll find at these markets goes well beyond food stalls. There are local craft stands, mulled wine and seasonal sweets, small concerts, kids’ activities, and pop-up performances that make it easy to spend an evening without a plan.

Locations and layouts change slightly every year, so it’s worth checking my Christmas in Tbilisi guide for exact locations, as well as Georgia’s quirky Christmas and New Year customs and traditions.

Winter is also a great time to experience the city at a slower pace, with museums, cafés, and wine bars becoming natural extensions of the festive program. If you’re planning a cold-season visit, I recommend pairing the markets with my winter in Tbilisi guide for practical tips and seasonal ideas.

Drink & food festivals in Tbilisi

Various wine events in Tbilisi

• 📅 Date: Throughout the year
• 📍 Location: Various places across Tbilisi
• 🎟️ Entrance: FREE and ticketed
• 🔗 More info: My blog post

From late spring, the city slips into wine mode, and you’ll notice how often tastings, pop-ups, and open-air festivals start appearing on the calendar. 

The month of May usually hosts several wine-focused gatherings around the city. These range from natural wine festivals and small-producer showcases to larger public tastings where dozens of wineries pour side by side.

What I like about these Tbilisi events is how relaxed they are, where you don’t need prior knowledge, although it will come in handy if you familiarize yourself a bit with Georgian wine. Winemakers are friendly and open to talking about their products and methods.

Expect to try wines from different regions in one afternoon, but pace yourself – pours are big and generous. Take breaks in between, fill your stomach with local food from the stalls, and then continue.

Because there are so many wine festivals throughout the year—and they differ significantly in style and scale—I’ve put together a separate, detailed guide to Wine Festivals in Georgia, covering each one.

Georgian Bread Festival

• 📅 Date: End of September
• 📍 Location: Tbilisi Botanical Garden
• 🎟️ Entrance: FREE, but you pay an entrance fee to the Botanical Garden (4 GEL)
• 🔗 More info: Facebook page

The Georgian Bread Festival, held at the Botanical Garden, focuses on Georgia’s long relationship with grain, wheat, and bread-making traditions, which were inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2025. The festival combines food, history, and hands-on experiences.

You can explore displays of Georgian endemic wheat varieties, learn how bread-making evolved across different regions, and see old photographs and traditional clothing linked to bread culture. 

There’s always a working bakery on-site, so the smell of freshly baked tone bread follows you around the garden.

Tastings are a big part of the festival, with a variety of Georgian breads, wines, and regional specialties available throughout the day.

Cheese Festival

• 📅 Date: Usually held in early June
• 📍 Location: Mtatsminda Park, central square
• 🎟️ Entrance: FREE
• 🔗 More info: Facebook page

The Cheese Festival at Mtatsminda Park is a favorite among locals, and for good reason. Set high above the city, it brings together cheese producers from different regions of Georgia, offering a chance to taste and buy a wide range of styles—from familiar classics to more experimental varieties you won’t easily find elsewhere.

It focuses on fresh cheeses and open-air browsing, with music playing in the background and plenty of space to move between stalls. 

In autumn, the festival is sometimes held as a cheese-and-hot-drinks edition, with producers returning with fondue-style dishes, mulled wine, and warming drinks suited to cooler weather.

Tbilisi Coffee Festival

• 📅 Date: Late September or early October
• 📍 Location: Venue changes
• 🎟️ Entrance: Ticketed
• 🔗 More info: Facebook page

The Tbilisi Coffee Festival is a gathering place for everyone interested in coffee, from casual drinkers to industry professionals. It brings together local and international coffee brands, roasters, and equipment suppliers under one roof, many of which supply some of my favorite coffee places in Tbilisi.

It’s not a huge event, but the program is packed, going well beyond simple tastings. You can join cupping sessions, watch coffee championships, take part in workshops and masterclasses, or just spend time in the Roaster Village discovering different roasting styles.

Some vendors offer complimentary coffee, while others might charge a fee to taste.  Moreover, there’s a food court, music, and a kids’ area.

Beer Festival

• 📅 Date: Summer and autumn
• 📍 Location: Deda Ena Park
• 🎟️ Entrance: FREE
• 🔗 More info: Facebook page

The Beer Festival at Deda Ena Park takes place twice a year and has become one of the city’s most relaxed outdoor food-and-drink events. Both the summer and autumn editions follow a similar format, turning the park into a casual gathering spot focused on Georgian beer, street food, and live entertainment.

Expect a wide selection of beers from across Georgia, including both traditional styles and newer craft producers. The setup is informal, with plenty of space to move around, sit with friends, and take part in games or small activities happening throughout the day.

Music performances usually run alongside the tastings, giving the festival a laid-back, social feel.

Whiskey Festival

• 📅 Date: May 16-17, 2026 (Confirmed)
• 📍 Location: Sheraton Grand Metechi Palace
• 🎟️ Entrance: Ticketed
• 🔗 More info: Facebook page | Website

The Whiskey Festival is one of the more specialized Tbilisi festivals, bringing together whiskies, gins, brandies, and craft spirits from around the world. It’s designed as a full-day tasting experience, with visitors moving between pop-up bars, brand stands, and themed corners hosted by producers and distributors.

Alongside tastings, the festival usually includes masterclasses and guided sessions where experts talk through different styles, production methods, and tasting techniques.

There’s also a food court and music throughout the day. Some editions include a VIP area for those who want a quieter space and access to rarer bottles.

Ice Cream Festival

• 📅 Date: Mid-July
• 📍 Location: Mtatsminda Park, central square
• 🎟️ Entrance: FREE
• 🔗 More info: Facebook page

The Ice Cream Festival is one of those light, easy events that fit perfectly into your Tbilisi summer itinerary, especially on hot days when everything revolves around finding shade and something cold. 

For a day, the park’s central square fills with ice cream stands offering everything from classic scoops to more playful and seasonal flavors.

The festival usually attracts local ice cream brands alongside familiar favorites, making it a good chance to sample several styles in one place. 

There’s music, simple entertainment, and activities aimed at families, but you don’t need to plan around a schedule — it’s more of a drop-in event than a full-day commitment.

If you can’t make it to the festival, don’t worry, I’ve rounded up some of the best ice cream places in Tbilisi, for you to cool down.

Book & photography events in Tbilisi

Tbilisi Book Days

• 📅 Date: Mid-November
• 📍 Location: Expo Georgia
• 🎟️ Entrance: FREE
• 🔗 More info: Facebook page

Tbilisi Book Days is one of the most popular literary events and a favorite among locals. For three days, one of Expo Georgia’s pavilions becomes an ample book-focused space where publishing houses, bookstores, writers, and literary critics come together under one roof.

Although the main part of the exhibition is devoted to local publishing houses, you’ll also find English-language books, either about Georgia or from various English-language bookstores.  

You can browse new releases and take advantage of discounts that make it tempting to leave with a much heavier bag than planned.

Because it gets extremely busy, especially in the afternoon and on weekends, I prefer to go early in the morning as soon as the doors open, or on a workday, to avoid weekend crowds.

Tbilisi Book Fair

• 📅 Date: Mid-April
• 📍 Location: Expo Georgia
• 🎟️ Entrance: FREE
• 🔗 More info: Facebook page

The Tbilisi Book Fair is very similar to the above-mentioned festival, but held at a different time of the year. Here as well, the large and small publishers, independent bookstores, and cultural organizations present their books and catalogues.

And, like the other book festival in Tbilisi, this one also features English-language books, so it’s not catered only to locals.

Beyond browsing and buying books—often at discounts you won’t find elsewhere—the fair also includes artisanal and handmade thematic products that can easily become your Georgian souvenir to take back home.

KOLGA Photo Festival

• 📅 Date: Mid-May
• 📍 Location: Various galleries and venues across Tbilisi
• 🎟️ Entrance: FREE
• 🔗 More info: Facebook page | Website

KOLGA Photo Festival is one of the longest-running photography events in the region and a major platform for both Georgian and international photographers. Since the early 2000s, it has brought world-class exhibitions to Tbilisi while also supporting emerging local artists.

The festival usually unfolds as a photo week, with exhibitions spread across different venues in the city. Alongside the exhibitions, there are workshops, lectures, portfolio reviews, and discussions that focus on both contemporary and classical photography.

An international photo competition and the publication of an annual photo album are also key parts of the program.

KOLGA feels less like a single event and more like a city-wide cultural moment. Whether you’re deeply interested in photography or just enjoy exhibitions, it’s worth popping into some of the galleries if you are in town during late spring.

Cultural & international festivals in Tbilisi

Sakura Blossom Days

• 📅 Date: Typically early April, but it depends on the weather conditions
• 📍 Location: Tbilisi Botanical Garden
• 🎟️ Entrance: FREE, but you pay an entrance fee to the Botanical Garden (4 GEL)
• 🔗 More info: Facebook page

Sakura Blossom Days marks the unofficial start of the festival season in Tbilisi and celebrates the brief but beautiful cherry blossom season in the Botanical Garden. The event is inspired by Japanese spring traditions and brings a calm, cultural atmosphere to the city’s most scenic green spaces.

The program usually includes a traditional Japanese tea ceremony led by a guest tea master from Japan, alongside food-related activities such as sushi workshops and tastings. You can browse Japanese-themed items, manga, and small cultural displays, or simply walk through the garden while the cherry trees are in bloom.

If you are in Tbilisi in spring, I recommend checking it out, especially if the weather is nice and warm. Then you can continue wandering through Old Town and Abanotubani, taking in its most iconic landmarks. Find inspiration for your itinerary in my ultimate guide to Tbilisi things to do.

Where to check upcoming events in Tbilisi

If you’re looking for a reliable, all-in-one Tbilisi event calendar, unfortunately, that still doesn’t really exist. Over the years, several platforms have tried to centralize events in the city, but none have fully stuck. In practice, locals and visitors alike rely on a mix of social media, venue pages, and ticketing platforms to find out what’s on.

Facebook event pages are by far the most convenient source. Most festivals and public events are announced there first, often only a few weeks (or even days) in advance. For English-language and expat-focused listings, the Tbilisi Social Calendar and Tbilisi Events in English Facebook groups are handy.

Many people also follow event-focused Instagram accounts. The Tbilisi Expat Community posts a daily or weekly events overview, which is handy if you don’t want to scroll through dozens of Facebook posts.

For ticketed festivals and concerts, locals usually search directly on TKT.ge and Biletebi.ge. And for recurring festivals, it’s always worth checking the official Facebook pages of major venues like STALL, Expo Georgia, Mtatsminda Park, Tbilisi Botanical Garden, or places like Fabrika Tbilisi, which often announce events independently.

Tips for visiting festivals in Tbilisi

Tickets vs free entry

A large number of festivals in Tbilisi are free to enter, especially food markets, cultural festivals, and outdoor events. Ticketed festivals usually involve concerts, large-scale music events, or specialty tastings. If an event is ticketed, it’s best to buy in advance through official platforms like TKT.ge or Biletebi.ge, as tickets at the door aren’t always guaranteed or can be more expensive.

Best time to visit

I usually go as early as possible, especially to book fairs and food and drink festivals. Arriving early means fewer crowds, more space to move between stalls, and a calmer atmosphere overall. By late afternoon or on weekends, popular festivals can get crowded fast.

Transport tips

Most festivals mentioned in this guide are easy to reach by public transport or even on foot, depending on where you’re staying.

The main exception is Tbilisi Open Air, which takes place outside regular public transport coverage. While organizers usually provide shuttle buses, they tend to be very crowded.

Many locals opt for taxis instead, and it’s best to arrive in the late afternoon to avoid the worst traffic. Even then, delays are common—last year, it took us over an hour by taxi just to reach the entrance.

Weather considerations

Most festivals are outdoors, so the weather can play a big role. In summer, heat and sun exposure are the main issues—shade, water, and comfortable shoes make a big difference. In spring and autumn, evenings can cool down quickly, even after warm days, so it’s worth bringing an extra layer if you plan to stay late.