Festivals in Georgia: Top 15 Cultural Celebrations You Must Experience

Georgia is a country known for its ancient traditions, warm hospitality, and vibrant cultural celebrations. With influences from Christianity, folk heritage, wine culture, and centuries of regional customs, the festivals in Georgia offer rich and colorful experiences. 

This article highlights the 15 best festivals in Georgia, explaining what each festival is, why it matters, when it is celebrated, and what you can experience during your visit.

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Top 15 Festivals in Georgia You Must Experience

1. Tbilisoba (Festival of Tbilisi)

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Tbilisoba celebrates the history, culture, and diverse heritage of Tbilisi. The entire capital transforms into an open-air festival with concerts, folk shows, markets, wine areas, and city-wide celebrations. It highlights the multicultural identity of Georgia’s capital.

When It’s Celebrated:

In October, usually on the first or second weekend.

Why It’s Celebrated:

To honor Tbilisi’s founding, history, cultural diversity, and community traditions.

Highlights of the Festival:

• Large concerts across Rike Park, Old Tbilisi, and Abanotubani.
• Traditional Georgian dance, polyphonic singing, and live theatre performances.
• Wine tasting zones featuring Kakhetian, Kartlian, and Imeretian wines.
• Food stalls serving khachapuri, mtsvadi (bbq), churchkhela, and regional dishes.

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2. Alaverdoba

Alaverdoba is an ancient religious and cultural festival held in the Kakheti region. Communities gather at Alaverdi Cathedral for prayers, feasts, and wine sharing. The festival combines Christian traditions with local harvest rituals.

When It’s Celebrated:

In late September, during the grape harvest season.

Why It’s Celebrated:

To honor St. Joseph Alaverdeli, one of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers, and to celebrate regional harvest traditions.

Highlights of the Festival:

• Religious ceremonies and blessings are held inside Alaverdi Cathedral.
• Community feasts featuring traditional Kakhetian dishes like chakapuli, khashlama, and churchkhela.
• Pilgrims visiting nearby monasteries and heritage sites.

3. Rtveli (Wine Harvest Festival)

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Rtveli is Georgia’s traditional grape harvest festival, celebrated across wine regions with grape picking, feasts, and community gatherings. It reflects Georgia’s 8,000-year-old winemaking heritage and is one of the country’s most important cultural events.

When It’s Celebrated:

From September to October, depending on the grape harvest time.

Why It’s Celebrated:

To mark the annual grape harvest and honor Georgia’s historic winemaking traditions.

Highlights of the Festival:

• Grape picking in vineyards across Kakheti, Kartli, Imereti, Racha, and Adjara.
• Traditional grape pressing in qvevri (clay wine pots).
• Feasts (supra) with dishes like mtsvadi, khachapuri, pkhali, and local cheeses.
• Toasting rituals led by the Tamada (toastmaster).

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4. Orthodox Christmas

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Orthodox Christmas in Georgia follows ancient Christian traditions passed down for centuries. Churches hold midnight services, families gather for festive meals, and the day is marked by peace, charity, and spiritual reflection.

When It’s Celebrated:

On 7 January, according to the Julian calendar.

Why It’s Celebrated:

To commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, according to Eastern Orthodox tradition.

Highlights of the Festival:

• Midnight liturgy and candlelit services in major churches such as Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba) and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.
• The Alilo procession, where children and adults walk through streets singing hymns and collecting gifts for charity.
• Traditional dishes like Satsivi, Gozinaki (honey and walnut brittle), churchkhela, and roasted meats.
• Families gather after church for festive meals and blessings.
• Icon offerings, prayers, and lighting candles in cathedrals and monasteries.

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5. Orthodox Easter

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Orthodox Easter is the most important Christian festival in Georgia. It honors the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is observed with fasting, midnight church services, rituals, and family gatherings rich with tradition.

When It’s Celebrated:

In April (date varies each year according to the Orthodox calendar).

Why It’s Celebrated:

To commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the victory of life over death.

Highlights of the Festival:

• Midnight liturgy in major cathedrals such as Sameba, Svetitskhoveli, and Gelati.
• Candle processions symbolize light, hope, and renewal.
• Blessing of Easter baskets filled with paska (Easter bread), red-dyed eggs, wine, and traditional dishes.
• Families visit cemeteries on Easter Monday (Chreli Shoba) to honor ancestors.
• Traditional foods like chakapuli, roast lamb, paska bread, and Gozinaki.
• Red eggs are used in the “egg cracking” tradition (symbolizing Christ’s resurrection).

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6. Batumi Black Sea Jazz Festival

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The Batumi Black Sea Jazz Festival is one of Georgia’s biggest international music events, bringing global jazz, soul, funk, and blues artists to the Black Sea coast. The festival turns Batumi into a major cultural hub every summer.

When It’s Celebrated:

In July, held annually along Batumi’s seaside venues.

Why It’s Celebrated:

To promote international music culture and position Batumi as a leading performance destination.

Highlights of the Festival:

• Live performances by world-renowned jazz, blues, and soul musicians.
• Concerts in open-air stages, beachfront arenas, and Batumi concert halls.
• Food and beverage stalls offering Black Sea cuisine and summer treats.
• After-parties, DJ nights, and cultural events across Batumi Boulevard.

7. Art-Gene Festival

Art-Gene Festival is a nationwide cultural celebration that preserves Georgia’s folk heritage. It starts with regional tours in villages and towns and ends with a large festival in Tbilisi. It showcases traditional music, crafts, food, and customs from across the country.

When It’s Celebrated:

In July, events are held throughout the month.

Why It’s Celebrated:

To promote and preserve Georgia’s regional folk traditions, crafts, and performing arts.

Highlights of the Festival:

• Folk performances featuring Georgian polyphonic singing and traditional dances.
• Regional exhibitions displaying crafts, costumes, instruments, and local art.
• Open-air concerts at Tbilisi Ethnographic Museum, the festival’s main venue.

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8. Tamada Festival (Toastmaster Festival)

The Tamada Festival celebrates Georgia’s ancient tradition of the toastmaster, known as the Tamada, who leads feasts, gives symbolic toasts, and guides social rituals. The festival highlights the skills of storytelling, poetry, humor, and wine etiquette central to Georgian culture.

When It’s Celebrated:

In early June, held annually in wine regions and cultural centers.

Why It’s Celebrated:

To honor Georgia’s traditional art of toasting and the cultural role of the Tamada in Georgian social life.

Highlights of the Festival:

• Performances by master Tamadas delivering traditional and modern toasts.
• Wine tasting sessions featuring regional varieties like Saperavi, Kisi, Rkatsiteli, and Tsolikouri.

9. Mtskhetoba (Svetitskhovloba)

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Mtskhetoba, also known as Svetitskhovloba, is a major religious festival honoring the ancient capital of Mtskheta and the sacred Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. It brings together pilgrims, clergy, and visitors for ceremonies celebrating Georgia’s spiritual heritage.

When It’s Celebrated:

In October, on dates set by the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Why It’s Celebrated:

To commemorate the religious significance of Mtskheta and honor the relics believed to be housed in Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.

Highlights of the Festival:

• Religious processions around Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Pilgrimage from nearby regions to Mtskheta for prayers and offerings.
• Exhibitions showcasing Mtskheta’s ancient Christian history.
• Food stalls offering regional dishes from Kartli and the surrounding areas.

10. New Wine Festival

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The New Wine Festival celebrates Georgia’s newly produced wines from the latest harvest. Wineries from every region gather in Tbilisi to showcase young wines, traditional qvevri varieties, and small-batch artisanal labels.

When It’s Celebrated:

In May, held annually in Tbilisi.

Why It’s Celebrated:

To introduce the year’s new wines and strengthen Georgia’s winemaking identity.

Highlights of the Festival:

• Wine tasting booths featuring hundreds of wineries from Kakheti, Kartli, Imereti, Racha, and Adjara.
• Demonstrations of qvevri wine production and Georgian fermentation methods.
• Meetings with winemakers, vineyard owners, and wine experts.
• Open-air concerts, folk performances, and cultural shows.
• Food stalls serving khinkali, mtsvadi, mchadi, local cheeses, and snacks that pair with wine.
• Special sections dedicated to natural wines and family-owned vineyards.
• Opportunity to taste young wines unavailable outside Georgia.

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11. Tbilisi International Film Festival

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The Tbilisi International Film Festival is a major cultural event showcasing Georgian and global cinema. It brings filmmakers, directors, actors, and cinema lovers together for screenings, discussions, and awards.

When It’s Celebrated:

In late November or early December each year.

Why It’s Celebrated:

To promote Georgian cinema, support emerging filmmakers, and encourage international cultural exchange.

Highlights of the Festival:

• Screenings of Georgian feature films, documentaries, and short films.
• International film screenings representing Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
• Q&A sessions, masterclasses, and panel discussions with directors and actors.
• Award ceremonies honoring outstanding films and talent.
• Special programs dedicated to debut filmmakers and student projects.
• Networking events for producers, writers, and industry professionals.

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12. Chakvi Tea Festival

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The Chakvi Tea Festival celebrates Georgia’s tea-growing heritage, especially in the Adjara region, where the country’s first tea plantations were established. The festival highlights tea production, tasting traditions, and local agricultural culture.

When It’s Celebrated:

In summer, usually between July and August.

Why It’s Celebrated:

To honor Chakvi’s historic role in Georgian tea cultivation and promote local tea culture.

Highlights of the Festival:

• Tea-tasting stands featuring black, green, herbal, and specialty Georgian teas.
• Demonstrations of traditional tea-picking and drying techniques.
• Guided tours of Chakvi’s historic tea plantations and tea factories.
• Workshops on tea blending, brewing methods, and tea culture.

13. Shepherd’s Day (Tushuri Festival)

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Shepherd’s Day, also called the Tushuri Festival, honors the pastoral traditions of Georgia’s mountain shepherds, especially from the Tusheti and Kakheti regions. It highlights livestock culture, seasonal migration customs, and rural community life.

When It’s Celebrated:

In May or June, depending on regional schedules.

Why It’s Celebrated:

To celebrate Georgia’s mountain shepherd heritage and the traditional lifestyle linked to livestock and transhumance.

Highlights of the Festival:

• Traditional horse races featuring local riders from Tusheti.
• Shepherd competitions such as sheep shearing, herding skills, and tool displays.
• Folk music, polyphonic singing, and dance performances are unique to mountain regions.
• Exhibitions showcasing shepherd tools, wool crafts, and traditional clothing.
• Tasting of mountain dishes like khavitsi, kotori, and Tushetian guda cheese.

14. Tushetoba

Tushetoba is a major cultural festival celebrating the heritage of the remote Tusheti region. It brings together local families, returning migrants, and visitors to honor traditional mountain customs, music, food, and community life.

When It’s Celebrated:

In August, during the summer season, when roads to Tusheti are open.

Why It’s Celebrated:

To preserve and showcase Tusheti’s ancient traditions, pastoral lifestyle, and highland identity.

Highlights of the Festival:

• Traditional dances, polyphonic singing, and live folk performances.
• Competitions such as horse racing, wrestling, and archery, reflecting Tushetian culture.
• Tastings of regional foods, including guda cheese, khavitsi, and mountain honey.
• Exhibitions of handmade crafts like wool clothing, leatherwork, and wooden tools.
• Community rituals and blessings are held at historic shrines and towers.
• Storytelling sessions and cultural demonstrations by local elders.

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15. Svanetoba

Svanetoba is a regional cultural festival celebrating the heritage of Svaneti, known for its medieval towers, mountain traditions, and strong historical identity. The festival honors local customs through performances, feasts, and community gatherings.

When It’s Celebrated:

In summer, typically between July and August.

Why It’s Celebrated:

To preserve Svaneti’s cultural traditions and unite local communities through shared celebrations.

Highlights of the Festival:

• Performances of Svan dances, polyphonic singing, and folk music.
• Traditional sports competitions include horse racing, wrestling, and archery.
• Feasts featuring Svan dishes such as kubdari, tashmijabi, and mountain cheeses.
• Exhibitions of Svan crafts, carpets, woodwork, and traditional clothing.
• Cultural rituals are held near historic churches, towers, and village squares.
• Guided tours of UNESCO sites like Mestia and Ushguli during festival days.
• Storytelling sessions about Svan legends and heroic history.

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FAQs

What are the most popular festivals in Georgia?

Tbilisoba, Rtveli, Orthodox Easter, and the Water Festival are among the most loved celebrations. They highlight Georgia’s wine culture, faith, and traditions.

When is Tbilisoba celebrated?

Tbilisoba takes place in October each year. It celebrates the history, diversity, and culture of the capital city of Tbilisi.

Is Georgia safe during festivals?

Yes, Georgia is generally very safe during festivals. Visitors should simply be cautious in crowded events, as in any major celebration.

Which festival is best for tourists?

Rtveli, Tbilisoba, and the New Wine Festival are the best for tourists. They offer wine tastings, music, food, and cultural activities.

What is the biggest wine festival in Georgia?

Rtveli is the most important wine harvest festival, celebrated across the country with grape picking and wine-making traditions.

Do rural communities in Georgia celebrate unique festivals?

Yes, events like Tushetoba, Shepherd’s Day, and Svanetoba highlight mountain culture and regional traditions.

What is the best time to visit Georgia for festivals?

September to December is ideal because Georgia hosts wine harvest festivals, cultural events, and national celebrations during this season.