Art-Gene Festival

Name: Art-Gene Festival
Start: 2025-07-12
End: 2025-07-19
Location: Tbilisi

A Summer of Music, Craft, and Living Tradition in Georgia

2026/07/11 - 2026/07/18

Every summer, the Open Air Museum of Ethnography in Tbilisi becomes the stage for the Art-Gene Festival, where diverse cultures from all over Georgia gather in one place. For one week in July, the shade of ancient trees is filled with the harmonies of polyphonic singing, the sounds of traditional instruments, and the laughter of families, while stalls run by artisans create an atmosphere brimming with energy and warmth. This is an event where you can experience the living Georgia with all five senses, from regional traditions and folk performing arts to local flavors.

Art-Gene is held every mid-July and welcomes everyone—families, music and art lovers, and anyone interested in Georgian culture. Whether it’s a Svan choir, handmade churchkhela, or a traditional dance workshop, every moment is a special intersection of Georgia’s past and present.

Main Attractions

Folk Music and Dance Performances

On the main stage, folk music and dance groups from regions like Kakheti, Svaneti, and Adjara take turns performing. The unique polyphonic singing, rhythmic drums, and colorful costumes of Georgian dance captivate the audience. Each region’s music and dance tell their own stories and energy, enveloping the entire venue.

Artisan Market and Traditional Craft Experiences

Stalls line up with handwoven carpets, wood carvings, pottery, and silverwork, filling the air with the scent of beeswax and freshly baked bread. Artisans demonstrate wool spinning, icon painting, and knife making. Visitors can try felting or mask painting, experiencing the feel and depth of traditional skills firsthand.

Key Events

Beyond concerts and workshops, there are outdoor film screenings, puppet shows, and storytelling sessions under the trees. Regional food tastings and cooking contests, as well as late-night jam sessions, are highlights of the festival. Art-Gene is also held in villages across Georgia, spreading the circle of tradition throughout the country.

Costumes and Decorations

Performers and artisans wear beautifully embroidered traditional costumes, chokha with cartridge belts, and papakha (wool hats). The venue is decorated with colorful banners, handwoven rugs, and wildflowers, while the scents and textures of wool, silverwork, wood, and leather leave a strong impression.

Traditional Food & Drink

Stalls offer regional specialties such as khinkali (dumplings), mchadi (cornbread), smoked cheese, honey, and fresh fruits. The aroma of grilled meat, herbs, and the sweet scent of churchkhela (walnut and grape candy) fill the air. Homemade wine and chacha (grape brandy) are served, and every table is full of gratitude for Georgia’s bounty.

Cultural and Historical Background

The Art-Gene Festival was founded in 2004 by musicians, ethnographers, and cultural activists seeking to preserve Georgia’s regional cultures and folk arts, which were being lost to rapid urbanization and globalization. At the time, many young people in cities were becoming disconnected from the songs, crafts, and customs of their ancestral villages. The founders aimed to create a festival where people could experience music, crafts, and rural culture together, rediscovering their roots and the diversity of the regions.

From its very first year at the Open Air Museum of Ethnography in Tbilisi, Art-Gene has showcased performances and crafts from all over the country and held workshops where elders pass down skills and wisdom to younger generations. Over time, satellite events in villages outside Tbilisi have created a nationwide network for cultural revitalization. Today, thousands participate each year, and Art-Gene is recognized as a “living cultural heritage,” where grandparents teach grandchildren songs and skills, artisans demonstrate their crafts, and the diversity and pride of Georgia’s regions are shared both domestically and internationally.

Participant Voices

“While traveling from Germany, I stumbled upon Art-Gene by chance. I ate khinkali, listened to music, and learned how to make traditional toys from a woodworker. It was the day I felt the most ‘authentic Georgia’ during my trip.”