Georgia's answer to Europe's techno festival circuit: three days of underground electronic music across multiple stages at an open-air site in the hills above the capital.
Tbilisi Open Air runs annually in July at a site outside the Georgian capital, drawing an audience of around 25,000 across the festival's three or four days. The electronic music lineup runs heavy on techno and house with a tilt towards the left-field acts that play Berlin, Amsterdam, and Barcelona. The Georgian festival scene has grown significantly since the mid-2010s, partly driven by Tbilisi's club culture and the global reputation of venues like Bassiani. Tbilisi Open Air sits in this context: it draws European festival-goers who have already discovered Georgia as a destination and want to combine the party with the city.
Tbilisi itself is worth extended time. The Old Town's Maidan district and the bars and cafes around Abanotubani (the sulphur bath quarter) form a nightlife zone that runs parallel to the festival weekend. Bassiani, one of Europe's most celebrated techno clubs, is a 15-minute walk from the city centre and holds its own events across the festival weekend. Budget accommodation in Tbilisi is among the cheapest in Europe at equivalent quality: dorm beds in the Old Town start around €8–12 a night. The lari (GEL) exchange rate makes Georgia consistently affordable for Western European travellers.
Party hostels within reach of 's main celebrations. Ranked by guest rating.
Day-by-day breakdown
Opening day starts in the afternoon. Crowds are lighter on day one, which means shorter queues and easier navigation between stages. The main stage does not typically headline until 10pm. A good day to orient yourself around the site, find the smaller stages, and pace your intake for the days ahead.
Saturday is the busiest day. The full lineup runs across all stages simultaneously from midday. The main techno headliner typically closes the main stage around 2am. Transport back to the city is available by shuttle until 4am on peak nights; check the festival's official transport scheme as it changes year to year.
Sunday runs until mid-afternoon on most years. The closing stage set is shorter than Saturday's headline. Most attendees migrate to Tbilisi's bars and clubs after the festival closes on Sunday evening. Bassiani and Café Gallery in the Old Town are the natural continuation.
Monday after the festival is the ideal day to visit the sulphur baths in Abanotubani: a 20-minute soak in a private cabin costs GEL 15–25 (approximately £4–6). The Narikala fortress above the bath district is a 15-minute walk uphill with views over the Old Town and the Kura river. Most festival visitors depart Monday afternoon or Tuesday.
Pre-booked private transfers and shared shuttles for your arrival.
