WINTER FAIRY TALE In WONDERLAND — 2026 | International Festival
II INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL - CONTEST
"WINTER FAIRY TALE In WONDERLAND" - 2026
FROM GEORGIA WITH LOVE
17 December -23 December, 2026
GEORGIA - TBILISI
The II International Festival-Contest "WINTER FAIRY TALE in WONDERLAND" - From Georgia with Love" is organized by the companies: "GEO.FEST.GEORGIA" and "TEAM TRAVEL", with the support of the Board of the European Association of Folklore Festivals (EAFF). The festival-contest will be held in the city's concert hall.
During their stay in Georgia, participants will have the opportunity not only to take part in the festival, but also to visit many interesting and colorful places of our country and discover Georgian history and culture.
WELCOME TO GEORGIA!
Georgia is the "country of St. George," filled with sunshine, light, dancing, singing, pride and love. Georgia welcomes you - a land of elegance and emotion. A country of natural artistry and eternal celebration, vibrant temperament, warmth, vivid emotions, unmatched hospitality, and unforgettable impressions. Georgia is famous for its hospitality - "The guest is a messenger of God," says a Georgian proverb. For centuries, traditions of hospitality, love and deep respect for guests have been passed down from generation to generation.A country that everyone falls in love with after just one visit! Georgia is hospitality, sea and mountains, warm sunshine, architecture, and traditions -simply breathtaking!
TBILISI the capital of Georgia
Tbilisi is the heart of the capital of Georgia. It is the country's largest city and an important economic, political, transport, scientific, cultural and spiritual canter. The history of Tbilisi spans many centuries. Formerly known as Tiflis, the city celebrated its 1,550th anniversary in 2008. The name Tbilisi means "warm spring"; in Georgian, "tbili" means "warm". The name and origin of the city are associated with the warm sulphur springs located in the area. Tbilisi was founded in the 5th century AD by Vakhtang Gorgasali. By the 6th century it had become the capital of Iberia, a kingdom whose territory was located in what is now Georgia. According to legend, while King Vakhtang Gorgasali was hunting, his falcon and its prey, a pheasant, fell into a hot spring. Having discovered the spring, the king ordered a city to be built on the site.Today, the legendary spring is located in Abanotubani, the oldest district of Tbilisi. Tbilisi offers virtually everything that visitors may find interesting: ancient monuments, modern centers, mountains and forests, plains and lakes. In addition to the indigenous Georgian population, Armenians, Russians, Jews, Ossetians, Azerbaijanis, Assyrians, Greeks and other communities live here.
FESTIVAL PARTICIPATION TERMS AND CATEGORIES:
Children's and youth groups, as well as individual performers aged 5 and above, may take part in the festival. Categories: choreography, vocal, instrumental performance, theatre, photography, variety/original genre, circus arts, fine arts, decorative and applied arts.
I. CHOREOGRAPHY Folk dance, ethnic choreography, pop dance, classic ballet dance, ballroom dance, modern, jazz, neoclassic ballet dance, sport dance, street dance (hip-hop, breakdance, locking, popping, K-pop), original choreography, disco, etc.
Solo
Duet, trio, quartet, quintet
Ensemble
II. VOCAL
Classical, folk, pop, jazz, academic, rock, rap, soul, musical theatre.
Solo
Duet, trio, quartet, quintet
Choir
III. INSTRUMENTAL GENRE
Folk, classic, jazz, percussion ensembles, guitar ensembles, jazz-style ensembles, chamber orchestras, symphony orchestras, accordion and bayan ensembles, folk-instrument ensembles.
IV. THEATRE AND RELATED ARTS
Drama theatre, musical theatre, performers of spoken word, poetry, pantomime, fashion theatre, photography, variety/original genre, circus arts, fine arts, decorative and applied arts.
AGE CATEGORIES - CHOREOGRAPHY, VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL GENRE, FASHION THEATRE, PANTOMIME, ORIGINAL GENRES, CIRCUS ARTS, PHOTOGRAPHY, FINE ARTS, DECORATIVE AND APPLIED ARTS, POETRY
. Suitability of the repertoire to the performer's abilities and age category
. Selection and suitability of musical and choreographic material
. Artistry and interpretation of the character
. Level of instrumental proficiency
. Technical capabilities of ensemble performance
. Artistic interpretation of the musical work
. Technical capabilities of the performers
. Artistic presentation of the program
COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS:
Each performer (soloist) must present one composition with a maximum duration of 3 minutes. If a soloist wishes to perform a second composition, the full participation fee for the second composition must also be paid. The second composition will not be considered an additional nomination. If duet, trio, quartets or quintets wish to perform a second composition, the full participation fee for the second composition must also be paid. The second composition will not be considered an additional nomination. Dance groups must perform two dances in the contest, both in the same dance style, with each performance lasting no longer than 6 minutes. If a group performs one folk dance and one contemporary dance, an additional nomination fee will be paid. The maximum duration of theatrical performances is 20 minutes.
All musical compositions must be saved on a USB flash drive and sent to the festival organizers by email: geofestival2023@gmail.com
YOU ALSO NEED TO HAVE BACKUP COPIES OF ALL TRACKS! Each recording must be provided on a separate flash drive, indicating the title of the work, the name of the ensemble, the performer's first and last name, and the duration of the recording. The application must specify whether the numbers need to be separated or whether the performance will be operated as one continuous block. The application must also indicate where the performance begins: from the stage canter or from the wings. The application must include the first and last names of all festival participants and their leaders/directors, exactly as they should appear in English on the certificates. If there are mistakes in names in the submitted applications, the certificates will not be reprinted. Please also provide the participants' technical rider, email address and telephone numbers (Viber/WhatsApp). During the competition performances of vocalists, both groups and soloists are prohibited from using full backing tracks ("plus" phonograms). All participants must perform with minus/backing-track accompaniment. Soloists may use recorded backing vocals provided they do not duplicate the main melody. Duet and ensembles must sing without recorded backing vocals. ATTENTION: Technical issues concerning the connection of musical instruments and equipment must be agreed with the sound engineer in advance!All requests must be specified in the technical rider. Only the following audio formats are accepted: MP3, WAV, and AIFF.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND FINE ARTS:
The original text specifies that each artist and photographer may submit no more than two competition works. Works must be no larger than A3. The subject matter and techniques could be different. Tablets (for photographers) and cameras should be provided. Theme for artists: "MY GEORGIA" or "WONDERLAND". The techniques used may be different; photography themes are unrestricted. For circus performers, insurance and reliable props are required. The duration of one number must not exceed 8 minutes. All performance details must be agreed with the festival organizing committee well in advance of the delegation's arrival.
AWARDS
Performances will be evaluated by an international jury. At the conclusion of the contest, participants will be presented with awards at the Gala Concert. All participants will receive certificates and exclusive memory gifts from the festival organizers, "TEAM TRAVEL" & "GEO.FEST.GEORGIA". Groups and individual performers will be evaluated by category and age group. The international jury awards the Grand Prix of the festival; in each category and age group, the titles of Laureate of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Degrees, as well as Diploma Winner, may be awarded. Special Prize from the Festival Organizers! Audience Choice Award! According to the jury's decision, special diplomas and prizes may be awarded in the following categories: "Festival Discovery", "For Artistry", "Youngest Participant", "Best Performance", and "Originality of Staging". The jury has the right not to award the Grand Prix and may establish special awards based on the festival results. If there are no sufficiently deserving candidates for the Grand Prix or prize places, those awards will not be given. The Gala Concert program is determined by the directing and production team based on the jury's decisions. The decision of the international jury is final and cannot be changed! Winning groups and individual performers will receive offers from "GEO.FEST.GEORGIA" & "TEAM TRAVEL" to participate in festivals held both in Georgia and abroad by our company and our international partners.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The organizers reserve the right to take photographs and make video recordings during the festival-contest and to distribute them. If festival participants wish to purchase photo or video materials, they must pay a fee agreed in advance with the festival manager. Group leaders are responsible for the health and safety of their contestants. Submission of an application to participate in the contest constitutes acceptance of the Project Regulations. Participants travel to the Georgia at their own expense. All matters not covered by the Regulations are decided by the festival organizers. The organizers reserve the right to make changes to the program. Participants will be notified of program changes on the official Facebook pages GeoFest and TeamTravel no later than one week before the festival-contest begins. Changes to the program must be communicated to the organizers no later than three weeks before the start of the festival. After that, the established program will not be changed.
FESTIVAL PROGRAM:
FESTIVAL PACKET
DAY I - (17 December) - Arrival, meeting at the airport, check-in, accommodation
of participants and guests of the festival in hotel 3* or 4* depending on the package you purchased, rest. Dinner at the hotel until 21:00 in case the group misses dinner due to a late flight, we will arrange lunch boxes for them.
DAY II - (18 December) - Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure of festival participants for the official opening ceremony and contest performances. Rehearsal - (for choreographic groups, 3 minutes are allocated for stage check; for vocalists, choirs, and instrumentalists, 1-2 minutes are allocated for sound check). Start of the contest program. Lunch either at the hotel, or participants will be provided with a lunchbox. Everything depends on the time of the participants performance. Grand awarding of the festival participants.A short sightseeing tour of Mtskheta. Return to the hotels. Dinner at the hotel.
DAY III - (19 December) - Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast Tbilisi city tour. During the tour you will visit: Metekhi Church, offering a beautiful panorama of the Old Town; Narikala Fortress, reached by cable car; Abanotubani, the sulphur-bath district; Meidan Square; and Shardeni Street.You will also visit Rike Park and the "Mshvidobisa Khidi" / Peace Bridge. After the tour of the capital, we return to the hotel for lunch. After lunch, we will go up to "Bombora" Park on the famous funicular, located on Mount Mtatsminda. This is one of the most visited parks in Tbilisi. Everyone can find something to enjoy: walking along beautiful paths and taking in the surrounding nature, riding thrilling attractions, or enjoying spectacular views of the Old Town. The park is designed in a fantasy style, with unusual and whimsical figures at every turn. After the excursion, you will return to the hotel by comfortable bus. A JOURNEY INTO THE WORLD OF CHILDHOOD WILL TOUCH EVERYONE'S HEART! Dinner at the hotel.
DAY IV - (20 December) - Breakfast at the hotel.
We're leaving the hotel for a guided tour. Kakheti region - Sighnaghi city. Sighnaghi is called the "city of love" and "Georgian San Marino".
As you enter Sighnaghi from the Tbilisi side, you will see a bas-relief depicting a young man courting his beloved on a balcony. It is intended to let visitors know that they have arrived in the "City of Love." According to another legend, it was in Sighnaghi that the artist Niko Pirosmani presented his beloved with a million scarlet roses, a romantic gesture later immortalized in the famous song performed by Alla Pugacheva. Pirosmani is said to have literally sold his house to shower a certain singer with
a sea of flowers, only to spend the rest of his life in a tiny room in Tbilisi, on a street that now bears his name. Sightseeing tour of the city. Lunch at a restaurant. Free time. After lunch, we will depart for a visit to the estate of Alexander Chavchavadze. The Chavchavadze estate in Tsinandali became a centre of Georgian high society in the mid-1820s. Mikhail Lermontov, Alexander Pushkin and, of course, Alexander Griboyedov visited here. The poet fell in love with Alexander Chavchavadze's daughter, Nina. The marriage was short-lived. Several weeks after the wedding, Griboyedov was sent to Persia as an ambassador. In Tehran, a religious mob attacked the Russian Imperial mission. Griboyedov was killed. The poet was buried on Mount Mtatsminda in Tbilisi. Nina Chavchavadze survived her husband by 30 years but never remarried. She is buried next to Griboyedov. His gravestone bears her words: "Your mind and deeds are immortal in Russian memory, but why did my love survive you!" Return to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
DAY V - (21 December) - Breakfast at the hotel. Free time. Lunch at the hotel. After
lunch, a sightseeing tour of the Ethnographic Museum. Return to the hotel. Dinner at M the hotel.
DAY VI - (22 December) - Breakfast at the hotel.
Free time. Lunch at the hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
DAY VII -(23 December) - Breakfast at the hotel. Departure of the festival participants,
transfers to the airport. SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
FESTIVAL PARTICIPATION FEES:
FESTIVAL PACKAGE Total package price: 575 EURO PER PERSON The package includes:
1. Comfortable bus or minibus.
Transfer is calculated for a group minimum 15 people. Transfer from airport to hotel and back is included in the festival package. Groups with fewer than 15 participants will be required to pay an additional transfer fee. Transfers are included in the package only on the official festival dates. If your group arrives or departs on any other dates, transfers will be charged separately.
2. All transportation services during the festival, including transfers from the hotel to the concert hall and back.
3. Transportation during excursions.
4. Organizational fee for the group's main nomination.
5. Accommodation in Tbilisi for 6 nights/ 7 days in a 3-star hotel, with 3-4 participants sharing a room.
6. For groups of at least 25 people, one double room is provided at no additional charge.
7. Every 26th participant from arriving group is free from the festival fee. (25+1)
8. Full board (FB), three meals per day.
9. Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Sighnagi cities tours, all excursions are included in the program.
10. Tickets to the parks, museums and cable-car are included in the program.
11. Diplomas, gratitude letters and gifts from the organizers for all festival participants and group leaders.
Participation fee does not include:
. Fly tickets;
. Delegation insurance;
. Additional night in 3-star hotels in Tbilisi:55 euro for children under 13; 60 euro for persons over 13.
. An additional night at a 4-star hotel in Tbilisi: 65 euro per person.
. Group leaders travelling under the 25 + 1 arrangement (Every 26th participant from arriving group is free from the festival fee.) must also pay for any additional nights at the hotel.
. Single room supplement: An additional 30 euro per person per day at a 3-star hotel and 40 euro per person per day at a 4-star hotel.
. Double room supplement: An additional 10 euro per person per day at a 3-star hotel and 15 euro per person per day at a 4-star hotel.
. Soloists pay an additional organizational fee of 50 euro on top of the basic program price (1 song). Additional nomination for vocalists: 50 euro (the 2nd composition does not mean additional nomination).
. Duet: 45 euro per person.
. Trio: 40 euro per person.
. Quartets and quintets: 35 euro per person.
. If duet, trio, quartets or quintets wish to perform a second composition in the contest, the full participation fee for the second composition must also be paid. The second composition will not be considered an additional nomination.
. Additional nomination: 25 euro.
. Additional excursions not included in the festival program are charged separately. Groups wishing to stay in a 5-star hotel during the festival may request this
option for an additional fee. Accommodation in a 5-star hotel must be booked
before the group's arrival at the festival.
Once the group has made the payment, no refunds will be issued for any
participant who fails to arrive for reasons beyond the company's control.
P.S. If a group wishes to go on excursions or shopping independently, the organizers must be notified at least one day in advance.
If participants leave without notifying the organizers and subsequently arrive
late for or miss breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the meal times cannot be
rescheduled for the delegation.
P.S. IMPORTANT NOTICE:
If a group leaves rubbish on buses, fails to leave the dressing rooms at
the concert venue clean, damages public property at the concert venue,
or causes damage to hotel property, the group will be required to pay a
fine before departure. The amount of the fine will be determined in
accordance with the applicable penalties set by the hotel management,
the bus operator, and the official fee schedule of the state-owned concert
venue. All group leaders will be informed of these charges before arriving
at the festival.
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
The final deadline for submitting applications is 20 days before the start
of the festival.
If participants who have already arrived at the festival decide to change their booking or reduce the number of days of their hotel stay, a penalty will be charged. If the penalty is not paid, the group will be withdrawn from the contest. If participants do not attend the festival for reasons beyond our control, they will also be withdrawn from the contest and the participation fee will not be refunded. On festival days, groups will be provided with a lunchbox at the hotel instead of lunch or dinner, depending on the participant's performance time.
P.S. If any force majeure circumstances occur during the festival-including landslides, road closures, or natural disasters-our company will try our best to help resolve the issues. Please note, however, that we cannot accept responsibility for the situation itself.
You are welcome to contact us by any convenient means, and we will certainly respond to your inquiry.
APPLICATION AND PAYMENT DEADLINES
Payment Terms: All festival participants are required to pay a 40% deposit of the total festival package cost two months before the start of the festival. Payment must be transferred to the bank account details provided by the festival manager. Please note that the deposit is non-refundable if participants are unable to attend the festival for reasons beyond the organizers' control.
The remaining balance must be paid in full no later than 20 days before the group's arrival at the festival.
CONTACT INFORMATION
You are welcome to contact us by any convenient means, and we will certainly respond to your inquiry.
ALL QUESTIONS REGARDING APPLICATIONS, THE FESTIVAL PROGRAMME AND THE TECHNICAL RIDER:
Cell phone: +995 579 401 122; +995 592 45 31 09 WhatsApp: +995 579 401 122; +995 592 45 31 09 Viber: +995 579 401 122; +995 592 45 31 09 E-mail: geofestival2023@gmail.com We are available 24 hours a day!
Dear colleagues,
We would be happy to consider revising the excursion program of our festival for those groups who have been joining us for several years, while ensuring that any changes do not affect the competition days.
Yours sincerely, Festival President Elena Barsegova
APPLICATION FORM
WINTER IN WONDERLAND 2027
Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Signagi
10 February - 15 February
(an application must be completed separately for each participation: for groups, for soloists, for duets, and for small forms)
ATTENTION!
To participate in the festival, the following mandatory requirements must be met:
The performance program must be approved by the festival director.
Your musical accompaniment must be sent to the email address geofestival2023@gmail.com and also brought to the venue on a flash drive on the day of the competition and the gala concert.
Groups and soloists who fail to comply with this rule will not be permitted to participate in the festival.
The organizers reserve the right to take photographs and record video during the competition, and to distribute such audio, video, and photographic materials.
Group leaders are responsible for the health and safety of their participants.
Submitting an application to participate in the competition constitutes acceptance of the competition’s regulations.
Participants are responsible for all costs associated with their travel to Georgia.
Any matters not covered by these regulations will be decided by the competition organizers.
The organizers reserve the right to make changes to the competition program.
Participants will be notified of any changes to the competition program via the official GeoFest Facebook page no later than one week before the start of the event.
Any changes to a participant's program must be communicated to the organizers no later than two weeks before the start of the competition.
