V INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL-CONTEST
04–09 November 2026
FROM GEORGIA WITH LOVE
LTD “TEAM TRAVEL” and LLC “GEO.FEST.GEORGIA”
Organize the V International Festival-Contest
“OLD TOWN PICTURES”
The festival-contest consists of two parts: Part I – the contest program; Part II – the Gala Concert and Awards Ceremony. Both parts will be held at the State Drama Theatre in Gurjaani, Kakheti Region.
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.
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, 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.
Georgia is hospitality, sea and mountains, warm sunshine, architecture and traditions – simply breathtaking!
Tbilisi is the capital and heart of Georgia. It is the country’s largest city and an important economic, political, transport, scientific, cultural and spiritual centre. 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 city’s name and origin are associated with its warm sulphur springs.
Tbilisi was founded in the 5th century AD by Vakhtang Gorgasali and became the capital of Iberia in the 6th century. According to legend, while the king was hunting, his falcon and a pheasant fell into a hot spring. The king ordered a city to be built there. The spring is in Abanotubani, the oldest district of Tbilisi.
Tbilisi offers ancient monuments, modern centres, mountains, forests, plains and lakes.
Alongside Georgians, Armenians, Russians, Jews, Ossetians, Azerbaijanis, Assyrians, Greeks and other communities live here.
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.
Folk dance, ethnic choreography, pop dance, classical ballet, ballroom dance, modern, jazz, neoclassical ballet, sports dance, street dance (hip-hop, breakdance, locking, popping, K-pop), original choreography, disco, etc.
Classical, folk, pop, jazz, academic, rock, rap, soul, musical theatre.
Folk, classical, jazz, percussion ensembles, guitar ensembles, jazz-style ensembles, chamber orchestras, symphony orchestras, accordion and bayan ensembles, folk-instrument ensembles.
Drama theatre, musical theatre, spoken word, poetry, pantomime, fashion theatre, photography, variety/original genre, circus arts, fine arts, decorative and applied arts.
Each performer (soloist) must present one composition with a maximum duration of 3 minutes. A second composition requires payment of the full participation fee and is not considered an additional nomination.
Duets, trios, quartets and quintets must also pay the full participation fee for a second composition. The second composition is not an additional nomination.
Dance groups must perform two dances in the same style, each no longer than 6 minutes. Performing a folk dance and a contemporary dance requires payment for an additional nomination.
The maximum duration of theatrical performances is 20 minutes.
All musical compositions must be saved on a USB flash drive and sent by email to geofestival2023@gmail.com.
YOU ALSO NEED TO HAVE BACKUP COPIES OF ALL TRACKS!
Each recording must be on a separate flash drive, indicating the title, ensemble, performer’s full name and duration. The application must state whether the numbers are separate or performed as one continuous block.
The application must indicate whether the performance begins from the stage centre or from the wings.
Provide all participants’ and leaders’ full names exactly as they should appear in English on certificates. Certificates will not be reprinted if the submitted names contain errors.
Provide the technical rider, email address and telephone numbers (Viber/WhatsApp).
Vocalists, both groups and soloists, may not use full backing tracks (“plus” phonograms). Soloists may use recorded backing vocals that do not duplicate the main melody; duets and ensembles must sing without recorded backing vocals.
All requests must be specified in the technical rider. Only MP3, WAV and AIFF audio formats are accepted.
Each artist and photographer may submit no more than two competition works. Works must be no larger than A3. Techniques may vary. Photographers must provide tablets and cameras.
Theme for artists: “MY GEORGIA” or “WONDERLAND”. Photography themes are unrestricted.
Circus performers must have insurance and reliable props. One performance must not exceed 8 minutes.
All performance details must be agreed with the festival organizing committee well before the delegation arrives.
Performances will be evaluated by an international jury.
Participants will receive awards at the Gala Concert.
All participants will receive certificates and commemorative gifts from “TEAM TRAVEL” and “GEO.FEST.GEORGIA”.
Groups and soloists are evaluated by nomination and age group. The international jury awards the Grand Prix and titles of Laureate of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Degrees, as well as Diploma Winner.
Special Prize from the Festival Organizers! Audience Choice Award!
Special diplomas and prizes may be awarded for “Festival Discovery”, “For Artistry”, “Youngest Participant”, “Best Performance” and “Originality of Staging”.
The jury may withhold the Grand Prix and establish special awards. If no candidates deserve the Grand Prix or prize places, these awards will not be given.
The Gala Concert program is determined by the directing and production team based on the jury’s decisions.
The international jury’s decision is final and cannot be changed!
Winning groups and individual performers may receive invitations from “GEO.FEST.GEORGIA” and “TEAM TRAVEL” to festivals in Georgia and abroad organized by the companies and their partners.
Festival organizers reserve the right to determine awards according to the competition results.
The following conditions apply to all festival participants and delegations.
FROM GEORGIA WITH LOVE
Arrival, airport meeting, registration and accommodation of participants and festival guests at the hotel in Tbilisi. Free time.
Meeting with the festival organizing committee and technical services; consultations.
Dinner at the hotel until 21:00. Groups arriving too late for dinner will be provided with lunch boxes.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Tbilisi city tour: Metekhi Church, Narikala Fortress (by cable car), Abanotubani sulphur baths, Meidan Square, Shardeni Street, Rike Park and the Peace Bridge.
Return to the hotel for lunch.
After lunch, visit Bombora Park on Mount Mtatsminda by the famous funicular. Enjoy beautiful paths, attractions, fantasy-style figures and spectacular views of the Old Town.
A JOURNEY INTO THE WORLD OF CHILDHOOD WILL TOUCH EVERYONE’S HEART!
Return to the hotel by comfortable bus. Dinner at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure to the Kakheti region and the city of Telavi.
Accommodation at the hotel in Telavi.
Lunch at the hotel. Free time. Dinner at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Official opening of the “OLD TOWN PICTURES” festival and start of the contest program.
PART I: Choreography and Theatre
PART II: Vocal, Choirs and Instrumental Performance
Lunch (lunch box).
Gala Concert and official awards ceremony for festival participants.
Return to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out from the hotel in Telavi.
Visit the Alexander Chavchavadze estate in Tsinandali, a centre of Georgian high society in the 1820s, visited by Mikhail Lermontov, Alexander Pushkin and Alexander Griboyedov. Griboyedov married Nina Chavchavadze and later died in Tehran. Nina never remarried; they are buried together on Mount Mtatsminda in Tbilisi.
Return to the hotel in Telavi. Lunch at the hotel.
After lunch, departure from Telavi and check-in at the hotel in Tbilisi. Dinner at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure of festival participants and transfer to the airport.
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
470 euro per person
(3 nights in Tbilisi and 2 nights in Telavi)
Applications accepted until 31 October 2026.
The application deadline is seven days before the festival. Applications are accepted until 31 October 2026.
50% of the package price and participation fee must be paid by 31 October 2026. Email proof of payment to geofestival2023@gmail.com.
The remaining amount must be paid two weeks before arrival at the contest.
The 50% advance payment is non-refundable if an application is cancelled for reasons beyond the organizers’ control.
Participants who change hotel bookings or shorten their stay after arrival must pay a penalty. Non-payment results in disqualification.
Participants who fail to attend the contest for reasons beyond the organizers’ control will be withdrawn without a refund.
On competition days, a lunch box will be provided instead of lunch or dinner depending on performance time.
In case of force majeure (landslides, road closures or natural disasters), the company will try to resolve issues but cannot accept responsibility for the circumstances.
You are welcome to contact us by any convenient means. We will be happy to respond!
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 programme for returning groups, provided the contest days remain unchanged.
Yours sincerely,
Festival President
Elena Barsegova
OLD TOWN PICTURES
GEORGIA (TBILISI - TELAVI)
04 november – 09 november
ATTENTION!
The following is a mandatory requirement for participation in the festival:
1. The performance program must be approved by the festival director.
2. Your musical accompaniment must be sent
to geofestival2023@gmail.com and brought to the venue on a flash drive on the day of the competition and gala concert.
Groups and soloists who violate this rule will not be allowed to participate in the Festival.