New Year in Georgia 2026/27: Tbilisi, Batumi, mountain resorts and traditions

At a glance

New Year in Georgia begins at midnight between 31 December and 1 January. The Labour Code designates 1 and 2 January as New Year holidays and 7 January as Christmas. Additional days off may be set by government decision, so check the schedule of the particular office or service you need. [1]

Choose Tbilisi for a city break, Batumi for time by the sea, or the mountain resorts of Bakuriani, Gudauri, Goderdzi and Mestia for skiing. The Mountain Trails Agency, MTA, announced 20 December 2026 as the official start of the winter season at all four. An opening date does not guarantee that every lift and run will operate: check the live status before travelling. [2]

A Georgian New Year may bring a chichilaki, a curled wooden decoration made from hazel, and a mekvle, the first guest of the year. Many people call 2 January Bedoba, or the Day of Fate. Old New Year is celebrated on 14 January. Customs differ between regions and families. [3, 4]

City programmes and holiday transport arrangements are announced for each season. Look for notices from the municipality and the operator with the year clearly stated. Accommodation and New Year's Eve dinner prices depend on dates and booking terms, so compare complete offers for your own trip.

When is New Year and which days are public holidays?

The main celebration falls on the night of 31 December 2026 and 1 January 2027. Article 30 of Georgia's Labour Code lists 1 and 2 January as New Year holidays and 7 January as Christmas. A public holiday does not mean that every hotel, restaurant or shop closes. Ask the individual business for its hours and make a separate check if you need a bank or public office. [1]

Bedoba is associated with the belief that the way the day is spent influences the year ahead. Georgia's tourism administration describes it as a time to spend with family and friends in a good mood. This is an account of a tradition, rather than a rule followed in exactly the same way by every household. [4]

Old New Year falls on 14 January. In Guria it is known as Kalanda and is also associated with St Basil's Day. Different families and regions have their own names, dishes and ways of observing it. If you stay beyond the first week of January, it offers another chance to learn about local customs. [3]

Where can you spend New Year's Eve in Tbilisi?

Tbilisi works well if you want a festive dinner alongside walks through older neighbourhoods, a visit to the sulphur baths and time to explore the surrounding area. The existing Madloba guide mentions Rustaveli Avenue, the Bridge of Peace, Narikala and Mtatsminda. Spread your sightseeing over several days and leave enough time to reach your dinner or event without rushing. Check the opening hours of any specific attraction and the available route up the hill on the date you choose.

Central events can bring traffic restrictions around Rustaveli Avenue and Republic Square. An example from the previous season shows why the year matters: the municipality's 2025/26 notice described closures around First Republic Square and Rustaveli, with additional restrictions on New Year's Eve. Those were rules for the previous holiday, not a timetable for 2026/27. [5]

For the previous season, Tbilisi City Hall invited visitors to a New Year village at First Republic Square from 12 December 2025 through 7 January 2026. Its programme included a market, performances and workshops; the ice rink and main tree were planned to remain until 14 January. Locations and dates can change. Look for the current programme in City Hall's news section. [6]

If dinner is the centre of your evening, start with the Tbilisi restaurant directory. Look at the location and reviews, then contact the venue. Ask whether it opens on 31 December, whether there is a deposit, and what the quoted price includes. A New Year's menu and closing time may differ from the regular offer.

Where should you stay in Tbilisi?

Match your accommodation to the location of your event and your route back. A central address does not by itself mean that the journey will be easy after midnight. Ask about check-in, late access, heating and the total price for all nights, including any additional charges. If your flight lands on 31 December, arrange how you will enter the property if you arrive late.

The selection of Tbilisi hotels with pools can help you compare locations and accommodation types. Check current availability and the final price for your own dates directly with the property or through your chosen booking service. Keep the confirmation and cancellation terms: both a holiday programme and your own plans can change.

What is New Year like in Batumi?

Batumi is a good choice for a celebration by the Black Sea, with time for a walk along the boulevard. The existing article refers to Europe Square, the seafront, cafés and restaurants. Georgia Travel also describes a New Year village with stalls selling food and handicrafts. That description explains a type of celebration; it does not establish a particular location or programme for 2026/27. [7]

Decide whether an indoor dinner or a longer walk is more important to your evening. Waterproof layers are useful by the coast. With children, plan a route that allows time to return to your hotel and warm up. Browse the Batumi restaurant directory, then confirm the holiday menu, booking terms and the time the programme ends.

For the city's event calendar, follow Batumi City Hall's official website. Add a tree-lighting, concert or market to your plans once the organiser announces the address and time. If you book near a large event, ask how to reach the restaurant if traffic is restricted.

How do transport and roads work over the holidays?

Tbilisi Transport Company publishes information about the metro, buses and cable car. Special holiday hours are announced separately. On 30 December 2025 the company said that, on the night leading into 1 January 2026, the metro and buses would run until 03:00 and travel would be free during the announced holiday period. That is a previous-year example, not a confirmed 2027 schedule. [8]

Before setting out, read the latest TTC notice, check the last departure on your route and find the nearest stop. A suburban service can have a different timetable from a city bus. For a taxi, agree on a pickup point and price in advance: a car may not be able to reach a square's entrance during road closures.

For a mountain trip, consult the Georgian Roads Department's notices. Conditions can differ between road sections, and a restriction may apply only to certain vehicle categories. Allow extra time in winter and have a plan in case you need to move your departure or return. [9]

If you arrange an airport transfer, tell the driver the flight number, number of passengers, luggage and accommodation address. Agree where to meet and what happens if the flight is delayed. When renting a car, ask about winter equipment and the conditions for using mountain roads.

What is the weather like around New Year?

Georgia has several climate zones. Long-term averages help with packing but do not predict the weather for a specific date. The National Environmental Agency gives winter mean climate norms of about +5 to +7 °C in western lowlands and 0 to +2 °C in eastern lowlands. In the eastern high mountains, the winter norm is -5 to -3 °C. These ranges describe broad zones, not exact temperatures for each city or resort. [10]

In its January climate description, the agency gives a monthly mean of +3 to +5 °C for the coastal strip. Individual days can differ considerably. Before leaving, check a short-range forecast for Tbilisi, Batumi or your exact mountain destination. [11]

In the mountains, wind, visibility and road conditions matter as much as the temperature. Do not assume there will be snow outside your hotel or that every run will open on your chosen day. MTA publishes resort status; the Roads Department publishes road notices. [2, 9]

Which New Year traditions might you see?

A chichilaki is made from hazel wood, with thin curls left along the stem. It is associated with St Basil and sometimes called Basil's beard. Fruit and sweets may be used to decorate it. You might see one alongside a conventional Christmas tree. Customs are not identical in every Georgian home. [3]

The mekvle is the first guest invited into a home in the new year. Traditionally, that person's arrival is associated with wishes for luck and prosperity, and the guest brings treats. Georgia Travel notes the name mperkhavi in Adjara. The custom varies by region and by family. [3]

Tovlis Babua, or Tovlis Papa, is a Georgian winter gift-giver. Georgia Travel includes him among the figures associated with New Year celebrations. Stories and details of his costume vary, so one version should not be treated as universal across the country. [3, 7]

In Guria, a crescent-shaped pie filled with cheese and boiled egg is prepared for Kalanda. Georgia Travel describes other local traditions around the family table and the first guest. If you are invited into a home, asking your hosts which customs matter to their family is a natural way to learn about them. [3]

What food should you try?

A Georgian feast is called a supra. New Year dishes can include satsivi, poultry served with walnut sauce, along with khachapuri, churchkhela and dried fruit. Gozinaki is a sweet made with nuts and honey and is particularly associated with the New Year table. Menus vary by family and region. [4, 12]

Regional recipes add variety. Georgia Travel mentions borano and sinori in Upper Adjara and a special cheese-and-egg pie in Guria. If you have allergies or dietary restrictions, ask about ingredients before ordering. Nuts are used in savoury sauces as well as desserts. [4]

Where can you go beyond Tbilisi and Batumi?

Goderdzi is in mountainous Adjara and can be considered alongside a Batumi stay if you want to spend time in the mountains. In Bakuriani, choose accommodation with the ski area you want to use in mind. Mestia is better considered as a separate journey into Svaneti. These were destinations in the earlier guide; check weather, road conditions and lifts when planning. [2, 9]

MTA announced the official opening of the 2026/27 winter season on 20 December 2026 for Gudauri, Bakuriani, Goderdzi and Mestia. Use the page for your resort to check the weather, open runs and ski-pass conditions. The live status matters more for a particular day than the general opening date. [2]

If skiing is not your priority, leave more time for Tbilisi's older neighbourhoods, museums or a trip to Mtskheta. Check the holiday hours of any attraction you want to visit. Avoid scheduling a long transfer immediately after a late dinner; leave room for rest and possible timetable changes.

How much should you budget?

Separate transport, accommodation, meals, the New Year's Eve dinner and local trips. For a mountain stay, add a ski pass, equipment rental and lessons if needed. Compare offers for the same number of guests and nights, including taxes, deposits and cancellation terms. If a restaurant offers a holiday menu, ask for the inclusions and final price in writing.

For a package tour, check whether flights, transfers, baggage, meals and insurance are included. Two similarly named offers may contain different services. Before paying, find out who operates the trip, how dates can be changed and which payments are refundable. An old advertisement is not a reliable price for a new season.

See also: Where to buy New Year toys in Batumi | How New Year is celebrated in different regions of Georgia | New Year in Georgia | Guide to Georgian cuisine | Satsivi | Georgian wine | Rustaveli Avenue | Peace Bridge | Abanotubani | Svetitskhoveli Cathedral | Europe Square in Batumi | Goderdzi Pass | Svan tower