From October 20 to 25, 2026, the welcoming and historic city of Tbilisi became the vibrant epicenter of global arts. Hosting the renowned choral competition «Sing & Smile» and the multi-genre festival «Fiestalonia Georgia», this joint event became the largest-scale festival in the Caucasus region in recent times. It brought together over 400 participants from more than 10 countries worldwide, stretching from Southeast Asia and Africa to Western Europe.
Sing & Smile 2026
The choral competition is a cherished autumn tradition in Fiestalonia’s collection, uniting choirs from across the globe for an immersive cultural tour of Georgia. The competitive journey extends far beyond the capital: participants embark on a multi-day expedition through the country’s most stunning historical landmarks, visit sacred Orthodox churches, perform site-specific concerts, sing among lush vineyards, participate in grape harvesting, and handcraft traditional bread and Georgian sweets (churchkhela) to fully absorb the nation’s rich heritage.
The Competition Day
The opening competitive performances took place within the prestigious walls of the Vakhtang Salaridze Concert Hall. 8 choirs from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Serbia, and Indonesia took to the stage to showcase their virtuosic vocal mastery.
Performances were evaluated by an esteemed international jury panel of renowned music professionals:
- Professor Liana Chonishvili — Chairman of the Georgian Choral Society and Head of the Academic Choir Conducting Department at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire. An active choral conductor and founder of the National Competition of Children’s and Youth Choirs of Georgia, she frequently serves as a jury member for international music festivals.
- Dr. Nino Jvania — Pianist, musicologist, and Associate Professor at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire. A prize-winner of the Orléans International Piano Competition, she regularly performs as a soloist across Europe and the US, bringing rich international pedagogical experience from institutions such as the New England Conservatory and New York University.
- Julieta Diasamidze — Vocal pedagogue and guest professor at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire who has mentored numerous award-winning international opera stars, bringing extensive experience as an international competition jury member.
Participants presented diverse programs across multiple competitive categories: World Sacred Music, Male Choir, Academic Singing, Vocal Ensembles & Chamber Choirs, Female Choir, and Folk Singing.
Note on Fiestalonia’s Judging System: Fiestalonia evaluates each choir independently rather than comparing them directly against one another, awarding official degree titles based strictly on accumulated points.
The highest scores of the season—and the ultimate Grand Prix of the competition—were awarded to SHANTELL VOCAL ENSEMBLE from INDONESIA (Conductor: David Hartono Chendra, Accompanist: Luciana Dharmadi Oendoen) in the Folkloric Singing category.
Full competition results and score sheets are available in the attached document.
Cultural Discovery in Tbilisi
On the second day, participants enjoyed an immersive guided tour of the capital, Tbilisi. Strolling through the historic old town, they marveled at the unique architecture, iconic sulfur baths, winding cobblestone streets, and ancient balconies, fully soaking in the charming autumn atmosphere and cultural warmth of the Georgian capital.
Journey to Kakheti: Vineyards, Tradition & Sacred Singing
On the third day, the choirs embarked on an unforgettable excursion into the legendary wine-making region of Kakheti:
- Exploration of the romantic hilltop town of Sighnaghi, known as the «City of Love,» offering breathtaking views of the Alazani Valley.
- Visit to the historic Bodbe Monastery, a site of immense spiritual significance.
- A deeply moving highlight of the trip: a special vocal performance by the choirs inside the Kvareli Monastery, filling the ancient sacred walls with sublime choral harmonies.
- A traditional Georgian lunch, accompanied by wine tasting, hands-on grape harvesting, baking authentic local bread, and mastering the art of making traditional churchkhela sweets.
Heritage of Mtskheta
On the fourth day, participants traveled to the ancient capital of Georgia, Mtskheta:
- Departure for Mtskheta, featuring visits to the architectural marvel of the Jvari Monastery (overlooking the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers) and the sacred Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.
- Delightful group lunch featuring local culinary specialties.
- A visit to the historic Samtavro Monastery, concluding a deeply spiritual and cultural day.
Conclusion & Invitation
The Sing & Smile festival offers a rare, perfect blend of high-level professional competition, deep spiritual enrichment, and joyous cultural tourism. Participating in this festival gives choirs an unforgettable platform to share their art while experiencing the soul of Georgia.
Join us for Sing & Smile 2027! Registration is open for choirs worldwide ready to make their voices heard across global stages.
Fiestalonia Georgia
Multi-genre performers at Fiestalonia Georgia also shined brightly in the spotlight, treating audiences and judges to an action-packed showcase of diverse talents from early morning at the Vakhtang Salaridze Concert Hall.
The stage came alive with a rich variety of acts, featuring instrumentalists, fine artists, vocalists, dance ensembles, soloists, and even a vibrant showcase by an international fashion designer. Talents from South Africa, Israel, Georgia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and beyond presented their artistry to an expert jury panel:
- Natia Bunturi — Multidisciplinary artist, choreographer, former company member of the State Ballet of Georgia and the Pennsylvania Ballet, and founder/artistic director of the Saniao Arts Residency.
- Dr. Nino Jvania — Pianist, musicologist, and Associate Professor at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire.
- Julieta Diasamidze — Distinguished vocal pedagogue and guest professor at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire.
Earning the highest praise from the judges and capturing the festival’s ultimate Grand Prix trophy was Beste Aydın from TURKEY!
Full festival score sheets and awards are detailed in the attached appendix below.
Tbilisi Autumn Exploration
On their second day, participants enjoyed an inspiring guided excursion through autumn-adorned Tbilisi. Walking through the vibrant city avenues, exploring local art galleries, and tasting traditional Georgian delicacies, the artists bonded and gathered fresh creative inspiration from the city’s rich creative atmosphere.
See You at Fiestalonia Georgia 2027!
Fiestalonia Georgia continues to break boundaries, providing an international springboard for artists of all disciplines.
Bring your talent to the world stage — join us for Fiestalonia Georgia 2027!