Kartuli Connect

22/05/2026

❤️🇬🇪❤️

🇬🇪 Celebrate Georgia’s Independence Day 2026 in Tbilisi! 🇬🇪

If you are currently in Tbilisi, you are in for an unforgettable experience! On Tuesday, May 26, Georgia celebrates its Independence Day, commemorating the 1918 declaration of freedom.
The heart of the capital will transform into a massive, vibrant festival filled with military displays, live music, delicious street food, and rich cultural traditions.
Here is your ultimate guide and schedule to experience May 26 like a local! ⤵️

📋📣 Official Schedule & Highlights📣📋

🕙11:00 AM – Recruit Oath-Taking Ceremony (Freedom Square)
Kick off the day with one of the most solemn and proud traditions. Watch the official military ceremony and the swearing-in of the new recruits of the Georgian Armed Forces.

🕙11:00 AM - 6:00 PM – Exhibition of Military Hardware & Weapons
Get a close-up look at the military equipment and hardware on display. Perfect for history and military tech enthusiasts!

🕙12:00 PM - 8:00 PM – Food, Wine & Culture Festival
Head over to Alexander Garden, Orbeliani Square, Atoneli Street, and Purtseladze Street (the historic center near the Dry Bridge).
📌Wine & Wheat Zone: Wine bars, tastings, and local winemakers selling their best produce.
📌Artisan Markets: Handmade crafts, jewelry, and souvenir stalls by local creators.
📌Street Food & Bars: Savor fresh khachapuri, local delicacies, and refreshing drinks.

🕙12:30 PM – Marching Bands & Street Performers
Catch energetic live performances by marching bands, drummers, and stilt walkers around the festival zones.

🕙5:10 PM (17:10) – The National Anthem (Nationwide)
Don't miss this moment! At exactly 17:10, the exact historic time when Georgia's independence was declared in 1918, the National Anthem will be performed simultaneously all across the country. Join the crowds for a deeply emotional and unifying moment.

Evening (Post-National Anthem) – Gala Concerts
The celebrations will wrap up with massive live outdoor concerts featuring popular local bands, traditional polyphonic singing, and energetic folk dances, followed by festive vibes into the night.

💡 Quick Tips for Travelers:

📍 Where to go: Focus your day around Freedom Square in the morning, and move towards Orbeliani Square, Atoneli Street, and 9 April Garden for the rest of the day.

🚶‍♂️ Go on Foot: The central streets (including Rustaveli Ave, Freedom Sq, and the Dry Bridge area) will have major traffic restrictions from May 20–28. Walking is the fastest and best way to explore.

🎭 Experience the Culture: Keep an eye out for spontaneous polyphonic singing and traditional Georgian dances in the parks!

Happy Independence Day! 🇬🇪

18/05/2026

Passenger rail transit between Georgia and Azerbaijan will restart on 26 May after being unilaterally closed by Baku for six years, ostensibly due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

⭕ The Georgian government announced the news following a visit by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to Baku on Monday. The Azerbaijani government has yet to make its own statement on the reopening.

17/05/2026

⚠️ COMMUNITY NOTICE | PLEASE READ ⚠️

Due to overwhelming demand for the upcoming Ye concert in Tbilisi, fake and duplicate tickets are already being circulated online.

Reports are increasing of:
• Screenshots being resold multiple times
• Fake PDF tickets
• Edited confirmation emails
• Scammers requesting deposits through private messages
• “Friends of friends” selling tickets they do not actually own

The concert reportedly sold out approximately 70,000 tickets within a day, with over 120,000 people reportedly waiting during ticket sales. Multiple outlets and fan pages are calling it one of the fastest major concert sellouts Georgia has seen.

🎟️ PLEASE BE CAREFUL:
• Only purchase through trusted official sources
• Avoid random Telegram/Facebook/WhatsApp sellers
• Ask for proof of purchase AND identity verification
• Be cautious of “urgent sale” pressure tactics
• If a deal feels suspiciously cheap, it probably is

Community reminder:
A screenshot is NOT proof a ticket is valid.

Please help protect others by reporting obvious scams and warning friends before they send money.

Stay safe and look out for each other. 🇬🇪

04/04/2026

Gamarjobat chemo megobrebo 🇬🇪✨

For those who’ve been asking after my last post about group sessions… new in-person Kartuli (Georgian language) group classes are opening starting soon!

Nino has been teaching for over 15 years and is a certified Georgian language teacher. She is passionate about sharing the Georgian language and the culture of Sakartvelo with guests, creating a welcoming and engaging learning environment.

Small groups designed to keep things interactive, comfortable, and actually useful for real-life conversations.

👥 Group size: 6–8 people

🗓 Schedule & Locations

Group #1 Option:
Sololaki | Cafe Novel (private room) | Liberty Square Metro
* Mondays & Wednesdays
* 6:30 – 7:30 PM | 18:30 – 19:30

A cozy setting in a beautiful bookstore and café, where you can enjoy Georgian wine or your drink of choice while learning. *Please note: purchases are optional, not required.

Group #2 Option
Saburtalo | Book Space | State University Metro
*Please note different times on the different days.
* Tuesdays: 6:00 – 7:00 PM | 18:00 – 19:00
* Thursdays: 5:00 – 6:00 PM | 17:00 – 18:00

Easy access, great for those based near State University and central Saburtalo.

👥 Who is this for?
* Newcomers getting started with Kartuli (Georgian)
* Those wanting to improve speaking, listening, and reading
* Students
* Travelers looking to connect and meet people
* Anyone wanting to feel more confident navigating daily life in Georgia

💰 Cost: 200 GEL for 8 sessions (paid in advance)

✨ Additional option
One-on-one lessons are also available for those who want more dedicated time or would like to enhance their group learning.

📅 Monthly sessions
New groups open each month. If your preferred neighborhood isn’t included this time, you can join the waitlist for the next round.

🪑 If you are a business offering rental space and would like to connect for future sessions, please see details below.

📩 To register or join the waitlist
WhatsApp: +995 599 52 85 15
Email: [email protected]

Please include your name and preferred location/days (of if you are open to either) when contacting Teacher Nino.

Please let Nino know Amanda or Kartuli Connect sent you to her.

02/04/2026

Here is our Monthly Invite for April.

Ten ideas to get out into the city, invite someone along, and try something new.

Try one, try ten. Tag where you go. Share what you discover. Your recommendations will help shape next month’s Ten to Try.

You don't need to complete all ten before you share your invite with us!

31/03/2026

🔌 UTILITIES | INCREASE

Prices for residential consumers will rise by 5 tetri per kWh.

29/03/2026

💬This is your sign to start learning Kartuli. 🇬🇪

Maybe you just arrived in Georgia.
Maybe you have been here for a while.

Either way, there are many ways to start learning the language and feeling more connected to the place you live.

On KartuliConnect.ge, you will find videos in the Community Resources section to help you get started. There are also several apps that can help you learn the alphabet, numbers, and everyday words.

If you prefer learning with a teacher, you can:

• Join one of the local language schools
• Find a local tutor in one of the language exchange groups
• Get a small group of friends together and learn together!
• Try online lessons through Preply

I am currently using Preply so I can focus on individualized lessons from the comfort of my home. My tutor Tea (shout out!) ensures the lessons are relevant to my life and we move at my pace. She's great! And I get one on one practice with a local.

Preply currently offers 70% off your first trial lesson. There are more than 45 Kartuli tutors starting around $10 USD, so your first lesson can cost as little as $3.

One of the best features is that you can watch tutor introduction videos first to see their teaching style and vibe. Then during your trial lesson you can talk about your learning goals and see if it is the right fit.

No one expects you to write poetry on day one.
Locals know Kartuli is a difficult language, but the fact that you try is always appreciated.

Learning even a little can make daily life easier. You can talk with neighbors, feel more confident at the bazaar, and maybe even share a joke or flirt a little.

Download the app, then click the link below or in the comments to browse tutors and start learning Kartuli this week.

https://preply.com/en/?pref=MjY5NzU1OTg=&id=1773598980.009408&ep=w1

21/03/2026

FOOD | Community Highlight
Jonath Winter

My personal recommendation.

Wow wow wow. Direct quote from my mouth with the first spoon of broth.

It was so much food I had to get the tray!

The meat was incredibly tender, high quality, and the combination of mushrooms and red peppers is a winning combo.

If you love a good stew, I 10/10 recommend The Pot.

I had the Deep Saperavi Beef, which comes with a German Brötchen bun and house pickles. Loved the packaging of the stew in the jar! And the portion size is big enough for two servings.

Also got to try the Spicy Pepper Eggplant Caviar and Beetroot Walnut Mousse and I can't decide which one was my favorite.

If you are craving something hearty and clearly made with love, check out the menu! Can't wait to try the others! You will be hearing from me again!

21/03/2026

FOOD | Community Highlight tbilisi

My personal review.
Wow wow wow. Direct quote from my mouth with the first spoon of broth.

It was so much food I had to get the tray!

The meat was incredibly tender, high quality, and the combination of mushrooms and red peppers is a winning combo.

If you love a good stew, I 10/10 recommend The Pot.

I had the Deep Saperavi Beef, which comes with a German Brötchen bun and house pickles. Loved the packaging of the stew in the jar! And the portion size is big enough for two servings.

Also got to try the Spicy Pepper Eggplant Caviar and Beetroot Walnut Mousse and I can't decide which one was my favorite.

If you are craving something hearty and clearly made with love, check out the menu! Can't wait to try the others! You will be hearing from me again!