Events & Festivals in Armenia

Armenians celebrate New Year with family feasts featuring traditional dishes like anoush abour (sweet soup) and khorovats (barbecue). Republic Square in Yerevan hosts public celebrations with concerts, fireworks, and ice skating. Many restaurants offer special New Year's Eve programs with live music and dancing until dawn.

Armenians celebrate Christmas on January 6th, combining Christmas and Epiphany. The main service is held at Etchmiadzin Cathedral, where the Catholicos blesses water. Traditional celebrations include lighting candles, attending church services, and family meals featuring fish and rice pilaf.

A month-long celebration of winter with ice sculptures, outdoor concerts, and winter sports demonstrations. The festival includes ice skating at Republic Square, snowman-building competitions, and traditional winter food stalls serving hot drinks and Armenian pastries.

A pre-Christian fire ritual celebrating the coming of spring, now incorporated into Armenian Christian tradition. Couples jump over bonfires for good luck and fertility. The largest celebration occurs at Etchmiadzin Cathedral with massive bonfires and traditional music.

March 8th is a major holiday in Armenia with men presenting flowers and gifts to women. Restaurants offer special menus, theaters host women-focused performances, and public spaces feature concerts celebrating women's achievements. Mimosa flowers are traditional gifts.

Armenia's premier film event showcasing Armenian and international cinema. Features screenings, director Q&As, workshops, and the Golden Apricot competition. Screenings occur at Moscow Cinema, Nairi Cinema, and other venues across Yerevan.

April 24th commemorates the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The main ceremony occurs at Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex where thousands lay flowers at the eternal flame. The day includes solemn processions, cultural events, and educational programs throughout Yerevan.

A celebration of Armenian winemaking featuring over 50 local wineries. Sargsyan Street transforms into a pedestrian wine village with tastings, food pairings, live music, and winemaking workshops. Highlights include rare Areni and Voskehat varietals.

May 9th commemorates victory in WWII and the liberation of Shushi in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. Military parades, concerts, and fireworks occur at Republic Square. Veterans wear their medals and receive public honors throughout the day.

Celebrates Armenia's national dish with competitions for the best dolma (stuffed grape leaves). Held in Areni village, featuring traditional cooking demonstrations, folk music, and unlimited dolma tasting. Categories include meat, vegetarian, and innovative dolma variations.

Armenia's largest beer celebration featuring local and international breweries. Held at Lovers' Park with live rock and jazz performances, beer tasting workshops, food trucks, and brewing competitions. Special focus on Armenian craft beer revolution.

A pagan festival celebrating the goddess of water, now celebrated 14 weeks after Easter. Everyone participates in water fights - strangers drench each other with buckets, water guns, and hoses. The most enthusiastic celebrations occur in Yerevan's streets and parks.

A month-long classical music festival featuring Armenian and international orchestras, soloists, and ensembles. Performances occur at Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall, Komitas Chamber Music Hall, and outdoor venues including medieval monasteries.

Unique concerts held at Garni Temple and the basalt columns of Symphony of Stones canyon. Features classical, jazz, and folk performances using the natural acoustics of these ancient sites. Evening performances are illuminated by torchlight.

The premier competition for kokh, traditional Armenian wrestling. Held in Gyumri's central stadium, featuring regional champions competing in traditional costumes. The event includes folk music, dance performances, and awards presented by wrestling legends.

September 21st celebrates Armenia's 1991 independence from the Soviet Union. Republic Square hosts military parades, cultural performances, and massive fireworks. Throughout Yerevan, concerts, exhibitions, and street festivals celebrate Armenian culture and achievements.

A week-long celebration of Yerevan's founding in 782 BC. Features concerts on every corner, historical exhibitions, open-air theater, and a massive birthday cake in Republic Square. The celebration culminates with a grand concert featuring Armenian pop stars.

A harvest festival at GUM Market featuring autumn produce from across Armenia. Highlights include pomegranate displays, grape stomping, dried fruit and nut markets, and cooking demonstrations of autumn dishes like pumpkin dolma and fruit lavash.

Celebrates the Areni grape harvest in the village where the world's oldest winery was discovered. Features grape stomping competitions, traditional wine-making demonstrations, unlimited wine tasting from local producers, and folk dancing in the vineyards.

One of Eastern Europe's premier jazz events featuring international stars and Armenian jazz musicians. Concerts occur at Karen Demirchyan Complex, Moscow Cinema, and jazz clubs throughout Yerevan. Includes workshops, jam sessions, and emerging artist competitions.

Celebrates Armenia's world-famous cognac at the Ararat Brandy Factory. Includes guided tours of aging cellars, master blender workshops, vintage tastings, and food pairings. The festival highlights the history of Armenian brandy-making since 1887.

A traditional European-style Christmas market in Republic Square featuring wooden stalls selling handicrafts, Christmas decorations, and seasonal treats. Includes carol singing, nativity scenes, Santa's grotto, mulled wine, and roasted chestnuts. The square features a massive Christmas tree.

The premier ice hockey tournament featuring teams from across Armenia. Held at Yerevan's Mika Sports Arena, the fast-paced competition showcases Armenia's growing winter sports scene. Includes youth exhibitions and skills competitions between periods.