Kutaisi: Where Georgia’s European Story Comes Alive #ertad

Europe Day in Kutaisi – a two-day series of events, is full of interesting and engaging activities, talks, concerts and happenings not to be missed. Following the successes of the Europe Day events in Tbilisi and Batumi, which drew thousands of visitors, Kutaisi will become the next vibrant stage where Georgia and the European Union come together to mark their enduring friendship, partnership, shared values, and common goals.

This is your invitation to be part of that story — to explore, learn, and connect.
Come join the celebration on 24–25 October, experience the spirit of Europe in the heart of Imereti, and discover what brings us — #ertad.

Kutaisi’s European spirit is rooted in history, ideas, and people. The city has long been a cradle of education, reform, and civic awakening — qualities that mirror the very principles upon which the European Union was built. A symbol of this connection is one of Kutaisi’s most outstanding sons, Niko Nikoladze — a visionary whose ideas on transformation and modernisation placed him on a continental stage. Having defended his doctoral thesis, Disarmament and its Economic and Social Consequences, at the University of Zurich, Nikoladze was not just a great Georgian thinker, but a truly European one. Born and raised in Kutaisi, he brought the best of Europe home, translating Western concepts of urban planning, governance, and technology into practice — from Paris-inspired Street layouts to innovative agricultural methods and pioneering infrastructure projects, including the Poti seaport and the Georgian railway. Nikoladze was far from alone. Kutaisi has given rise to a long line of reformers and cultural pioneers — from Kato Mikeladze, Georgia’s first female journalist and one of the earliest champions of women’s rights, to poet Akaki Tsereteli, whose works inspired generations of freedom-minded citizens. The city was also home to Alexandra Chikovani, who introduced Georgia’s first charity event at the beginning of the 20th century — a daisy-flower fundraiser inspired by Swedish social initiatives. That idea later evolved into Gviriloba, Kutaisi’s beloved annual celebration of community and compassion. This legacy of openness, innovation, and civic pride makes Kutaisi much more than a historic city — it is a place where European ideals have long taken root.

“Kutaisi embodies the energy, creativity, and values that unite Georgia and Europe. Celebrating Europe Day here is more than symbolic — it is a tribute to the people who, through their ideas and actions, keep building our shared future.”- EU Ambassador Paweł Herczyński.

And indeed Kutaisi stands as the natural epicentre for rediscovering what unites us — a shared belief in education, progress, equality, and human dignity.

This year, as the city hosts Europe Day 2025, its streets will not only host festivities but also echo with the stories of visionaries like Nikoladze, Mikeladze, and Chikovani — Georgians whose ideas and ideals have always been European. The story of Kutaisi is, in many ways, the story of Europe in Georgia — a story that continues to grow, #ertad.

Partnership and Shared Values

During the two-day event, you can expect cultural, educational, sports, and environmental activities designed to fit visitors of all ages. The programme begins with an energising 12-km Cycling Rally, promoting sustainable mobility and healthy lifestyles, followed by the “European Kutaisi” Walking City Tour and the “Taste of Europe” gastronomic event, showcasing European culture through local cuisine.

Visitors can enjoy photo and audio-visual exhibitions such as “This Country is Yours”, the screening of the documentary “Kutaisi Wave”, and a festive evening concert. Discussions like “Women as Changemakers” and a photography exhibition and a masterclass will offer platforms for reflection and inspiration. For children and youth, interactive games, creative workshops, and storytelling sessions by the EU and EU member states Ambassadors will connect European stories and values with imagination and play. The “Green Corner” will highlight sustainability and climate awareness, with hands-on activities such as seed bombing, a Green Fashion Workshop, and a lively Puppet Show on climate action.

Blending culture, dialogue, and innovation, Europe Day in Kutaisi reflects the EU-Georgia partnership at its best — open, inclusive, and forward-looking, celebrating the shared values that continue to bring us #ertad.

The tradition of innovation, openness, and progress that Kutaisi’s great sons and daughters once brought from Europe continues today — not through grand reforms alone, but through the everyday spirit of its people. That same curiosity and drive for improvement now shape a new generation of Georgians who see their future firmly within the European family.

For more information, check out our website and social media accounts regularly posting new content and videos. Feel free to use our content in your coverage and do not hesitate to contact us if various formats are needed. https://eu4georgia.eu/europe-days-kutaisi/

About EU-Georgia relations:

For more than three decades, the European Union has fostered a unique and close partnership with citizens, supporting Georgia’s continued development through knowledge and experience sharing and financial support. Georgia was granted EU candidate status in December 2023.

Since 1992, the EU has been Georgia’s largest foreign donor. Per capita, Georgia received one of the highest levels of assistance of all of the EU’s partners.

The EU is also Georgia’s largest trading partner, focused on introducing high standards and quality, while respecting and promoting Georgian heritage, traditions, and culture.

Collaboration between Georgia and the EU helps connect people digitally and physically, improve skills, and enrich lives.