Cultural Festivals and Community Events for Repatriates in Armenia
Being in Armenia lets you experience full richness and the value of Armenian repatriation. Many repats are often reminded of why they chose to repatriate when they get to routinely experience Armenian culture, and there is no better way to experience Armenian culture than to take part in Armenian festivals and traditions. As you integrate in Armenia, you will get to experience the essence and value of Armenian culture.
There are a lot of ways to celebrate Armenian culture. Whether you want to stick to the traditions dating back to prehistory, or maybe you want to try something new, in Armenia, there is something for everyone.
You can find numerous festivals and cultural events all across the country, so if you live in Yerevan or want to take a day trip out to the regions, with events for food, music, dance, art, film, literature, media, Christianity, wine, and history, there are plenty of reasons to get out into the countryside
National, Traditional, and Christian Holidays
What: Grape Blessing Day
When: August 15
When: August 15
Across all of Armenia’s churches you can find a Christian festival dating back centuries. People often make long road trips and drive all the way to Tatev, or just simply go to their local church to celebrate.
What: Armenian Christmas
When: January 6
When: January 6
Perhaps the oldest Armenian Christian tradition is Armenian Christmas held on January 6th. People are often celebrating in their homes, but on the night of January 5, Churches hold a liturgy called "Chragaluits" and a ceremony is held on January 6 to commemorate Christ's baptism.
What: Vardavar
When: 3rd Sunday of July
A day where it is perfectly okay to splash water on each other. Celebrating an Armenian tradition dating back hundreds of years. Enjoy your Armenian repatriation with Vardavar, an experience celebrated all over Armenia.
When: 3rd Sunday of July
A day where it is perfectly okay to splash water on each other. Celebrating an Armenian tradition dating back hundreds of years. Enjoy your Armenian repatriation with Vardavar, an experience celebrated all over Armenia.
What: Armenian Independence Day
When: September 21
When: September 21
As the name suggests, September 21st is the day where Armenia gained independence from the Soviet Union and is often celebrated with a massive nationwide party and family day.
Traditional Food and Wine Festivals
In recent years, Armenia has seemingly found a festival for everything. From food to hot air balloons, Armenia has it all, here you will find just a few.
What: Gata Festival
When: September 21
When: September 21
Who doesn’t love a good gata? Nowhere else on earth can you go to an Armenian desert festival as vibrant and delicious as the Gata Festival in the Vayots Dzor region. Celebrate Armenian independence with Gata, and taste how good it can be to integrate in Armenia.
What: Mulberry Festival
When: Dependant on Harvest (early Summer)
When: Dependant on Harvest (early Summer)
There are few places in the world where the streets of a city get sticky in the summer from the fresh and ripe mulberries growing effortlessly. They are so numerous in fact, that there is a whole festival dedicated to them.
Each more intoxicating than the next, raise a glass to your Armenian repatriation through the streets of Yerevan, in the mountains of Areni, or the forests of Dilijan. Each with its own live music performances and good food to keep the hangover away.
What: Yerevan Beer Days
When: Late Summer
When: Late Summer
Oh it's not all about wine in Armenia. There are a number of up and coming beer labels that are being showcased at Yerevan Beer Days where you can enjoy a cold one on a summers day.
Music Festivals
There are so many concerts that take place in the warmer months in Armenia that you might not even listen to a song unless it's live. Beyond the concerts however there are more than a few music festivals that illuminate the Armenian spirit with old and new traditions.
What: Khachaturian International Festival
When: Late fall - early winter
When: Late fall - early winter
In honor of the great Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian, you will have the distinct pleasure of hearing the most renowned musicians from around the world perform in Armenia and even alongside our very own Armenia State Orchestra.
What: Sevan International Music Festival
When: August
When: August
Integration in Armenia doesn’t mean you have to stop partying! Rock out a stone’s throw away from the beautiful Lake Sevan with music from all around the world as you close off the summer in August.
Dance Festivals
What: Gutan Festival
When: August
When: August
A day and night of all the beautiful and traditional dances Armenian culture has to offer. Celebrate your Armenian integration with the rich heritage and nuance of Armenian culture in motion.
What: Cascade Dance Nights
When: Summertime
When: Summertime
Enjoy dancing into the night at Cascade with Armenian traditional dances in the warm summer months with your friends, local Armenians, other repats, and travelers from around the world.
Other Festivals
What: EVN Report Media Festival
When: May
When: May
Enjoy an entire weekend of panel discussions, Q&As, fireside chats, and more from one of Armenia’s most prominent news outlets.
What: Yerevan Book Festival
When: September
When: September
See the classic Armenian literature being showcased in its ancient majesty at the Yerevan Book Festival. Brush up on your literature and remind yourself of the richness of Armenian history and the reason for your Armenian repatriation.
What: Skyball
When: October
When: October
See the beauty of hot air balloons scattered across the sky as Yerevan welcomes you to see the the city from above in October.
What: Air Festival
When: Autumn
When: Autumn
Flying planes, skydivers, hot air balloons, paragliders, and virtually every other type of aerial show you can imagine.
What: Golden Apricot Film Festival
When: Summertime
When: Summertime
See all the movies you never thought you would see at the Annual Apricot Film Festival and witness Armenian (and non Armenian) filmmaking at its finest.
What: Museum Night Yerevan
When: May
When: May
If you love museums but hate how they close too early, one day a year you can visit all the museums you like as late as midnight.
Diaspora and Repatriate-Specific Events
For those of you who would like a less festive but just as substantial engagement opportunity in Armenia, there are a number of conferences and events centered solely on diasporans.
What: Diaspora Summit
When: September
When: September
Every two years, repats can have the privilege of attending the Diaspora Summit where they will be able to tune into panel discussions from global experts around the world on how to grow Armenia and help it flourish. Meet others who have gone through Armenian repatriation and get tips and tricks on how better to integrate in Armenia.
Opportunities for Involvement
What: WCIT Digitec
When: Dates vary
When: Dates vary
While it is not a traditional Armenian conference, Armenia has hosted the WCIT twice in the past 5 years, indicating a high likelihood for future tech conferences to be hosted by Armenia, such as Starmus. As the tech ecosystem grows in Armenia, so will opportunities to partake in it.
Repat Armenia and Repatriation Integration Center
Repat Armenia and the RIC are often hosting events for repats to network and build new connections.
Repat Armenia and the RIC are often hosting events for repats to network and build new connections.
EventToura made a list of festivals in Armenia for 2025. Check it out here.
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