Last update: Ani Sahakyan on 7 March 2025
Drive, fun, entertainment, and culture all year long.
So far, festivals, conferences, and large-scale events have played important roles in developing the tourism industry. They let everyone learn about the material and non-material culture of the specific nation. At the same time, the host country gets a chance to attract more people to its cultural sites and explore its traditions and history. By considering the importance of Armenia festivals, here we are to present some of the most important Yerevan festivals and large-scale events in Armenia dedicated to the promotion of international tourism of the country and spreading awareness about its culture, history, and traditions. The Yerevan event calendar includes cultural events nearly every week, from wine and beer tastings to film premieres and art exhibits.
Many Armenian festivals began as pagan celebrations connected to nature, the stars, and farming seasons. Vardavar, now a water festival celebrated by the Armenian Apostolic Church, was initially held in honor of Astghik, the ancient goddess of love and water. Trndez, which includes fire-jumping, comes from Zoroastrian traditions and was once tied to sun worship and purification. Over time, these festivals were adapted into Christian customs but still follow the same seasons and keep many of their original meanings.
Every year on April 30, Armenia joins the global celebration of International Jazz Day, a UNESCO-designated event highlighting jazz as a universal language of peace and creativity. In Yerevan, jazz enthusiasts, musicians, and visitors come together to enjoy a day filled with rhythm, improvisation, and Armenian musical influences.
This year, the heart of the celebration will be at the Cafesjian Center for the Arts (Cascade), where jazz lovers will gather in the courtyard for an unforgettable experience. From 14:00 to 22:00, the air will be filled with the sounds of beloved Armenian melodies performed by talented local artists, blending traditional influences with jazz’s rich improvisational spirit.
Armenia’s music festivals go beyond jazz, featuring folk, classical, and electronic music. These events highlight both local performers and international artists.
With free entrance, the event offers a fantastic opportunity for longtime jazz fans and newcomers to immerse themselves in Armenia’s vibrant jazz scene. Visitors can enjoy various free events throughout Armenia, especially during peak cultural seasons like summer and early autumn.
Armenia is renowned for its award-winning wines, attracting locals and tourists alike. One of the most cherished and significant events for both locals and visitors is the Yerevan Wine Days Festival. Familiar with the country and people for seven years, this time Yerevan Wine Days brings with it festivals, expo sessions, and master classes.
After being familiar with the country and its people for seven years, this time, Yerevan Wine Days brings with it festivals, expo sessions, and master classes.
Yerevan Wine Days festival will be held from June 6 to 8, from 4 pm to 11 pm along the crossroads of Saryan-Pushkin-Tumanyan. However, this is just the beginning. During the one-week ‘YereWineDays’ Campaign, restaurants, companies, industries, and experts present their wines. Visitors can try out or buy more than 400 types of wine from one spot.
The event will bring all of those experts together under one roof. Within the scope of the one-week-long festivals and events, Yerevan Wine Days seeks ways to promote event tourism in Armenia and ensure the recognition of Armenia as an ancient cradle of the winemaking industry. Many festivals for tourists in Armenia now include guided tastings, multilingual tours, and curated experiences to help international visitors better understand local traditions.
The entrance to the event is free, but if you would like to taste the wines, you will need to buy a special Wine Tasting Package. This package includes a two-seater tote bag, a branded wine glass, 12 coupons, and a booklet full of information, costing 12.000 AMD. Besides those packages, wine glasses will cost 4000 AMD, and a 12-item coupon will cost 3000 AMD.
Undoubtedly, it is a festival that cannot be missed. The dates are June 6 to June 8, 2025.
Travelers can experience Armenia’s wine heritage year-round, not just during festival season. Our guided Wine Routes of Armenia tour gives travelers access to the country’s top vineyards throughout the year. It includes guided tastings and local stories from regions such as Vayots Dzor and Ararat.
The Golden Apricot International Film Festival has become a significant cultural event in Yerevan, Armenia, since its inception in 2004. Held annually, this renowned festival celebrates diverse cinematic artistry from around the world, offering a platform for filmmakers to showcase their works and engage in meaningful dialogue.
This year, the festival will take place from July 13 to July 20, 2025, featuring screenings of carefully curated films in cinemas across Yerevan. In addition to the screenings, the award ceremony will be held at the prestigious Yerevan Opera and Ballet Theatre, where the best filmmakers will be recognized for their exceptional contributions to the world of cinema.
Whether you’re a film enthusiast or someone looking to experience the cultural vibrancy of Armenia, the Golden Apricot International Film Festival offers an unforgettable cinematic experience.
Get ready for Vardavar 2025 on July 27, Armenia’s most exciting water-splashing festival! Originally a pagan celebration of Astghik, the goddess of love and water, it later became part of the Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ. Despite its Christian adaptation, the tradition of throwing water remains unchanged.
On July 27, streets, parks, and Yerevan’s Republic Square will be filled with people armed with buckets and water balloons. Locals and tourists alike join in—no one stays dry!
On August 17, 2025, Yeraz Park in Yerevan will host the annual Blessing of the Grapes celebration, a unique Armenian tradition marking the beginning of the grape harvest season. This event is a deeply rooted cultural and religious celebration, where locals and visitors gather to witness the blessing of the first grapes of the season, symbolizing prosperity and abundance for the year ahead.
In the morning, visitors can also attend services at churches across Armenia, where the blessing of the grapes takes place. It’s a beautiful spiritual moment, and participants can receive blessed grapes from the church, bringing a piece of the tradition home.
With no entrance fee, the event is open to everyone who wants to immerse themselves in the rich traditions of Armenian culture and experience the warm hospitality of the country’s people. It’s a perfect way to celebrate the local heritage while enjoying the beauty of Yeraz Park and the festive ambiance that fills the air.
To present Armenian old traditions of beer making, and to spread awareness about food and drink culture. Yerevan Beer Days is yet another meaningful and interesting event to attend. This annual event will take place on Aug 22 – 24 from 4 to 10:30 pm alongside Zakyan Street. For entertainment, the festival is divided into several zones. The zones are as follows:
Entrance is free, but of course, to drink beer and taste snacks, tasting packages are sold worth 10.000 AMD, including a large beer mug, case, and 20 coupons. In addition to those packages, Beer-Branded glasses will cost 4000 AMD, and a 12-item coupon will cost 3000 AMD.
Let’s change our location and move to a very famous Armenian village Areni, where the annual Areni Wine Festival will be held on October 4. With more than 13 years of activity, the Areni Wine Festival has become an important player in international tourism. Unlike the other Yerevan festivals, this one aims more to develop Areni village, promote visits to the village, and popularize it as the cradle of the winemaking industry.
The festival consists of several zones:
The entrance is free, but to taste the products, special packages worth 5000 AMD need to be bought.
On October 12, 2025, Yerevan will celebrate the 2807th anniversary of its founding during the Erebuni-Yerevan City Day celebration. This special day honors the city’s founding on the site of Erebuni Fortress in 782 BC, marking over two millennia of history, culture, and heritage.
The city comes alive with parades, concerts, and traditional Armenian dances, where locals and visitors immerse themselves in the festivities. Key landmarks of Yerevan, such as Republic Square, Cascade Complex, and Erebuni Fortress, will host special events and performances, offering a deeper connection to the city’s rich history.
For history enthusiasts, there are opportunities to visit the Erebuni Fortress, the birthplace of Yerevan, and discover fascinating insights into the city’s ancient roots. The festival is a fantastic way to explore the vibrant culture of Yerevan and enjoy the pride and joy of its people on this monumental anniversary.
The Erebuni-Yerevan City Day celebration is a perfect occasion to experience the heart of Armenia while reflecting on its 2807 years of history. Best of all, the event comes with no entrance fee, so everyone is welcome to join in the celebration!
This is just a small part of all the festivals in Armenia that are held in the country. A land of delicious cuisine, ancient history, and culture, Armenia has much more to showcase through its annual festivals, events, ceremonies, conferences, and more. So don’t wait too long. This is the perfect time to organize educational and unforgettable tours to Armenia. Armenia will amaze you with its hospitable people, delicious food, and diverse way of life.
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