Graduation isn’t just another party – it’s a live‑broadcast event with speeches, proud families and priceless photo moments. To pull it off, you need more than a nice room. You need good acoustics, clear sightlines, reliable stage lighting, high quality sound systems and controlled audience flow. Fortunately, the Tbilisi area offers a wide range of venues that tick those boxes.
This 2026 guide written by the experienced team of Artmakers Studio, groups the best options into categories, summarizes their strengths and weaknesses and shares planning tips so you can focus on celebrating your graduation.
Tbilisi Concert Hall
- Location & capacity: 1 Petre Melikishvili Street, ~2 km from Freedom Square.
- Pros: The largest formal auditorium in the city, centrally located and celebrated for its cultural significance. Ideal for university‑wide ceremonies or large graduating classes.
- Cons & costs: Rental figures are 15,000 GEL for the main hall and 6,000 GEL for a smaller hall (check with the management for the updated pricing) plan to confirm Audio Visual rules and rehearsal windows early.
Location of Tbilisi Concert Hall on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/x2cXYNnszE2aH4Ev9
Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace (Kavkasioni Ballroom)
- Location & capacity: 20 Telavi Street, ~1.9 km from Freedom Square. The Kavkasioni Ballroom accommodates 1,050 in theatre style and up to 900 for receptions.
- Pros: High theatre capacity for a hotel ballroom; in‑house catering. The hotel lists complimentary parking.
- Cons: Stage lighting is rather poor. Ask for proper lighting and make sure to go in person for technical checks.
Graduation Photos taken at this venue:
- Gallery 1: New Vision University Graduation Ceremony
Location of Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FFfsedCNtF6j6Qcv8
Pullman Tbilisi Axis Towers
- Location & capacity: 37M Ilia Chavchavadze Ave., ~4.3 km from Freedom Square. The combined ballroom (1+2+3) offers 700 theatre seats and 800 cocktail capacity.
- Pros: In the Axis Twin Towers. Beautiful exterior and a nice terrace. Well-lit hall.
Graduation Photos taken at this venue:
- Gallery 1: CIU University Graduation Ceremony
Marriott Hotels (Courtyard by Marriott & Tbilisi Marriott)
These two sister properties sit on Freedom Square and Rustaveli Avenue.
- Courtyard by Marriott Tbilisi: Steps from Freedom Square (~0.1 km). Its Grand Ballroom holds up to 400 guests for catered events. Extensive accessibility notes and central location make it easy for families.
- Tbilisi Marriott Hotel: On Rustaveli Avenue (~0.7 km from the square). The main ballroom seats 230 in banquet style. This heritage hotel provides a classic ambience and explicit accessibility statements.
Why choose them? For graduation ceremonies needing 200–400 seats, these hotels balance convenience, professional event support and walkability. They’re ideal for departmental graduations or private academies. The primary downside is capacity; larger classes should consider bigger venues.
Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel, Tbilisi City Centre
- Location & capacity: First Republic Square, ~1.4 km from Freedom Square. The hotel offers nine meeting rooms with 820‑person maximum capacity overall; the Republic Event Hall seats 300 in theatre layout, while another ballroom accommodates up to 350.
- Pros: Multiple room sizes under one roof; complimentary parking. Centrally located near public transport (bus 37 from the airport stops 250 m away).
Hotels & Preference Hualing Tbilisi (Hualing Ballroom)
- Location & capacity: Situated by the Tbilisi Sea on the city’s eastern edge. The Hualing Ballroom covers 800 m²and can host 600 theatre, 500 classroom, 150 U‑shape, 750 reception and 500 banquet guests . It positions itself as a five‑star business hotel with an 800 m² ballroom.
- Pros: One of the city’s largest hotel ballrooms. Suitable for mid‑ to large‑size graduations that need a single spacious room and adjacent breakout spaces.
- Cons & costs: The hotel sits outside the immediate city centre near the Tbilisi Sea, so travel by car or bus is required and public transport options are limited.
Graduation Photos taken at this venue:
Biltmore Hotel Tbilisi
- Location & capacity: At 29 Rustaveli Avenue near Freedom Square. The Grand Royal Ballroom spans 550 m²with a soaring 9.5 m ceiling and accommodates roughly 546 theatre or 450 banquet guests . Four smaller meeting rooms support breakout sessions .
- Pros: An iconic mix of historic IMEL architecture and modern glass tower. Its central location along Rustaveli makes logistics easy and the ballroom’s height adds grandeur to commencement décor.
Paragraph Freedom Square (Luxury Collection Hotel)
- Location & capacity: Directly on Freedom Square, the hotel boasts eight event rooms totalling 1,393 m² . Its Grand Ballroom (567 m²) seats 350 banquet or 600 theatre guests, while a circular ballroom (320 m²) seats 170 banquet or 200 theatre .
- Pros: This property features state‑of‑the‑art ballrooms, stylish foyers and multiple breakout rooms . Its prime location and luxury interiors make it perfect for formal university ceremonies.
Gallery 1: New Vision University Graduation Ceremony
Wyndham Grand Tbilisi
- Location & capacity: Located at 3 Lado Gudiashvili Street, just steps from Freedom Square . The hotel offers five meeting rooms totalling 800 m². The Dome Ballroom (300 m²) seats 250 theatre and 150 banquet, while the Pirosmani Room (200 m²) accommodates 80 theatre, 100 reception or 50 banquet guests.
- Pros: Modern interiors and a 2019 opening mean new equipment and fresh décor. Central location makes it easy for families and graduates to reach the ceremony.
- Cons: Ballroom capacities are smaller than those at competing five‑star hotels.
Funicular Complex
- Location & capacity: On Mtatsminda plateau, ~1.3 km from Freedom Square. Ballroom capacity is around 250, with additional halls and a terrace for 60–80 guests.
- Pros: Panoramic views over Tbilisi; multiple indoor and outdoor spaces let you separate ceremony, cocktail hour and dinner. Great for photo‑forward celebrations.
- Cons: Terrace usage depends on weather; sound restrictions and curfews are unclear. Access via the Mtatsminda funicular can require queue management.
- Cost: Expensive; minimum‑spend quotes are typical
Château Mukhrani
- Location & capacity: In the village of Mukhrani, ~32.9 km from Freedom Square. This historic estate offers multiple spaces: the orangery (300 seats), woods by the orangery (200), rose garden (300) and the grand restaurant (up to 500).
- Pros: A “destination graduation” atmosphere with vineyards, a palace and history. Several indoor and outdoor spaces allow a ceremony, dinner and photo tour on site.
Château de Vere
- Location & capacity: About a 30‑minute drive from Tbilisi and roughly 7 km from Freedom Square, this stylish restaurant can host around 200–250 guests .
- Pros: Known for its Georgian cuisine and curated wine list, Château de Vere combines a modern ambience with a timeless sense of grandeur – ideal for a sit‑down graduation dinner. Its countryside setting offers privacy and beautiful backdrops.
Shuaguli Event Venue
- Location & capacity: Located about 50 minutes from Tbilisi, this complex features multiple spaces: a banquet hall for 300 guests, and an open area by a pond for 100.
- Pros: Lush gardens, a pond and gazebos create a picturesque setting for outdoor ceremonies and photos . Separate areas allow you to hold the ceremony, cocktail hour and dinner in distinct spaces.
- Cons & costs: The longer travel time and reliance on outdoor areas mean you’ll need clear transport and weather plans.
Planning tips and timeline
- Book early: Peak‑season venues sell out months in advance. For large graduations, start site visits 6–12 months before and aim to sign contracts 3 weeks later.
- Line up technical vendors: Finalize your media production partner 3–6 months before the event and work with them on stage design and floorplans. With our years of experience covering tens of graduation ceremonies across Georgia, we at Artmakers Studio can give you practical advice on everything from seating arrangements to lighting, etc.
- Send invites and finalize your programme: Aim to lock your guest list and print designs 4–8 weeks before. Schedule a rehearsal to ensure a smooth run‑of‑show. Artmakers Studio provides its clients with a dedicated event page on the website for displaying the graduation ceremony’s details/schedule and link to the livestream.
- Have a backup: Outdoor venues are beautiful, but you’ll need a rain plan. Reserve tents or select a venue with an indoor option just in case.
- Consider accessibility: When choosing, look for wheelchair access, proximity to public transport and available parking. Your guests will thank you for that.
- Work closely with your photography and videography team: Photo zones, natural light and good sightlines are critical for capturing memories. Choose venues with photogenic backdrops and communicate with your photography team at Artmakers Studio about venue selection, stage angles and guest flow.
Final thoughts
Tbilisi offers an impressive mix of venues for graduation ceremonies – from historic auditoriums to panoramic terraces and country estates. Your final choice should match your guest count, budget, desired atmosphere and logistical needs. Whatever you decide, secure your date early, clarify technical and accessibility details, and plan a rain contingency. With the right venue and careful planning, your 2026 ceremony will honour your graduates and provide beautiful memories for years to come.
Your Graduation Photography and Videography Team
If you need help documenting the big day, our team at Artmakers Studio specializes in capturing milestone events and graduation photography and videography services. We know these venues inside and out, and we’d love to help you make your ceremony unforgettable. Contact us for graduation photography or videography packages tailored to your graduation.
Send us a message on WhatsApp to schedule a Zoom meeting between our lead photographer and your organizers and enjoy a free consultation tailored to your needs: +995593191327
