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 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 updated pricing). Plan to confirm audio-visual rules and rehearsal windows early.
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.
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
Pullman Tbilisi Axis Towers
Location & capacity: 37M Ilia Chavchavadze Ave., ~4.3 km from Freedom Square. The combined ballroom (1+2+3) offers 600-700.
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: Courtyard accommodates ~400 guests, while Tbilisi Marriott seats about 230. 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 m² and 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 m² with 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
Wyndham Grand Tbilisi is a centrally located five-star hotel near Freedom Square, offering a modern and technically equipped setting for mid-sized graduation ceremonies. The venue includes several conference rooms and a main ballroom (around 300 m²) on the upper floor with panoramic views over Old Tbilisi, creating a strong visual backdrop for formal events. In terms of capacity, the main ballroom accommodates approximately 250 guests in theatre setup and up to 300 for receptions, while the overall event space (across multiple rooms) can handle around 300–400 attendees depending on layout . One of its key advantages is the balance between professional infrastructure and location—it offers built-in AV capabilities, controlled indoor conditions, and easy access for guests staying in the city center. However, compared to larger venues like Hualing or Sheraton, it is not designed for very large cohorts, making it better suited for private graduations, smaller faculties, or segmented ceremonies. Overall, Wyndham Grand Tbilisi is a solid choice for a clean, professional, and well-organized graduation event with strong city views and reliable hotel-level service.
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
Funicular Complex (Mtatsminda) is one of the most iconic venues in Tbilisi, perched on Mtatsminda hill with sweeping panoramic views over the entire city. It is a strong option for mid-sized graduation ceremonies, offering multiple spaces such as the Grand Ballroom (around 200–250 guests), the Restaurant Funicular (150–180 guests), and smaller areas like the Pano hall and Sanadimo for more intimate gatherings. The venue’s biggest advantage is its atmosphere—historic elegance combined with dramatic city views, especially at sunset and night, creating a highly memorable backdrop for ceremonies and photography. It works particularly well for events that blend a formal graduation with a celebratory dinner. However, logistics require attention: guest transportation (via the funicular or shuttle) and timing need to be carefully planned, especially for large groups. Overall, Funicular Complex is ideal for a scenic, elegant graduation ceremony with a strong visual impact and classic Tbilisi character.
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.
More About This Venue:
Château Mukhrani
Château Mukhrani is one of the most prestigious and visually impressive venues near Tbilisi, located about 30–40 minutes from the city in a historic royal estate surrounded by vineyards and landscaped gardens. It is exceptionally well-suited for high-end graduation ceremonies, offering multiple large-capacity spaces such as the Orangery (around 300 guests), the rose garden and outdoor lawns (up to 300 guests), and additional areas across the estate that can accommodate even larger, multi-part events. The venue combines heritage architecture, nature, and luxury hospitality, making it ideal for ceremonies that aim for a formal, cinematic, and memorable atmosphere. It works especially well for events that include both a structured ceremony and a reception or dinner, as guests can move between indoor and outdoor settings seamlessly. The main consideration is logistics—transportation and coordination need to be planned carefully due to its location outside Tbilisi. Overall, Château Mukhrani is a top-tier choice for institutions seeking a grand, elegant graduation experience in a historic and scenic setting.
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
Château de Vere is a refined event venue located just outside central Tbilisi, offering a blend of classic European-style architecture and modern event facilities. It is well-suited for mid-sized graduation ceremonies, with an indoor banquet hall accommodating approximately 150–200 guests and an outdoor amphitheatre space for around 200–250 guests, making it ideal for institutions looking for a more intimate yet elegant setting. The venue stands out for its polished interiors, landscaped surroundings, and strong culinary offering, which allows ceremonies to transition smoothly into formal dinners or receptions. Its slightly elevated location provides pleasant views and a sense of exclusivity, while still being relatively accessible from the city. However, it is not designed for very large cohorts, so it works best for private graduations, smaller faculties, or VIP-style events. Overall, Château de Vere is a great option for a stylish, boutique graduation ceremony with a premium and intimate atmosphere.
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
Shuaguli Event Venue is a spacious nature-focused venue located near Tbilisi (Tserovani area), offering a mix of elegant indoor halls and large outdoor settings around a lake. It is particularly well-suited for graduation ceremonies thanks to its multiple flexible spaces: a main indoor hall accommodating around 300 guests, landscaped gardens for 120–140 guests, a panoramic hall for smaller groups, and expansive outdoor areas—including lakeside and pavilion spaces—that can host large-scale events of up to 500 guests or more depending on setup. This makes it ideal for institutions that want to combine a formal ceremony with an outdoor celebration or dinner. One of its biggest strengths is the atmosphere—greenery, water views, and natural light create a relaxed yet premium feel that photographs beautifully. However, because it is outside central Tbilisi, organizers should plan transportation carefully and ensure weather backup options for outdoor segments. Overall, Shuaguli is a strong choice for graduation events that aim for a resort-style experience with both indoor security and outdoor flexibility.
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.
Hï Tbilisi (Lisi Panorama)
Hï Tbilisi (Lisi Panorama) is a large-scale premium event venue located in the Lisi Lake area, known for its elevated position and panoramic views over the city. Unlike smaller lifestyle venues, it is actually designed for high-capacity events, accommodating approximately 100 to 700 guests in seated format and up to 2,500 in standing reception style . This makes it one of the most versatile venues in Tbilisi for graduation ceremonies, capable of handling both mid-sized university groups and very large cohorts. The venue is equipped with professional staging, lighting, and sound systems, allowing for full ceremony production (speeches, award presentations, live streaming, etc.). Its main strength is combining scale + views + technical infrastructure in one place, but because of its size, it works best for well-organized events with proper planning rather than small, intimate graduations. Overall, it’s a strong choice for institutions that want a large, modern, and production-ready graduation ceremony venue with a dramatic visual backdrop.
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 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.
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 livestream link.
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 & Videography Team
If you need help documenting the big day, our team at Artmakers Studio specializes in capturing milestone events offering professional 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 photography or videography packages tailored to your graduation.
Not sure where to begin? 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
