The Liana Isakadze International Music Festival Night Serenades 2026 will take place from 19 August to 20 September 2026 in Borjomi, Batumi, and Tbilisi.
This year’s festival presents an exceptionally diverse program of seven outstanding concerts dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the birth of the legendary Georgian violinist Liana Isakadze, founder of the Night Serenades Festival.
The festival will bring together internationally acclaimed artists from Georgia and abroad, alongside a new generation of exceptional young performers.
Featured Artists
• Beatrice Venezi – conductor
• Yuki Serino – violin
• Andres Gabetta – violin
• Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi – bandoneon
• Gloria Campaner – piano
• Jan-Erik Gustafsson – cello
• Anna-Liisa Bezrodny – violin
• Sandro Nebieridze – piano
• Sandro Gegechkori – piano
• Nello Salza – trumpet
• Marika Machitidze – soprano
• Nikoloz Vadachkoria – flute
• Giorgi Shiolashvili – piano
The festival will also feature the Giya Kancheli Tbilisi Youth Orchestra and the festival’s resident ensemble, Virtuosi of Georgia, with Lela Mchedlidze serving as concertmaster.
Opening Concerts
The festival will open on 19 August at 8 PM at Borjomi Likani Hotel in Borjomi.
The second concert will take place on 21 August at 8 PM at the Batumi Drama Theater.
Both opening concerts will be conducted by renowned Italian conductor Beatrice Venezi, with Japanese-Italian violinist Yuki Serino appearing as soloist. Together with Virtuosi of Georgia, they will perform:
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48
• Camille Saint-Saëns: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28
• Felix Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in D minor
23 August: On 23 August at 8 PM, the festival will present María de Buenos Aires: Reloaded, featuring violinist and conductor Andrés Gabetta, bandoneon virtuoso Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi, soprano Marika Machitidze, and Virtuosi of Georgia.
Inspired by Astor Piazzolla’s celebrated tango opera, the project creates a unique artistic dialogue between the Baroque tradition and Argentine tango, combining contrasting musical worlds through a vibrant and expressive programme.
25 August: On 25 August at 8 PM, the festival will present Tango-Operazione, featuring Gloria Campaner, Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi, Marika Machitidze, and Nikoloz Vadachkoria.
Dedicated entirely to the works of Astor Piazzolla and Carlos Gardel, the program explores the close relationship between tango and opera, highlighting the dramatic intensity, elegance, and virtuosity shared by both traditions.
Tbilisi Concerts
Following its performances in Borjomi and Batumi, the festival will continue in Tbilisi.
On 16 September at 8 PM, the Grand Hall of the Tbilisi State Conservatoire will host a piano duo recital by Georgian pianists Sandro Nebieridze and Sandro Gegechkori. The artists will perform masterpieces from the classical piano repertoire, presenting a program that highlights both their individual artistry and their exceptional musical partnership.
On 18 September at 8 PM, also at the Grand Hall of the Tbilisi State Conservatoire, acclaimed Italian conductor Beatrice Venezi will lead the Giya Kancheli Tbilisi Youth Orchestra in a symphonic program featuring two internationally renowned soloists.
The evening will feature distinguished Finnish cellist Jan-Erik Gustafsson and Estonian violinist Anna-Liisa Bezrodny, who will perform works by Johannes Brahms and Camille Saint-Saëns, presenting some of the most expressive and enduring masterpieces of the Romantic repertoire.
Gala Closing Concert
The Liana Isakadze International Music Festival Night Serenades 2026 will conclude on 20 September at 8 PM with a gala closing concert at the Alexander Griboyedov State Academic Drama Theater in Tbilisi.
Entitled ‘Morricone: The Legend of Cinema,’ the final concert will pay tribute to one of the most celebrated film composers of all time, Ennio Morricone.
The evening will feature legendary Italian trumpet virtuoso Nello Salza, renowned for his performances on numerous iconic film soundtracks, Georgian pianist Giorgi Shiolashvili, and the festival’s resident ensemble, Virtuosi of Georgia.
The audience will hear unforgettable works by Ennio Morricone from some of the most beloved films in cinema history, including Once Upon a Time in America, Once Upon a Time in the West, Cinema Paradiso, Malena, and other celebrated scores.
Combining the emotional depth of symphonic performance with the timeless beauty of Morricone’s film music, the gala concert will bring the 2026 edition of Night Serenades to a memorable close.
Festival Leadership
The Night Serenades International Music Festival was founded by legendary Georgian violinist Liana Isakadze.
Artistic Director: Giorgi Isakadze
Festival Director: Nina Tsagareli
Organizer: Art Alliance
Festival Supporters
The festival is supported by:
• Ministry of Culture of Georgia
• Creative Georgia (LEPL)
• Ministry of Culture of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara
• Tbilisi City Hall
• Batumi City Hall
• Borjomi Municipality
• Embassy of Italy in Georgia
• Zakaria Paliashvili Tbilisi Central Music School for Gifted Children
Official Host Hotels:
• Borjomi Likani
• Hilton Garden Inn Tbilisi
Festival Partners
• Lutecia
• Yves Rocher
• Piel Naturals
• Sarajishvili
• Pavilion Wines
• PSP
• Nita Furniture House
Media Partners
• Adjara Public Broadcaster
• Georgian Public Broadcaster (Channel One)
• Rustavi 2
• Imedi TV
• POSTV
• Euronews Georgia
• Billboard Georgia
• Ertsulovneba TV
• Clip Art Agency
• Ambebi.ge
• Prime Time
• Georgia Today
• The Messenger
• Sarke Magazine
• Adjara Newspaper
• Adjara Times
• Radio Fortuna
• Fortuna.ge
By Kesaria Katcharava
