The journey since 1997

From a studio in Tbilisi to twenty-eight editions of world theatre.

1968⁽⁰¹⁾A studioKeti Dolidze joins Mikheil Tumanishvili’s theatre studio. He becomes her mentor; the festival later carries his name.
1988⁽⁰²⁾EdinburghPeter Brook sees the Tumanishvili Film Actors Theatre’s “Don Juan” in Edinburgh — the beginning of the friendships that led to GIFT.
1997⁽⁰³⁾The first GIFTAround 220 artists from 18 countries fly to Tbilisi. There are no participation fees; many visiting artists stay with local families.
2007⁽⁰⁴⁾SilenceThe festival is halted for several years amid political friction.
2013⁽⁰⁵⁾RevivalGIFT returns and resumes its autumn seasons.
2015⁽⁰⁶⁾Eugene OneginRimas Tuminas brings the Vakhtangov Theatre’s “Eugene Onegin” to the Griboedov Theatre.
2016⁽⁰⁷⁾Italian FocusA new Italian strand with the Embassy of Italy, alongside the Volksbühne Berlin and Eva Yerbabuena.
2019⁽⁰⁸⁾EFFE LabelThe 22nd edition draws more than 10,000 people a day; GIFT receives the EFFE Label 2019–2021.
2022⁽⁰⁹⁾25 editionsThe jubilee edition opens with a Greek Focus; Theodoros Terzopoulos joins the international directorate as honorary ambassador.
2024⁽¹⁰⁾Tumanishvili PrizeThe Mikheil Tumanishvili Prize for Excellence in Art goes to Declan Donnellan, Giorgi Margvelashvili and Davit Evgenidze.
2025⁽¹¹⁾Sankai JukuThe 28th edition opens at the Opera and Ballet Theatre with Sankai Juku’s “Meguri”.

Programme

Performances, dates and venues.

DatePerformanceVenueCountry