AGP Executive Report

UFC: Petr Yan beat Georgia’s Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision at UFC 333, though Dvalishvili’s teammate Aljamain Sterling argued the close fight could have been scored a draw. Junior Eurovision: Georgia finished fifth in the 2026 contest, won by Armenia’s Nare with “BOO!” On Screen: Georgian actor Merab Ninidze is set to join the cast of Slow Horses for its seventh season. Arts & Media: Georgian independent outlet Sinatle Media was nominated for an Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Award; Borjomi also hosted a Georgian classical music evening.

UFC: Merab Dvalishvili lost his UFC 333 trilogy fight with Petr Yan by unanimous decision and fell to No. 8 in Sherdog’s pound-for-pound rankings. Alexander Volkanovski defended his featherweight title with a knockout win over Movsar Evloev. Film: Georgian/Russian documentary Fragments of Resistance, by Levan Tskhovrebadze and Ani Kiladze, won CinEast’s audience award for best short documentary. On Screen: Georgian actor Merab Ninidze is joining the cast of spy drama Slow Horses for its seventh season. Arts & Culture: Tbilisi hosted an international conference on living heritage and welcomed the GIFT contemporary theatre festival; Borjomi also held an international piano festival and competition.

Screen: Georgian actor Merab Ninidze is set to join Slow Horses Season 7, after voicing a KGB general in the previous season. Tennis: Nikoloz Basilashvili reached the Almaty Open final but lost to defending champion Daniil Medvedev in three sets. Music: Armenia’s Naré won Junior Eurovision 2026 with “BOO!” Arts & Stage: Tbilisi welcomed an international dance festival for its second year, while the GIFT festival returned with a contemporary theatre program. A living heritage conference also opened at Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, and Borjomi hosted an international piano festival and competition.

Junior Eurovision: Armenia’s Naré won the 2026 contest with “BOO!”, taking 202 points; Georgia’s jury awarded her five. Figure Skating: Georgian skater Anastasiia Gubanova took silver at the Grand Prix de France, finishing behind Japan’s Ami Nakai. Tennis: Nikoloz Basilashvili advanced to the Almaty Open semifinals with a straight-sets win over Adrian Mannarino. MMA: Merab Dvalishvili lost his UFC bantamweight title to Petr Yan by unanimous decision in their trilogy bout. Stage & Dance: Tbilisi welcomed back the GIFT contemporary theatre festival, while the city also hosted its international dance festival for a second year.

Figure Skating: Georgian skater Anastasiia Gubanova took silver at the Grand Prix de France, earning her first podium at the event. UFC: Alexander Volkanovski retained his featherweight title with a second-round TKO in Abu Dhabi; Georgia’s Merab Dvalishvili fought Petr Yan in the bantamweight title trilogy. Junior Eurovision: Armenia’s Naré won the 2026 contest with “BOO!”, claiming the country’s third victory. Tbilisi Stage: The GIFT contemporary theatre festival returned to the capital, while Tbilisi hosted its international dance festival for a second time. Georgian Arts: Folk choir Mdzlevari won three awards at an international festival in Poland, and Borjomi hosted an international piano festival and competition.

UFC 333: Georgian contender Merab Dvalishvili faces Petr Yan in Abu Dhabi on Saturday in a bantamweight title trilogy, after drawing attention with a reported 19-pound gain in the hours after weigh-in. Tennis: Nikoloz Basilashvili swept past Adrian Mannarino to reach the Almaty Open semifinals, where he is set to meet Stefanos Tsitsipas. Stage & Heritage: Tbilisi welcomes the GIFT contemporary theatre festival, while an international conference on living heritage has opened at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts. Dance & Music: Tbilisi is hosting its international dance festival for a second time, and Georgian folk choir Mdzlevari won three awards at a festival in Poland. Film: A review of Tear Gas praises its portrait of a country holding its breath.

Georgian Film: Uta Beria’s Tear Gas, filmed among real protesters, earns a strong review for weaving fictional lives into Georgia’s unfolding political reality. Stage & Dance: Tbilisi’s GIFT contemporary theater festival is returning with an ambitious program, while the city hosts its international dance festival for a second time. Music & Visual Arts: Borjomi has welcomed an international piano festival and competition, and Emirati artist Mohammed Alastad is bringing his “Bridges Through Art” exhibition to Tbilisi. Screen Honors: The animated film festival in Nikozi has wrapped, and Georgian director Levan Koguashvili is set to receive a Trailblazer Award at the Golden Globes’ Silk Road Tribute Gala. Sport: Merab Dvalishvili meets Petr Yan in their UFC 333 trilogy bout, seeking to reclaim the bantamweight title; Georgian football is also mourning former national captain Giorgi Nemsadze, who died aged 54. Heritage: Ten Soviet-era sanatoriums in Tskaltubo are up for auction, with buyers required to fund major renovations.

Living Heritage: An international conference at Tbilisi State Academy of Arts is spotlighting Georgian textile traditions, from weaving and embroidery to felt-making, and their place in contemporary design. Stage & Dance: Tbilisi welcomes back the GIFT contemporary theater festival, while the city’s international dance festival is being held for a second time. Georgian Art Abroad: Tbilisi artist Nutsa Gogaladze is creating new paintings during a residency at the Elaine de Kooning House in East Hampton, drawing inspiration from the work of Lee Krasner, Jackson Pollock and Elaine de Kooning. On the Mat: Ahead of UFC 333, Georgian fighter Merab Dvalishvili says the country’s social drinking culture can hinder fighters’ training. Remembering Nemsadze: Former Georgia captain and Dundee football icon Giorgi Nemsadze has died aged 54, prompting tributes from fans and the club. More Culture: Borjomi has hosted an international piano festival and competition, while Georgian folk choir Mdzlevari won three awards at a festival in Poland.

Theater & Film: Tbilisi’s 29th GIFT festival is bringing international theater and dance to the city through November 14, with performances and events aimed at strengthening ties between Georgian and international artists. The Welcome Tbilisi forum opens today, October 23, with sessions on film, art and the creative industries. Visual Arts: Emirati artist Mohammed Alastad will present “Bridges Through Art” in Tbilisi, while the Pirosmani: Once Again! gala near the capital paired an exhibition and auction with fundraising for Ukraine demining. Dance & Music: Tbilisi’s international dance festival featured leading performers and masterclasses; Borjomi hosted an international piano festival and competition, and Georgian folk choir Mdzlevari won three awards at a festival in Poland. Football: Former Georgia captain and Dundee icon Giorgi Nemsadze has died aged 54; he earned 69 caps for his country.

Football: Former Georgia captain and Dundee icon Giorgi Nemsadze has died aged 54, prompting tributes from fans and the club. Art: Emirati artist Mohammed Alastad’s “Bridges Through Art” opens at Tbilisi History Museum on October 26, bringing his rust-and-iron works to the capital. Classical Music: Borjomi’s Tengiz Amirejibi International Music Festival and piano competition runs through October 25, with young performers from Georgia, Japan and Armenia. MMA: Georgian former champion Merab Dvalishvili faces Petr Yan in their trilogy bout at UFC 333 this Saturday in Abu Dhabi. Dance and Film: Georgian ensemble Apkhazeti helped spark the viral “Born From Culture” dance trend, while Nikozi’s International Festival of Animated Films has wrapped and director Levan Koguashvili is set to receive a Golden Globes Trailblazer Award.

Football: Georgian great Giorgi Nemsadze has died at 54. The former national captain won 69 caps and became a Dundee icon; after his playing career, he coached young Georgian talents, including Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. MMA: Merab Dvalishvili faces Petr Yan in their bantamweight title trilogy at UFC 333 on Saturday. The Georgian fighter says he still has a tough weight cut ahead as he aims to reclaim the belt. Georgian Arts: Folk choir Mdzlevari won three awards at an international festival in Poland, while the International Festival of Animated Films in Nikozi has wrapped up. Director Levan Koguashvili is set to receive the Trailblazer Award at the Golden Globes’ Silk Road Tribute Gala. Culture: Tbilisi’s National Art Museum joined an international dialogue on AI and culture.

Folk Music: Georgian choir Mdzlevari won three awards at Poland’s International Choral Festival, including a special prize for promoting Georgian music. Film Production: The Georgia shoot for Indian thriller Operation Ganga has wrapped; the film has also added Uganda’s Ghetto Kids dance group to its cast. Museums & Technology: Tbilisi hosted an international forum on how AI and digital tools are changing museum education and access to cultural heritage. Screen & Stage: The International Festival of Animated Films in Nikozi has concluded, while Georgian filmmaker Levan Koguashvili is set to receive a Golden Globes Silk Road Tribute. A Tbilisi street-theater festival is also scheduled for mid-November. Architecture: Tbilisi’s distinctive Soviet-era designs, including its art-filled metro stations, are helping draw international interest and support Georgia’s tourism boom.

Tbilisi’s Built Heritage: The city’s distinctive Soviet-era architecture—from its art-filled metro to experimental modernist buildings—is drawing international attention and adding to its tourism appeal. Animation: The International Festival of Animated Films in Nikozi has wrapped, bringing Georgian audiences a showcase of animation from around the world. Film: Director Levan Koguashvili will receive the Trailblazer Award at the Golden Globes’ Silk Road Tribute Gala. Photography: A first exhibition of Japanese avant-garde photography is opening in Tbilisi, supported by TBC. Live Performance: Tbilisi’s 10th International Street Theater Festival is set to feature 17 performances in mid-November.

Cultural Heritage: Restoration of Tbilisi’s Sioni Cathedral and bell tower is expected to finish by year-end, protecting the historic building and its frescoes from water damage. Georgian Artists Abroad: Bass Giorgi Manoshvili impressed at Wexford Festival Opera’s 75th-anniversary gala, joining celebrated singers in a program of opera favorites. Film: Baku’s 10th DokuBaku documentary festival has announced its winners, honoring films on nature, music, children and more; Georgia’s International Festival of Animated Films in Nikozi also wrapped its 2026 edition. Tbilisi Arts: A showcase of Japanese avant-garde photography is coming to the city, while the 10th International Street Theater Festival plans 17 performances in mid-November. Cinema: Georgian director Levan Koguashvili is set to receive the Trailblazer Award at the Golden Globes’ Silk Road Tribute Gala.

Opera Abroad: Georgian bass Giorgi Manoshvili joined Wexford Festival Opera’s 75th-anniversary gala, earning praise for his performances of Rossini and Verdi. Tbilisi Spotlight: Football legend Francesco Totti and journalist Paolo Condò appeared at Italian Sports Day at the Kote Marjanishvili State Drama Theater. Film & Recognition: The 2026 International Festival of Animated Films wrapped in Nikozi, while director Levan Koguashvili is set to receive a Trailblazer Award at the Golden Globes’ Silk Road Tribute Gala. Coming Up: Tbilisi’s 10th International Street Theater Festival is scheduled for mid-November; a local showcase is also inviting fine-art photography submissions.

UFC 333: Georgian contender Merab Dvalishvili faces Petr Yan in an October 24 title trilogy in Abu Dhabi; if he wins, he says he wants to defend against Song Yadong. Georgian Cinema: Director Levan Koguashvili will receive the Golden Globes’ Trailblazer Award at its first Silk Road Tribute Gala in Tashkent. His film Guria, Georgia’s Oscar entry, premiered at Venice. Animation: Nikozi’s International Festival of Animated Films wrapped after screening 85 works from 24 countries, alongside workshops, exhibitions and events for children. Photography: Tbilisi gallery Fotoatelier is seeking fine-art submissions for a showcase; the deadline is November 5, with printing costs covered for selected artists. Music: The Tbilisi Women’s Choir is set to perform at Barcelona’s Sagrada Família.