Republic Day Returns to Yerevan on 28 May 2026

Armenia marks Republic Day on 28 May, commemorating the founding of the First Republic of Armenia in 1918. In Yerevan, the occasion is centred on Republic Square, where evening concerts run from late afternoon into the night, closing with fireworks. The tufa-stone colonnades of the square take on a deep pink cast in the warm evening light — one of the more visually distinctive public events the city stages through the year.

This year the date falls on a Thursday. Travellers who are already in Yerevan for the week or arriving for the weekend are well-placed to take part. Events also run at Sardarapat, roughly 50 kilometres west of the capital, where the Battle of Sardarapat was fought in 1918. The battlefield monument and museum there serve as the setting for official state ceremonies, and day tours from Yerevan run on the day.

Yerevan Wine Days: 10th anniversary on 5–7 June

Republic Day falls five weeks before Armenia’s most significant wine event but kicks off what is shaping up to be an exceptional late-May to early-June window. The Yerevan Wine Days return for their 10th anniversary from 5 to 7 June along Tumanyan, Saryan and Moskovyan streets, running daily from 16:00 to 22:30.

This year’s festival brings together more than 100 wineries and around 1,000 wine varieties — indigenous grapes including Areni Noir, Voskehat and Kangun are well-represented alongside blends from the newer generation of Armenian producers. Entry to the festival area is free. The Wine Enjoyment Package, which includes a branded glass, tasting coupons and a festival lanyard, costs 14,000 AMD (around €34) and is available to pre-purchase online to avoid queuing.

The 2025 edition drew 180,000 visitors, with 40 percent travelling specifically for the festival and generating an estimated $32 million in local economic activity. Accommodation in Yerevan for the June 5–7 weekend fills quickly — particularly the city-centre hotels within walking distance of the festival streets — so booking well ahead is worth doing.

Planning your visit

Yerevan is compact enough to cover on foot between the main sights and the festival venue. Late May and early June are among the most comfortable months to be in the city: temperatures average around 24°C during the day, evenings are warm, and the terraces and rooftop bars that define the city’s social life are in full swing.

The visa situation is worth noting. Armenia’s temporary visa-free scheme for US, EU, UK and GCC residents runs until 1 July 2026. Travellers holding a valid residence permit from the United States, EU member states, the Schengen Area or Gulf Cooperation Council countries can enter without a visa for up to 180 days, provided the permit is valid for at least six months from the date of entry. Full details and conditions are in our Armenia entry and visa guide.

For first-time visitors, our best time to visit Armenia page covers conditions across the year, and our eating out in Yerevan guide is a useful reference for the restaurant and café scene, which is well-suited to long evenings between festival sessions.