Calendar / National Wine Day (Ziua Nationala a Vinului)
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Music & Culture Festivals in Chisinau
National Wine Day (Ziua Nationala a Vinului)
Oct 3–4, 2026ConfirmedNational Wine Day 2026 (25th)
Scheduled and sanctioned by National Office for Vine and Wine (ONVV).
Dates & details verified against: Official event site ↗
Why go
National Wine Day is the reason to be in Chisinau in early October, when the country's entire wine industry pours into the central square for two days. Held on the first weekend of the month in the Great National Assembly Square, the festival lines up more than a hundred wineries, from the giant underground cellars of Cricova and Milestii Mici to small family estates, each with a tasting pavilion, alongside folk music, traditional food, craft stalls and grape-treading contests. Entry is free, and a dedicated Wine School runs guided tastings and food pairings for anyone who wants to learn rather than just sample. The 2026 edition, on 3 and 4 October, marks the 25th year of the celebration and draws well over a hundred thousand people. For a single weekend it turns the whole national wine map into one walkable square, which makes it the fastest way to taste across Moldova and meet the people who make it.
When it runs
The first weekend of October each year, in Chisinau's Great National Assembly Square. The 2026 edition, the 25th, runs 3 to 4 October; the 2027 edition is expected on 2 to 3 October.
- Oct 3–4, 2026ConfirmedNational Wine Day 2026 (25th)
- Oct 2–3, 2027ExpectedNational Wine Day 2027
Dates read confirmed where the organizer has published them, and expected where we've projected the recurrence. Always verify with the organizer before booking.
What to expect
National Wine Day falls on the first weekend of October, a two-day open-air event in the central square. October days are mild but evenings cool quickly, so bring a layer, and expect crowds at the busiest pavilions on the Saturday. Buy a tasting glass and tokens on arrival; entry to the square is free. The Wine School sessions are limited and worth arriving early for.
Getting there & around
The festival takes over the Great National Assembly Square on the main boulevard in central Chisinau, walkable from anywhere in the centre and easily reached on foot from city hotels. Book accommodation well ahead, as the first weekend of October is the busiest of the wine-tourism year. No ticket is needed to enter; you pay only for a tasting glass and tokens used at the winery pavilions.
Where it happens
Chisinau, Moldova.
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