TBILISI - The Region’s First Unprecedented Investigative Journalism Festival to Take Place at the University of Georgia.
From 9–10 October, the University of Georgia’s Investigative Media Lab (IML) will host Open Black Sea 2026, the region's first and most significant festival of its kind. The event will bring together investigative journalism professionals from across the Black Sea region with the aim of promoting environmental journalism. Spanning two days, this international festival will bring together journalists, editors, researchers and students from six Black Sea countries: Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey.
The main theme of the festival is:
'From Crisis to Solutions: An Investigative Path to Survival and Renewal'.
What can you expect from Open Black Sea 2026?
- Alternative Funding Models: exploring how investigative journalism can become more sustainable
- Practical Workshops: providing participants with hands-on knowledge and skills
- Book presentation of Story-Based Inquiry, presented personally by its author, Mark Lee Hunter. The event will also feature the launch of the Georgian translation of the book, published by the University of Georgia.
There will be discussions and real-life cases, including a documentary screening and a discussion around the question, 'What really changes after an investigation is published?'
The Emerging Voices Hackathon is a competition for investigative journalism ideas, open to students and journalists. It features cash prizes and follow-up editorial support.
As part of the festival, participants will sign a declaration establishing the Investigative Journalism Network of Black Sea Basin countries. The secretariat of this network will be based at the University of Georgia.
The festival is open to journalists, editors, freelance journalists, journalism students, lecturers, fact-checkers, OSINT and data specialists, as well as representatives of civil society, international organisations and diplomatic bodies.
- Venue: the University of Georgia, 77a M. Kostava Street, Conference Hall 519, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Dates: 9-10 October 2026, 10:00 am
Please note that English is the working language of the festival.
To participate in the festival, please complete the registration form by 27 September 2026.
More info: ug.edu.ge
