TOP events this season

The Seto Lace Days bring together handicraft enthusiasts from far and wide. Lacework techniques used in Seto handicrafts are showcased in workshops and exhibitions and visitors are taught how to implement them in contemporary handicraft. The culmination of the event each year is the judging of the competition entries. For visitors this is an excellent opportunity to try their own hand at the art and see the masters at work.

The international festival and music industry conference Tallinn Music Week attracts an enthusiastic audience of music lovers from Estonia and neighbouring countries. The line-up presents industry players and Estonian and international acts from diverse musical genres from pop to jazz and hard rock to electronic music. The TMW City Stage programme offers daily free pop-up concerts in unexpected and exciting places across Tallinn. The event programme is still being finalised. Additional information can be found on the event's website.

The annual Plant Fair of Pärnu, on Vallikäär meadow is meant for trading goods that are related to plants and gardening: seeds, young trees and plants, honey, garden tools, garden furniture, garden sculptures etc. Besides selling and trading, we hope to have a pleasant gathering of different arboretums and garden-supplies sellers from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and elsewhere.

As it has for decades, the start of the peak season of spring gardening in Estonia is marked by the Türi Flower Fair, held on the fields on Kalevi Street in Türi. There are 700 merchants at the fair and it is visited by tens of thousands of visitors. Represented at the fair will be gardening companies, forestry schools, and private gardens, all with special offers designed to help gardeners improve their gardens. There is a wide range of plants, gardening tools, and household goods. Craftsmen also offer all kinds of handicraft items. There will also be a traditional fair programme.

Throughout the years the Maijooks Run has been the largest health and activeness event for women in Estonia. The Maijooks Run has played an important role in shaping activeness habits trends among women. Women and girls can participate in the LHV Maijooks Run in two distances: 7 km main distance and 3 km Rimi Run for Girls. You can participate by running, walking or Nordic walking, with timed or untimed options. The running and walking tracks will take the participants along the roads and health tracks around the Song Festival Grounds and Maarjamäe. More information on the event and schedule at the event homepage.

The International Visual Theatre Festival Tallinn Treff has taken place since 2007. The festival, having evolved into a meeting place for contemporary puppet, object, material, physical, and multimedia theatre, seeks an inspiring dialogue between content and form, traditions and innovation. This year's festival is the thirteenth in a row. The programme has been set up in such a way that it can be divided or combined into various sub-programmes: for children, youth, and adults, as well as for visitors interested in specific forms of visual theatre. The audience will be presented 17 productions, of which 4 are from Estonia and 13 from elsewhere in Europe (Germany, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Israel, England, and Slovenia). There are 7 productions for children and 10 for youth and adults.

The Tour of Estonia takes place in May and is the largest bicycle race in the Baltics, which introduces Estonia, the beautiful Estonian nature, and many wonderful places through professional racing.As part of the international cycling association UCI competition calendar, this year the Tour of Estonia's prologue will take place at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds and two stages: Tallinn-Tartu Road race and the exciting Tartu GP. Over 150 cyclists from more than 20 teams will participate in the competition. This year female cyclists will compete in the international competition for the first time! The first Ladies Tour of Estonia takes place as a one-day race in Tartu. Come cheer for your team!

On the last weekend of May, Tartu becomes a real cycling mecca – the legendary Tartu Cycling Rally will take place! The start and finish of the race are located in the heart of Tartu. The main distances of 128, 60 and 27 km take sports lovers to discover the beautiful and varied landscape of Southern Estonia. The programme also includes popular children's races, which are the world's largest children's cycling events. Those who wish can take part in the rally virtually on their home track. More information and registration on the website.

Tallinn Old Town Days is the biggest festival in Old Town dedicated to local cultural heritage and community. Various music, theatre, art, and sports events are held during several days for both locals and visitors. Both old and young guests can peek into the courtyards of Old Town, learn about the long and impressive history of Tallinn, and participate in various activities.

The most colourful event of June in Narva is City Days. The program of the city’s main event is made in such a way that the residents and guests can take an active part in it, rather than just look on. The list of activities includes sports competitions, contests, concerts, exhibitions, artisan fairs, a solemn procession through the streets of the city, theatrical performances, a festival of national cultural societies, a community walking tour, interactive programs, etc.

The wine party began with the idea of introducing Haapsalu’s twin town Greve, located in the Chianti region of Italy. Wine is offered by the majority of Estonian importers as well as by their Italian partners. The wine party begins on Friday in Haapsalu’s cafés with Italian wine tastings. On Saturday, a wine contest will be held in Haapsalu’s Old Town, which will reveal the favorite Italian red wine, white wine, and Prosecco of Haapsalu.

Viljandi is an ancient town full of youthful vigour. If today Viljandi can be called the export capital of Estonia due to the numerous innovative companies located here, then in the Middle Ages, the city was the centre of activity due to the trade route that passed through the city. Viljandi Hanseatic Days take place annually in order to commemorate the golden age of Viljandi. In early summer, this small town gives itself over to medieval customs and looks back on how the membership of the Hanseatic League brought riches and bold ideas to the town over the course of time. Viljandi is still a member of the Hanseatic League.

On request of the audience, singer Al Bano will be performing again at the Haapsalu Italian Music Festival with legendary hits such as “Felicita“, “Ci Sara“ and “Tu Soltanto Tu“. In addition to Al Bano, the festival will feature the Italian pop group Matia Bazar, which has represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest and won the Sanremo Music Festival twice. Their most famous songs include “Solo tu“, “Souvenir“ and “Ti Sento“. The Estonian artist Elina Nechayeva will be taking the stage with her new Italian music program. At the festival the visitors can also enjoy the best Italian flavours.

Grillfest takes place on the beautiful meadow by Vallikääru in Pärnu in June, every year. For two days, 300 caterers from Estonia and abroad serve their best fare. We have outdoor restaurants, cafés and even a pet restaurant. You can enjoy the Good Food Fair, the national fishing championships and food preparation competitions; a large and exciting play area is available for children. The festival has performances by excellent artists on various stages; music styles offer something to every taste. Both days of the festival end with magnificent fireworks. After Grill Parties take place at festival clubs. Everyone is welcome to the Grillfest; the entrance is free of charge! Timetable is available on our website.

Tallinn Guitar Festival has become a traditional and much-loved event for lovers of guitar music. The initiator and artistic director of the festival is one of the best guitarists in Estonia, Tiit Peterson. The festival offers guitar music of all styles, performed by various musicians. Over the years, the festival has been headlined by some of the world's leading guitarists. You can find more information about the locations and performers of the events on the website.

Sõru Jazz is a summer jazz-music festival with a cosy atmosphere which brings a number of well-known and acknowledged Estonian musicians to Hiiumaa for four days. In addition to good music and company, Hiiumaa itself is bonus with its beautiful harbours and lovely people, all of which has become the phenomenon of Sõru Jazz and given people a reason to come back here year after year. 

Haapsalu White Nights Music Festival   June 15 – 18, 2023     The Haapsalu White Nights Music Festival is the living source of mesmerising music and carefree and romantic vibes of summer vacations.

Kihnu becomes an island of saunas! The Kihnu Sauna Festival was designed to celebrate the arrival of summer – you can enjoy saunas open all over the island, visit home cafés and buy local food and handicrafts at the Kihnu market. The traditional Kihnu sauna also known as saona, a smoke sauna, Finnish saunas, etc. await visitors. In order to participate in the Kihnu Sauna Festival, you need a ticket-wristband, on which the saunas waiting for the visitor are indicated. The wristbands can be purchased in advance or in cash in the Kihnu harbour, subject to availability. In addition to visiting the saunas, at the end of the day, participants can vote for the best sauna in Kihnu! 

This festival is taking place for the 23rd time and will culminate, as ever, with the lighting of a midsummer bonfire. Although there is music for every taste, the focus of the festival is classical and Estonian music. 

The symbol of rock music, Scorpions, will perform at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds next summer. With almost 60 years on the world music stage, Scorpions have been one of the great icons of the era. The band has left a strong mark on heavy metal, hard rock, glam metal, and soft rock. Scorpions have inspired many of today’s rock stars with their music and style. With a long list of hits, spectacular world tours, and decades of successful studio work, Scorpions have become a band that unites generations and increasingly appeals to younger music fans.

The Mustjala Festival with its long traditions invites music fans to Saaremaa – a place with breathtaking virgin nature that is perfect for holidaying and enjoying art. The classical music festival has been taking place since 1995. Performers include recognised Estonian musicians and brilliant guests from abroad. Concerts take place in churches, the picturesque Tagaranna fishing village, Loona and Pidula manors, Ninase holiday village; sometimes, also at unexpected venues – an artillery gun position that was constructed by the Soviet soldiers in 1939 for coastal defense on Ninase Peninsula, etc. The art director of the festival is Aare Tammesalu.

History is a storyteller of long ago times. Pärnu’s Hanseatic Days Festival gives us a look back into the past. Let’s go back to our roots. We’ll go to the wisdom filled rocks. Medieval customs, ethnic crafts, ancient skills and spiritual wealth! Come to buy and sell, to learn and to teach. Listen to enchanting musical rhythms, dance crazy dances during a medieval celebration.

The song and dance festival tradition has been included in the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list. The song and dance festival is more than just a summer event that takes place four times in Tallinn in ten years; it is a way of being that helps Estonians better understand themselves and carries all the values that we consider important as a nation – love for our country, language, culture, and customs. The event is attended by nearly ten thousand dancers and thirty thousand singers. You have to be there to understand it all!

The centrepiece of the festival is Tartu's most important natural symbol – River Emajõgi. The festival offers sports and fishing competitions, a children's area with fun guests, and sailors with their mighty vessels. In addition, the city centre and harbours offer different events that attend to the river and bring it closer to the locals and guests. River Emajõgi Festival also offers lots of good music. This entertaining event is a perfect meeting place for everyone.

Born from the idea of Lennart Meri in 1987, the Pärnu International Documentary and Anthropology Film Festival is the oldest film festival in the Baltic States. Organised under the leadership of filmmaker Mark Soosaar, one of the main themes of the festival has always been the survival of indigenous peoples and their cultures. The programme also includes social reflections on contemporary society, portraits of fascinating people and human relations, as well as films on music and art. Children and the youth have always been included, for them we organise workshops and show a programme of children's and youth film competitions. 

Viljandi Old Music Festival is the oldest such festival in Estonia. It first took place in 1982 and has been combining the beauty of the ancient town with centuries-old music ever since. Performers over the years have included Paolo Pandolfo, Jane Gingell, Trio Mediaeval, Egidius Quartet, Conrad Steinmann, Paul Hillier, the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir, Tõnu Kaljuste, Andres Mustonen and Hortus Musicus.

Estonia's only travelling cultural festival Võnge 2022 will be held in Ranna Puhkebaas, Peipsiääre Parish, Tartu County. Tens of interesting artists from Estonia and around the world will perform on stages placed right in the middle of the nature. Next to music, the festival offers also experiences of different tastes, art and culture, yoga and kids activities. The entrance is free for everybody up to 15 years of age, if accompanied by an adult. Well behaved dogs and other pets are welcome, too. Parking and tenting on site are free.

The festival "Juu Jääb" is an international culture festival on the tiny island called Muhu (its neighbor is the Island of Saaremaa) in West Estonia that brings together jazz musicians from all over the world. Beautiful nature, friendly locals, great music and delicious Estonian food - thats what makes it so specail! This year’s Juu Jääb celebrates its 23rd birthday.

The name of the festival is inspired by the material of Hermann Hesse's novel of the same name (Glasperlenspiel). This indicates that artists have been invited to the festival who interpret music from an unusual point of view. This prestigious festival focuses on special instruments, unusual combinations, and connections with other fields of art and philosophy.