The biggest annual events in Estonia

There is always something going on in Estonia.

Tallinn and Tartu offer a wide variety of events throughout the year — from culture to sport, indoors and outdoors. But there is no shortage of events in other parts of the country either. Some festivals and competitions take place annually and have become established as exciting traditions. We have compiled the larger ones here in the order they occur throughout the year.

Plan a visit to see one of these spectacles for yourself!

FIS Nordic Combined Otepää 2025 MK stage

7-9 February, 2025

Nordic Combined is a winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and ski jumping. This popular competition will take place at the Tehvandi Sports Center in Otepää. You can watch the event from the cross-country course or from the foot of the ski jump. 

This sport is very popular with Estonians — nearly 10,000 people attended the 2024 competition, and another 210,000 tuned in and watched on TV!

Tartu Marathon

15-16 February, 2025

If you are itching to ski, then head to South Estonia. Put your body to the test at the Tartu Marathon. For over 60 years, this marathon has been known as one of the best ski competitions in the world, attracting many domestic and foreign participants every year.

There are 63 km and 31 km classic cross-country tracks, an Open Track race, a Relay Marathon, and races for children. You can also participate in the marathon virtually whenever and wherever you want!

Tartu Marathon, held in Tartu and Otepää, is part of the Worldloppet, Estoloppet, and Russialoppet calendars and the professional series Visma Ski Classics Pro Tour.

Estonian Independence Day

24 February

If your legs are sore from the Tartu Marathon, there is no need to worry — a few days later, on 24 February, there will be a national holiday and you can eat sprat sandwiches and watch the parade, concerts and speeches on TV.

The parade often includes more than 800 participants and nearly 50 vehicles, 42 flags, four military organizations, two units, eight platoons, and two orchestras. The flag holders of the United States, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine represent Estonia's allies. The United Kingdom's and Denmark's units from the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence and the French and United States' units usually also participate. This powerful sight will captivate both children and adults. The presidential reception usually takes place in the evening in Tallinn.

Simple Session

8-9 March, 2025

If you have a passion for extreme sports, then you can't miss Simple Session, Europe's largest extreme sports competition. This competition attracts more international visitors and famous competitors every year. The weekend showcases the skills of several hundred BMX riders and skateboarders from all over the world as they compete in a massive competition area.

Tallinn Music Week

3-6 April, 2025

Tallinn Music Week (TMW) is the largest indoor music festival in the Nordic and Baltic regions, featuring nearly 200 Estonian and foreign artists from various musical genres.

About 25,000 people from Estonia and abroad will participate in the festival in Tallinn. In addition to the main events, which take place in the most important clubs and concert venues in the city, Tallinn Music Week also introduces the lesser-known sides of the city. Stage concerts, the TMW Stories series, the restaurant festival TMW Tastes, and the contemporary art program TMW Art will take place at venues all over Tallinn.

Jazzkaar

19-27 April, 2025

Jazzkaar is an international jazz festival that has been taking place in Tallinn for more than 20 years and is the largest of its kind in the Baltics. In addition to the main event in April, you will be able to listen to Christmas Jazz in December, which will fill churches, concert halls, and clubs with beautiful jazz music at the end of November and the beginning of December. They also organize Winter Jazz and Autumn Jazz concert seasons.

Midsummer (Jaanipäev)

June 23-24

Midsummer (Jaanipäev) is the most popular holiday in Estonia. On June 23, Estonians like to gather with friends and family at their summer house in the countryside, where the obligatory Midsummer bonfire is lit, and everyone eats, celebrates, and goes to the sauna. Midsummer's Eve is celebrated from June 23 to 24 and is associated with many traditions and ancient folklore. Children stay up until dawn while young lovers search the forest for the lucky fern flower. 

Song and Dance Celebration

3-6 July, 2025

The next major festival will take place in the summer of 2025. The atmosphere of this festival is indescribable. It can be fully experienced only in person – whether as a singer, dancer, or spectator. Tens of thousands of spectators and performers fill every last spot of Tallinn's purpose-built Song Festival Grounds. If you plan on joining the fun, make your travel and accommodation arrangements early as places fill up.

FIA WRC Delfi Rally Estonia

17-20 July, 2025

The most extreme event of the summer is the WRC Rally, which covers almost the whole of South Estonia. In 2025, it will be a stage of the World Rally Championship, which Estonia got the right to organize only a few years ago. These high-level competitions bring the world's top racers and a large number of foreign tourists to Estonia. Through TV and the Internet, our small country, with its beautiful nature, reaches millions of people around the world. 

European Disc Golf Festival

17-20 July, 2025

The Tallinn Song Festival Grounds transform into a disc golf haven as top players from around the globe come together to take on the challenging course. But the fun doesn't stop there – there's a bustling vendor village, late-night performances, and an abundance of delicious food and drinks to keep the energy high throughout the festival.

In 2025, Estonia is gearing up for an even bigger event. It’s a Major event with even bigger names and more excitement. With only four Majors worldwide, this is like the grand slam of disc golf – an absolute must-see for any fan.

Saaremaa Opera Festival

22-27 July, 2025

The Saaremaa Opera Festival is the most popular opera festival in the Baltics. This festival takes place in mid-summer in the courtyard of the historic bishop's castle in Kuressaare, the island's capital. A temporary opera house with 2,000 seats is built for this purpose.

Viljandi Folk Music Festival

24-27 July, 2025

Viljandi Folk is not just a cool festival – it also has a mission. In a concentrated, renewed, yet authentic form, it brings us the ancestral instrumental and musical styles that would otherwise be lost in modern society. It is a cultural medium that brings together tens of thousands of people every summer. The town of Viljandi itself is worth visiting – the high castle hills, the lake, the coziness of a small town, and the festival's energy make for an invigorating weekend.

Bluesfest "Augustibluus"

August

Haapsalu Castle provides a stunning backdrop for the "Augustibluus" Bluesfest. Big names from the United States, the birthplace of the blues, and European artists grace the main stage while other musicians take their shows to the streets and open-air cafes. The program also offers workshops, exhibitions, and acoustic concerts in the town's old railway station. 

Tallinn Fringe Festival

18 August to 18 September

Tallinn Fringe Festival is a large celebration of the arts that takes place every August and September in Estonia's capital. This annual open-access arts festival brings international and local artists together in various venues across Tallinn. Like similar festivals worldwide, this fringe festival supports emerging and established artists as the curation process is between the venue and the performer; the festival itself does not choose who features in the program. The shows feature a wide range of performing arts, including theatre, dance, music, circus, spoken word, visual art, comedy, and multi-genre mixes.

Tallinn Marathon

September

The Tallinn Marathon is a big national sports event that takes place every autumn. In addition to the full-length marathon, you can participate in the half marathon and run or walk the 10 km course. The competition, which has been held for more than 20 years, has changed its routes over the years. In the early years, it went along Pirita Road, but now the course passes through Põhja-Tallinn, making for an exciting way to explore the city's diverse neighborhoods. 

PÖFF (Black Nights Film Festival)

November

The Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) is the largest film festival in northern Europe. With hundreds of feature films and shorts to choose from, it is the most highly anticipated event during autumn's long, dark nights. Thousands of filmmakers, actors, journalists, and film aficionados come to Tallinn to enjoy the films, parties, talks, and events that take place over the space of two weeks. 

In addition to the events mentioned above, there are many other exciting events in Estonia for all ages all year round! Check our events calendar regularly to learn more about events and activities in Estonia.