Tartu 2024 highlights

26 January

Tartu City

The opening of Tartu 2024 carried the message “All is One”, bringing together 20,000 people to celebrate the start of the European Capital of Culture year. A light and sound show, music, and creative individuals united Tartu and Southern Estonia into one large entity, marking the beginning of an extraordinary year.

during the whole year

Southern Estonia

A meeting point for mental health and humour, where a stand-up performance brought mental health topics to the stage with a direct and honest approach. “Stand Up for Your Mind” combined jokes and real-life stories, offering both recognition and food for thought.

April – December

Toomemägi, Tartu City

Toomemägi transformed into a vibrant art space as part of Tartu 2024, where the historic park received a new look with light art and installations. Artworks “Dawn and Dusk” and “Lifesaver” added a new dimension to the park, turning it into a place where stories and legends intertwined with contemporary art.

April – May

Küüni Street, Tartu City

Küüni Street became a gallery where artworks created by school students highlighted well-known Tartu residents. “Portraits of Tartu Residents” emerged from recycled materials and the collaboration of primary school students, offering a unique view into the stories and creativity of the city’s inhabitants.

4 April – 8 September 

Estonian National Museum, Tartu Art Museum

The exhibition “Surrealism 100: Prague, Tartu and Other Stories…” was created in collaboration with the National Gallery in Prague to celebrate the centenary of the Surrealist Manifesto. This exhibition saw Czech and Estonian surrealism engage in dialogue, bringing artistic narratives in the Eastern and Central European context into focus.

20 April

Tartu Kammivabrik, Tartu City

For one night, KAUGE turned Tartu into a centre of alternative culture, bringing together the past, present, and future of Estonian electronic dance music. The largest underground rave of the decade combined music, art, and freedom, creating an environment where boundaries disappeared and meaningful encounters became possible.

20–21 April

Tartu City

Tartu revealed itself in a new light as Open House offered the chance to explore buildings that are usually closed to the public. Guided tours took visitors to architectural gems, sharing stories about their creation, use, and significance.

24 April – 31 December

Tartu City Museum, Estonian Agricultural Museum, Estonian Road Museum
Tartu City, Kambja county, Kanepi county

“Making a washing machine out of beetroot” is an expression from the Soviet era, when people had to be incredibly resourceful in difficult circumstances. The exhibition showcases how inventive people had to be during Soviet times to manage daily life.

5 May – 2 June

Southern Estonia

“Wild South” presented eight stories from Tartu and Southern Estonia, capturing the tricks and secrets of survival. Renowned filmmakers from Estonia and abroad brought unique and wildly entertaining tales of people, communities, and the culture surrounding them.

10–11 May

Emajõe linnaujula, Tartu City

A debate festival in saunas, where the discussion platforms were the sauna benches themselves. The goal was to create a relaxed gathering and develop both sauna and discussion culture. Mobile saunas were set up at the venue, and every hour, a dialogue-based conversation began, lasting 20–30 minutes, covering three themes: heritage, sustainability, and peace.

18 May

Tartu Raekoja plats, Tartu City

“Kissing Tartu” offered unforgettable moments with a concert performance, a collective kiss, and a sexual education conference, bringing together love, awareness, and shared experience. Town Hall Square became a symbolic meeting place where music, performing arts, and intimacy intertwined into a special event. The “First Kiss” conference opened important discussions about intimacy and relationships, contributing to a more open and informed society.

25 May – 15 September

Maajaam, Otepää

“Wild Bits” was an open-air exhibition in Otepää at the technology and art farm Maajaam, spreading across both farmland and surrounding nature. The exhibition featured installations from leading technological artists as well as emerging young talents.

June–September

Tartu Song Festival Grounds

The renovated concert venue became a cultural hotspot, hosting top Estonian and international artists such as Sting, Bryan Adams, Jacob Collier & Take 6, Hauser, 5Miinust and Puuluup. The summer culminated in the largest Tartu Song Festival in history, with a deeply emotional final concert by Genialistid, bringing together fans from across Estonia.

4–5 June

Teater Vanemuine, Tartu

Japanese artist Shiro Takatani and the legendary Dumb Type collective brought a unique audiovisual experience to Tartu. Through light installations and soundscapes, the performance created an atmosphere where art and technology merged, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience contemporary visual art and theatre.

6–9 June

Knorringu maja, ERM, Tartu

Tartu became the heart of Estonian fashion as the Estonian Fashion Festival showcased innovative and environmentally conscious collections. The festival featured not only fashion shows but also discussions and meetings with designers, giving young talents the opportunity to present their work and shape the future of fashion culture.

6–20 June

Tartu Kammivabrik, Tartu

A theatrical production based on the money laundering scandals that shook Estonian banking, providing a glimpse into the world of the ultra-rich. The story followed a young man from Tartu’s Annelinn district who found himself working in offshore banking. The production exposed how money laundering influences Western politics and its connections to global power struggles.

15 June

Eesti National Museum, Tartu

Veljo Tormis’ powerful choral work was performed in an extraordinary collaboration between the Choir of the Orchestre de Paris and Estonian musicians. This moving and meaningful musical experience brought the voices and stories of Finno-Ugric peoples to life, linking history with the present and highlighting the value of cultural diversity.

4–7 July

Tartu city

Stencibility brought artwork to Tartu’s streets and walls, each piece telling its own story. The festival celebrated creativity and free expression, transforming urban spaces into dynamic canvases and making street art a recognised part of Tartu’s cultural scene.

6 July – 12 August

Vabaduse puiestee, Tartu City

For the fifth time, Vabaduse Boulevard was transformed into a car-free oasis for weeks, offering space for relaxation, play, and diverse events. As part of the European Capital of Culture, the Car-Free Boulevard took on an international dimension, featuring performances from both Estonian and international artists.

3 August

Tartu City

The Tartu 2024 summer celebration was a major event where music, light, and stories brought thousands of people together. The concert-performance “The Art of Survival at the Crossroads” took the audience on a journey through choices and changes that shaped Tartu and Southern Estonia into the European Capital of Culture.

16–25 August

Põlva Cultural Centre, Põlva Maarja Church, Intsikurmu Forest Park

Põlva became a sacred meeting place where the Sky Park Consecration brought together international and local cultural creators. Ritual performances, music, and dance highlighted spiritual and artistic heritage, creating a deeply meaningful experience.

19–22 September

Eesti National Museum, Tartu

For the first time, unda – a festival and conference exploring the deeper layers of club culture – took place in Tartu. Initiated by the HALL nightclub, the event combined electronic music, discussions, and new collaborations, highlighting the club as a platform for creativity and social change.

22–25 August

Tartu Kammivabrik

Simple Session returned to its roots in Tartu, as the Tartu Comb Factory hosted the world’s best BMX riders and skateboarders. The year’s most anticipated street sports event delivered adrenaline, bold tricks, and unforgettable moments, bringing together top extreme sports athletes and fans.

24–25 August

Kubija, Võru county

The Night Folk Dance Festival brought a magical fusion of folk culture, theatre, and light art to the Kubija stage. Mystical stories, dance, and visual art blended with the natural surroundings, creating a captivating atmosphere where light and shadows, fire and music merged into a unified whole.

2021–2024

Tartu, Valga

A four-year-long community theatre experiment that took participants through different neighbourhoods of Tartu and the streets of Valga and Valka, where they heard local stories and travelled through time. Each district revealed its unique character and identity, offering a fresh perspective on familiar urban spaces.

12–13 October

Alatskivi castle, Peipsiääre

Alatskivi Lights transformed the castle and park into a mesmerising nighttime spectacle. The event merged architecture, art, and music, allowing visitors to experience the historic location in a completely new dimension.

2 November

Eesti National Museum, Tartu City

As part of Tartu 2024, the Estonian National Museum hosted the world premiere of a collaborative work between Ryoji Ikeda and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. The globally renowned Japanese visual artist and composer, along with Estonia’s leading choir, created a piece that fused electroacoustic soundscapes with human voice, offering a unique audiovisual experience.

November 2024 – March 2025

Eesti National Museum, Tartu City

The world-famous Ryoji Ikeda brought “data-verse” to Tartu, creating two new works at the Estonian National Museum: an audiovisual installation based on scientific data from the University of Tartu’s Institute of Genomics and a sound installation in collaboration with the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir.

30 November

Tartu City

The Tartu 2024 closing celebration marked the end of the Capital of Culture year and the beginning of a new journey. “Ice and Fire” brought people together once more to reflect on shared experiences and look towards the future. The day featured an “Ageless Party” for older generations, a beach party for families, and culminated in a spectacular light show and open-air rave at Pirogov Park, leaving a lasting impression on the cultural year.