Your Tallinn hit list: the top 5 events this week

13 April 2026 – 19 April 2026

Not sure where to be this week? Every week, in partnership with Gamma, we present a hand-picked selection of the five most compelling events taking place in and around Tallinn – it’s time to plan your week with purpose.

Writing in Tallinn Meetup

Writing in Tallinn is the kind of weekday evening that can rescue your writing life. It’s a relaxed, friendly meetup for anyone who writes – or simply wants to write more – with all styles, genres and experience levels welcome.

The night begins with an informal chat before easing into two focused writing sessions, with a short break in between. Bring your novel-in-progress, a few lines of poetry, a half-formed idea or just a notebook and an open mind. Whether you’re chasing a deadline or waiting for inspiration to strike, this is a room full of people who get the quiet thrill of putting words on a page.

The session ends at 8pm – early enough for a civilised night, but late enough to leave feeling you’ve actually done something worthwhile with your weekday.

Sip and Paint Starry Night

World Art Day is getting a painterly twist with this guided session inspired by one of the most iconic artworks ever created. But forget the pressure of producing a flawless Van Gogh copy – this is about loosening up, picking up a brush and seeing where the night takes you.

With step-by-step guidance, you’ll experiment with bold brushstrokes, texture, movement and colour on canvas, while still leaving plenty of space for your own creative spin. All materials are included, along with a glass of wine – or a non-alcoholic alternative – to help things flow.

Ideal for anyone who’s been meaning to make more art, or simply fancies an evening that’s a little starrier than standard.

Acoustically in the Living Room

This intimate acoustic evening brings Hendrik Sal-Saller and long-time collaborator Erko Laurimaa off the stage and right into the room. Smilers songs are stripped back to their warmest essentials – guitar, voice and the kind of melodies that have soundtracked Estonian summers, rooftop evenings and, quite possibly, a couple of relationships you still revisit in your head.

Between songs, the pair will share stories from behind the scenes: how certain lyrics were born, what really happened on the band bus and a few details that may be just this side of suitable for polite company.

Before the show and in the pauses between sets, expect a soundtrack of Hendrik and Erko’s own musical favourites – a rare glimpse into what they listen to when they’re not the ones on stage. Once the final chord fades, DJ Saller – Hendrik’s son – takes over, gently steering the evening from seated singalong into dancefloor mode.

Two signature cocktails, the Sallertini and the Erksi Mojito, will be on hand throughout, while cult food truck FrikaFriik serves up proper fries and loaded versions topped with pulled meat, crispy chicken, kimchi or parmesan.

For a listing, this has all the makings of a very good night: songs you know, stories you don’t, cocktails with names that shouldn’t work but do, and chips at the end of it all.

Level Up Bachata Party for Beginners

This one is for the beginners – the people who signed up for bachata, kept turning up and are now, almost by stealth, becoming actual dancers. Level Up is a celebration of A-level students who’ve put in the work and earned their place on the dance floor.

The evening starts with a pre-party workshop led by Rainer and Margoo, designed to brush up the basics and add a few fresh moves before the party properly gets going. Then it’s over to a full bachata social with DJ Fabian behind the decks, keeping things moving well into the night.

All active beginner students will be recognised for completing their level – because finishing what you started deserves both applause and at least one good dance. And for anyone stepping into their very first social dance night, this has been built to feel welcoming, relaxed and entirely free of judgment.

J-Tsoon 7

Estonia’s biggest festival of Asian and youth subcultures is back, and its seventh edition looks set to be the biggest yet. J-Tsoon 7 is a two-day immersion in Japanese culture, K-pop, cosplay, gaming and the gloriously internet-shaped worlds around them, with the doors opening at 10am on both mornings.

The programme is sprawling in the best way. Expect cosplay competitions, K-pop dance battles, workshops ranging from kimono dressing to 3D printing, fan meetups, art contests, origami, karaoke, trivia and a gaming zone packed with tournaments. There’ll also be an artists’ alley, more than 40 vendors, a Star Wars-themed cantina and an 18+ afterparty on Saturday for anyone determined to keep the energy going.

Across multiple stages, lectures and panels will cover everything from Japanese culture and travel to fanfiction publishing, LARP (live-action role-playing) and Lolita fashion. Better still, the entire programme is in English, making it an easy one for international visitors to dive into.

If this corner of culture already feels like home – or you’ve always wanted to see what the fuss is about – this is a very good weekend to lean in.

Brought to you in collaboration with Gamma. Want more like this? Get Tallinn’s best events delivered straight to your inbox – three times a week, totally free. Just hit subscribe to join the Gamma newsletter.