01 September – 07 September 2025
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.
Argo Vals “Lavendel” – autumn jazz
Fotografiska, Telliskivi 60a, Tallinn
Thursday, 4 September, from 8pm
Autumn Jazz gets underway with a shimmering launch: Argo Vals unveils Lavendel, his new mini-album of acoustic meditations. Best known for expansive soundscapes, the guitarist flips the script with six stripped-back pieces that let silence and texture breathe.
For this one-off set, Vals is flanked by a bespoke acoustic guitar quartet – Karl Petti, Sulo Kiivit and Siim Kartau – alongside Kitty Florentine’s ethereal vocals and Galaktlan’s playful synths. Add Alyona Movko’s visuals and you’ve got an evening where groove drifts into reverie and intensity glows through restraint.
Sleepless – a techno drama (Tallinn Fringe)
Improtheatre Impeerium, Ankru 10, Tallinn
From Friday, 5 September, to Saturday, 6 September
Sleepless drags the pulse of the club into the theatre – a techno-fuelled drama that unravels at 3am, where identities slip and truths surface. French-German actor Vincent Simon steers the story, while DJ Camille Roesch (aka Racing Nokia) drives the beat, dissolving the line between stage and dance floor. Directed by Mathilde Roesch and produced by Anna Mensonides, this blend of poetry, humour and bass is a neon-soaked ode to friendship, fragility and the wild search for connection.
Oyster Festival
Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre courtyard, Tatari 13, Tallinn
Saturday, 6 September, from 11am
Shuck, sip, repeat – the 4th Austerium AustriFestival takes over the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre courtyard for a full-day seafood fiesta. Think oysters by the trayful, sparkling pairings, DJ sets, kids’ fun and the spectacle of the Estonian Restaurant Oyster Opening Championship 2025, judged internationally and hosted by five-time world champ Anti Lepik. It’s all flavour, fizz and festival spirit – and entry won’t cost you a cent.
Free Museum Sunday
Various museums in Tallinn
Sunday, 7 September
Free Museum Sunday turns the first Sunday of each month into a cultural treasure hunt. Tallinn’s museums – from medieval fortresses to modern art halls – drop the entry fee, inviting you to roam, linger and stumble on new favourites. Perfect for families, history fans or anyone who loves a good freebie with substance.
Arvo Pärt Days (concert series)
Various venues across Estonia
From Tuesday, 2 September, to Thursday, 11 September
From 2–11 September, Nargenfestival’s Pärt Days take over Estonia’s stages to mark Arvo Pärt’s 90th birthday. Under Tõnu Kaljuste’s direction, the programme weaves together Pärt’s long-time collaborators, rising interpreters and international guests.
Highlights include French pianist David Kadouch tackling Lamentate and Latvian virtuoso Georgijs Osokins bringing his singular touch. Expect evenings that balance reverence with reinvention, shining new light on a composer who defined silence as sound.
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