About

Tomorrow’s Music, Arts and Ideas

Tallinn Music Week (TMW) is one of the most acclaimed new music and city culture festivals and key networking events for music and creative industry professionals across Europe, held annually in the capital of Estonia, Tallinn since 2009. The festival consists of three main programme parts: music festival, conference and city festival.

The music festival presents multi-genre acts from all over Europe and beyond in Tallinn’s best concert venues. TMW’s music programme is renowned for its bold mix of unique talent across Europe and beyond with diverse genres from experimental electronica to classical represented. The line-up, selected from applications by a broad-based team of Estonian and international curators, is presented to an audience of around 20,000 festivalgoers and 1,000 industry professionals from around the globe.

The city festival events introduce diverse neighbourhoods and atmospheres across Tallinn, covering free city stage concerts in unexpected locations and presenting art, public talks, youth and kids programmes and various urban space activities that introduce the city through the lense of creativity.  

The conference looks into the impact of arts as an engine for the economy, while offering both inspiration, practical activities and networking opportunities to music professionals, artists, entrepreneurs and policymakers from different areas. 

TMW is engaged in introducing sustainable and environmentally conscious thinking in Estonian society (read more). TMW’s strategic partner is the music industry development centre and export office Music Estonia (ME). TMW is a partner festival of the global gender equality initiative Keychange and monitors gender-balanced representation throughout the festival’s line-up.

TMW is a joint effort of around 100 individuals, companies and organisations. The festival is founded and run by Shiftworks – a company that uses artistic content and creative concepts to initiate positive change through synergy and collaboration.

Mission

TMW is our contribution to a better society through tomorrow’s music, arts and ideas 

  • We create opportunities for diverse talent
  • We unite with synergy and co-creation
  • We offer artistic discoveries, joy and inspiration
  • We strive for sustainable impact
  • We cherish diversity
  • We offer a shared space
  • We welcome all – come as you are 
  • We contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), read more

We value

  • Adventurous, creative thinking
  • Collaboration and solidarity
  • Equal opportunities and diversity
  • A sense of inclusion and belonging
  • Sustainable Development Goals
  • Lifelong learning
  • Ideas and Innovation

We believe that

Arts & Culture are the glue for society and an engine for the economy 

What we offer

TMW is a tool for positive change in society

To society

  • Empowering tomorrow’s arts and ideas
  • Providing a stage to diverse voices and talents
  • Striving for purpose and pride 
  • Diversifying Estonian cultural scene
  • Fostering diplomacy through Arts & Culture
  • Promoting awareness of Sustainable Development Goals, read more

To music and creative sector

  • Business opportunities for musicians, creatives, companies and brands
  • International networks and wider recognition
  • Improved knowhow and career opportunities 
  • Cross-cultural inspiration and education
  • Regional, national and international collaborations 

To Estonian economy

  • Introducing Estonia and Tallinn
  • Attracting tourism and trade
  • Developing creative industries 
  • Supporting exports and trade
  • Enhancing international relations, networks and visibility
  • Promoting neighbourhoods, venues and brands

To the citizens

  • Supporting human-centric public spaces and neighbourhoods
  • Offering inclusion to diverse target groups
  • Advancing accessibility to culture
  • Empowering the youth and including the seniors
  • Offering excitement, inspiration and joy

Awards, credits, honorary mentions

  • 2023: Ingrid Kohtla received the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music at the Estonian Music Industry Awards / EMEA
  • 2022: Tallinn-Narva Music Week won the Tourism Product of the Year Award at the Estonian Tourism Conference
  • 2022: Tallinn Music Week received the Covid-19 Champion special award at the Yearly Music Convention Awards at The Great Escape festival
  • 2022: Helen Sildna received the Budapest Ritmo award
  • 2021: Helen Sildna received a special award for contributions to the music industry at Estonian Music Industry Awards / EMEA
  • 2020: Music Event of the Year at Estonian Music Industry Awards / EMEA
  • 2018: Helen Sildna received the Citizen of Honour title by the city of Tallinn for her outstanding contribution to promoting cultural tourism to Tallinn and introducing the city to the world
  • 2016: Helen Sildna awarded with the Order of the White Star of IV Class by Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves for her contribution to Estonian music life and civil society
  • 2016: Helen Sildna was voted the most influential woman in Estonian culture by Estonian daily Eesti Päevaleht
  • 2014: British daily The Guardian and Sunday paper The Observer picked the top 5 music festivals in the world for winter breaks, among them TMW
  • 2014: Tampere Music Award for Exceptional Achievements in Music to Helen Sildna, the founder and director of Tallinn Music Week
  • 2014: the “Best Host City Champion” for promoting the city of Tallinn.
  • 2012: the “Best Hotel and Convention Bar” with the festival’s hotel and convention center Nordic Hotel Forum.
  • 2011: the “Best Newish Event in 2011” award at The Great Escape music conference