Tallinn Music Week marks its 18th edition with a Linnahall debate, art anniversaries, and city culture adventures

Taking place 9–12 April, Tallinn Music Week (TMW) invites audiences on a journey through spring in Estonian capital—across art, film, cuisine, tours and public conversations shaping tomorrow’s ideas. Open to all ages, the city festival programme celebrates the 20th anniversaries of the Estonian Contemporary Art Museum (EKKM) and Kumu Art Museum, and brings into focus a public debate on the future of Tallinn’s landmark Linnahall.

On the festival eve, Wednesday 8 April, TMW opens the week with a public debate on the fate of Linnahall—one of Tallinn’s most remarkable architectural landmarks. A bold example of modernist Brutalism built for the 1980 Moscow Olympics sailing regatta, Linnahall connects the city centre, the seafront promenade, and North Tallinn. Long closed to the public and awaiting a new purpose, it has become a symbol of Tallinn’s relationship with its own past—and its ambitions for the future.

Brought together in collaboration with the City of Tallinn, the panel discussion “Culture Shapes the City: What Becomes of Linnahall?” gathers cultural and conference organisers alongside city and state representatives.

Throughout the festival, visitors can also join guided tours of Linnahall and catch a documentary film about its architect Raine Karp at Kino Sõprus.

“TMW has always aimed to be a catalyst for Tallinn’s and Estonia’s cultural life as well as a platform for important conversations,” says Director of TMW Helen Sildna. “As TMW turns 18 this year, we feel an even greater responsibility to draw attention to the topics shaping our city’s cultural landscape — and our shared future. As the debate around Linnahall’s future has lately picked up, we have decided to put the spotlight on it at our festival too, bringing together key stakeholders and opening the conversation to the wider public. We feel our music and culture scene is ready to help the city find a new purpose for this iconic building.”

At the heart of TMW’s art programme is the celebration of the Estonian Contemporary Art Museum’s (EKKM) 20th anniversary, with the opening of the Köler Prize 2026 exhibition and a public talk with past laureates asking whether—and how—art can change society.

Kumu Art Museum, also marking its second decade, invites visitors to two exhibitions: Spiegel im Spiegel: Encounters Between Estonian and German Art from Lucas Cranach to Arvo Pärt and Gerhard Richter, and Triumph of Galatea: Art in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.

Art tours curated by the Estonian Centre for Contemporary Art (EKKAK) take visitors to galleries in the Old Town, Noblessner Quarter, and Telliskivi Creative City.

During TMW, celebrated photographer Anton Corbijn’s retrospective Corbijn, Anton at Fotografiska Tallinn becomes the backdrop for Corbijn Sessions #12: Fotografiska Night Shift × TMW × Fabrica Femina. Inspired by Corbijn’s words, “I try to capture a feeling rather than a perfect picture”, a group of Estonian female artists enters into spontaneous dialogue with the work of French sound art master and poet Cleo T.

TMW is delighted to welcome two coastal neighbours to the Telliskivi Creative City courtyard: European Capital of Culture Oulu2026 from Finland and next year’s title holder Liepāja 2027 from Latvia. The free City Stage brings together Finnish punk-jazz collective Oulun_keskusta and rising soul star Emilia Sisco alongside Latvian multitalent Shipsea and folk-rock ensemble Alum Alu. Closing the Telliskivi stage is Swedish multi-instrumentalist Stuzzi.

At the Nihe café City Stage, Estonian soul princess RETI and Finnish rapper King Yanz share the bill, whilst the EKKM courtyard hosts South Korean improv master Dasom Baek and Estonian ambient spoken word trio Apparatus&Apparata.

City Stage gigs also feature at Terminal Records & Bar as part of the TMW Youth Festival, assembled by students from state upper secondary schools TORG, PERG and MURG, and Tallinn College of Music and Ballet (MUBA), along with TMW Talks by young local musicians on making it as an artist in Estonia today—and whether AI is a musician’s tool or rival.

TMW and Tallinn Philharmonic’s Big Bang Kids’ festival Festival, produced in collaboration with Tallinn Philharmonic, invites the youngest visitors to the House of the Blackheads to “watch” music, dance in silence, explore mechanical noise machines, and pick up DJ tips. The programme features Nomads, a live performance Nomads by British musician Paul Griffiths with students of Lasnamäe Music School, and Estonian musician Meisterjaan taming at least nine instruments at once.

The film programme at Kino Sõprus traces the past and present of Estonian pop culture. Happiness Is Living in Our Land tells the full story of legendary punk band Velikije Luki, whose acts of rebellion helped set in motion the Soviet Union’s downfall. Puuluup—Cables in the Car follows the beloved zombie-folk duo through grand stages and everyday absurdity. Award-winning u.Q. is a fever dream 8mm, VHS and Betamax, following musician Uku Kuut from the Soviet Union to Los Angeles and back. The programme closes with KARP, a portrait of Linnahall’s architect Raine Karp. All screenings are introduced by the directors and cast members.

The Record Fair returns bigger than ever, expanding beyond records to include musical instruments, band merchandise, equipment and other music-related items.

TMW Tastes helps visitors navigate Tallinn’s culinary landscape — from fully plant-based Nihe café and Dagestani flavours at The Kurz to Mexican fare at El Camino Taco Bar, Mikkeller Tallinn & VLND Burger’s finest beers and legendary burgers, and all the way to Lore bistro in a historic shipyard. Several restaurants offer special deals for festival pass holders.

The programme closes with the Arctic Food Lab Brunch at Fotografiska’s restaurant, weaving together Nordic produce and music, and bringing a taste of European Capital of Culture Oulu2026 to Tallinn.

TMW 2026 City Festival schedule

Wednesday, 8 April

16:30–18:30 TMW Talks: “Culture Shapes the City: What Becomes of Linnahall?”
16:30 Gathering
17:00–18:30 Discussion
Linnahall stage (Sadama 1)
Free. Places limited—prior registration required.

Thursday, 9 April

17:30 TMW Film: Happiness Is Living in Our Land
Kino Sõprus (Vana-Posti 8)
Tickets: kinosoprus.ee 

18:00–19:30 Linnahall guided tour (in English)
Linnahall (Sadama 1)
Tickets: €12–19, fienta.com 

Friday, 10 April 

16:30–18:30 Noblessner Art Tour
Galleries: Kai Art Centre, Temnikova & Kasela Gallery, Tütar Gallery, Punctum Gallery Tickets: €20, shop.tmw.ee 

17:30 TMW Film: Puuluup — Cables in the Car
Kino Sõprus (Vana-Posti 8)
Tickets: kinosoprus.ee 

17:00–20:45 TMW Youth Festival
Terminal Records & Bar (Telliskivi 60/2)
Free

17:00–17:40 Youth Talks: Young Musician in Estonia: Does Passion Pay the Bills? 17:45–18:05 City Stage: Dimpker Brothers (SE)
18:10–18:50 Youth Talks: AI Came to Help — Now We Need Help!
19:00–19:45 City Stage: Luminestents
20:00–20:45 City Stage: RUTE

18:00 TMW Art: EKKM 20: Köler Prize 2026 Exhibition Opening
Artists: Anna Mari Liivrand, Darja Popolitova, Hanna Samoson, Keiu Maasik, Taavi Suisalu EKKM (Kursi 5)
Free

20:00–23:00 TMW Art: Corbijn Sessions #12: Fotografiska Night Shift × TMW × Fabrica Femina
Cleo T (FR), POETRIA, Tuulikki Bartosik and others
Fotografiska Tallinn (Telliskivi 60a-8)
Tickets: €10 (10% discount with TMW festival pass, free with PRO Pass)

Saturday, 11 April 

12:00–14:00 Old Town Art Tour
FOKU Gallery, Draakoni Gallery, Hobusepea Gallery, Estonian Architecture Museum, EKKM Starting point: outside FOKU Gallery (Väike-Karja 10)
Tickets: €20, shop.tmw.ee 

12:00–16:00 TMW Big Bang Kids’ Festival
House of the Blackheads (Pikk 26)
Tickets: €5–15 (Piletilevi); free for children under 6.

13:00–16:00 Record Fair × Music Bazaar
Balti Jaama Turg (Kopli 1)
Free

12:00 / 14:00 Linnahall guided tours (in Estonian)
Tickets: €12–19, fienta.com 

12:30 / 13:15 TMW City Stage: RETI, King Yanz (FI/UK)
Nihe Café (Telliskivi 60a/2)
Free

14:00 / 14:30 City Stage: Dasom Baek (KR), Apparatus&Apparata
EKKM (Kursi 5)
Free

14:30 Linnahall guided tour (in English)
Tickets: €12–19, fienta.com 

14:00–16:30 EKKM City Stage and Talks
14:00 / 14:30 City Stage: Dasom Baek (KR), Apparatus&Apparata
15:00–16:30 TMW Talks: Can Art and Artists Change Society — and If So, How?
In conversation past Köler Prize laureates.
EKKM (Kursi 5)
Free

15:00–18:30 TMW City Stage
Telliskivi Creative City courtyard (Telliskivi 60a/5)
Free

Presented by Liepāja 2027:
15:00 Shipsea (LV)
15:45 Alum Alu (LV)

Presented by Oulu 2026:
16:30 Emilia Sisco (FI)
17:15 Oulun_keskusta (FI)

Presented by TMW:
18:00 Stuzzi (SE)

17:30 TMW Film: u.Q.
Kino Sõprus (Vana-Posti 8)
Tickets: kinosoprus.ee 

Sunday, 12 April 

12:00–16:00 Arctic Food Lab Brunch
Fotografiska Restaurant (Telliskivi 60)
Book the table: shop.tmw.ee 

12:00–14:30 Telliskivi Creative City Art Tour
Fotografiska Tallinn, Juhan Kuus Documentary Photography Centre, Telliskivi outdoor galleries, Vaal Gallery, EKA Gallery
Starting point: outside Fotografiska
Tickets: €20, shop.tmw.ee 

12:00 / 14:30 Linnahall guided tours (in Estonian and English)
Tickets: €12–19, fienta.com 

17:30 TMW Film: KARP
Kino Sõprus (Vana-Posti 8)
Tickets: kinosoprus.ee