Beats from the Baltics: Estonia's contemporary music scene

Music is everywhere in Estonia — at concerts, festivals, bars, and clubs. The local scene awaits music lovers looking to listen to something new!

Hillary Millán

English language writer and editor for Visit Estonia

It is said that Estonians "sang themselves free."

Music, especially folk music, was one way to express national identity leading up to Estonia's first independence in 1918. Then, music again brought the country together during the "Singing Revolution" to push back against Soviet occupation.

Every five years, the Estonian Song and Dance Celebration attracts about 30,000 performers and tens of thousands of spectators. Annual music festivals like Tallinn Music Week, Jazzkaar, and Viljandi Folk attract international visitors to Estonian stages, and Eurovision brings Estonian artists to the global stage. Estonia's musical landscape is truly more colorful than ever.

Photo author: Kaarel Mikkin, Toolbox

Experience Estonia's Song & Dance Celebration

First held in 1869, this massive cultural event has become an important expression of Estonian identity.

Estonia & Eurovision

Estonia hosted Eurovision once, in 2002, after Tanel Padar, Dave Benton, and 2XL won the 2001 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Everybody.

Making it to the main event

Eesti Laul is Estonia’s national competition for selecting its representative for the Eurovision Song Contest. The competition focuses on emerging and established Estonian musicians and showcases diverse genres. Not only is Eesti Laul a gateway to Eurovision, but it has also significantly contributed to the growth of Estonia’s music industry.

Recent Eestilaul winners

In 2024, folk duo Puuluup and hip hop artists 5MIINUST won Eestilaul with their song (nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi, an Estonian-language song featuring the talharpa (also known as a hiiu kannel), a traditional instrument played in Estonia's Coastal Swedish communities.
Tommy Cash won the Eesti Laul this year with his song Espresso Macchiato and will represent Estonia in Eurovision 2025.

5MIINUST and Estonian folk duo Puuluup perform Eestilaul

Photo author: Puuluup and 5MIINUST, Maanus Kullamaa/Tartu 2024

Photo author: Kaupo Kalda, Visit Tallinn

Off-the-beaten path in Tallinn: Tommy Cash's Kopli

Did you know that one of Estonia's most eccentric artists was born and raised in Kopli? Read on to learn more about this fascinating neighborhood.

Estonian musicians to add to your playlist

In addition to the artists already mentioned, here are some more to check out before your trip. There's a little bit of everything, from pop to rock, electronic, funk, nu-folk, and hip-hop. Start listening and find a new favorite!

NÖEP
- Bonus: Check out his sunrise set for Visit Estonia!
Duo Ruut
Bedwetters
Mari Kalkun
Curly Strings
nublu
YASMYN
Lexsoul DanceMachine
Trad Attack!
Rita Ray
Kitty Florentine
Púr Múdd
Stefan
ALIKA
Jüri Pootsmann

Bedwetters Estonian band on boat in Pärnu

Photo author: Bedwetters, Visit Pärnu

Tallinn Music Week

The festival for tomorrow's music and ideas

The international new music and city festival Tallinn Music Week (TMW) fills the Estonian capital with music and art every spring.

Attended by 20,000 festival-goers and 1,000 industry professionals, TMW is the key networking event for musicians and music industry professionals of the Nordic-Baltic region and across Europe, with a track record for helping emerging acts break into the international scene.

Spanning from the trendy Telliskivi Creative City to Old Town, the music program features the best Estonian artists, notable newcomers, and established acts, including over 180 artists from various genres across Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Canada, and the Middle East.

TMW’s city program offers free daytime explorations of art, cuisine, music, and children's programs while inviting the public to participate in discussions and learn more about Tallinn's diverse neighborhoods and venues.

Estonian musician Mari Kalkun performs at Tallinn Music Week

Photo author: Mari Kalkun, Tallinn Music Week

Jazzkaar

The largest jazz festival in the Baltics

Jazzkaar is another springtime music festival featuring over 30 concerts across Estonia. Since its beginning in 1990, Jazzkaar has established itself as a cornerstone of the Estonian music scene. The festival's main hub is Telliskivi Creative City, but performances will also be held in Tartu, Pärnu, Viljandi, Otepää, and Ida-Viru County.

This festival's lineup includes rising Estonian talents and internationally renowned jazz artists from over a dozen countries. In addition to the scheduled concerts, Jazzkaar enlivens Estonia’s urban spaces with pop-up performances around town, including on public transport, in shopping centers, and on the streets of Tallinn’s Old Town.