New and ongoing exhibitions in Estonia

There are 170 museums in Estonia.

Many museums feature a constant rotation of temporary exhibitions alongside their permanent ones, making a trip to the museum a great way to immerse yourself in Estonian culture and history.

In this article, we provide a sampling of some of the "star exhibitions" and tips for planning your museum visits while you're in Estonia. 

Insider tip #1

If you plan on visiting several exhibitions in Estonia during your stay, invest in a Museum Card. Valid for 12 months from the date it's first used, this card gives you access to over 100 museums around the country.

More intriguing exhibitions in Tallinn

29 January to 07 July 2026: PoCo - Pop-Art Museum — "Björn Koop: 1982"

The exhibition “1982” by product designer Björn Koop is a personal insight into the aesthetics of industrial design and the legendary automobile models whose formal simplicity has inspired the designer since childhood.

25 March to 23 August 2026: Estonian Museum of Architecture — "Let Me Warm You"

A continuation of the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale Estonian Pavilion exhibition, this exhibition explores whether renovation merely means insulating buildings and improving energy efficiency, or if it is also an opportunity to address broader social and spatial challenges. Dramatic texts based on real-life situations highlight how different parties – residents, the bank, the architect, and the city – influence the renovation process.

14 March to 4 October 2026: Fotografiska — Inta Ruka's exhibition "Places Called Home"

Photographer Inta Ruka photographed people in her homeland of Latvia from 1983 to 2008, capturing their lives in rooms, yards, and streets — places where everyday life unfolds. She repeatedly returned to the same people, working slowly and allowing trust to develop over time. The photos are not merely documentary; they capture places, relationships, and lived life, from which a sense of belonging emerges.

22 May 2025 to 31 December 2026: The People’s Museum of Tallinn — "Stories of a Young Capital: The Vibrant Twenties"

The new exhibition at the People’s Museum of Tallinn explores the history of the young capital and the lives of its residents in the dynamic 1920s. In 2025, one hundred years will have passed since the adoption of the Cultural Autonomy Act. This milestone inspired the creation of an exhibition showcasing the diverse stories of Tallinn’s residents in the 1920s.

Insider tip #2

The Visit Tallinn website has information about current exhibitions in the capital showcasing Estonia and the world's history, culture, art, and science.

Top exhibitions in Tartu

13 May to 1 November 2026: AHHAA Science Centre — "Caution, inconvenient!"

Stepping out of your comfort zone may cause discomfort, and that's the goal of this exhibition. Here, you'll encounter objects and spaces that won't let you simply sit, step, or move: chairs that make you aware of your body; floors that respond to your steps unexpectedly; and small shifts that change your sense of space.

31 January to 30 December 2026: Tartu Toy Museum — "Me, Superhero!"

At this hands-on exhibition, you can get acquainted with both fictional and real heroes – measure your heroism, tally up the points for becoming a superhero, and gather new knowledge in a playful way. 

5 July to 31 December 2027: Tartu City Museum — "Our Tartu" 

This exhibition showcases the residents of Tartu and its districts. Through 17 chapters, it introduces visitors to the kaleidoscopic nature of this charming city and conveys the unique feeling that makes each district and the whole of Tartu special. Each district has its own theme, and local residents share stories about their neighborhoods.

Insider tip #4

One Saturday evening in May each year, museums and other memory institutions in Estonia open their doors later than usual, at a symbolic price or even for free, to celebrate the pan-European Museum Night. It's a popular event on the Estonian cultural calendar.

Insider tip #5

NOBA Art Guide is an international website that presents information about contemporary art exhibitions in different parts of Estonia. The website has a map and a city menu, which you can use to explore the exhibitions. 

Discover more exhibitions around Estonia

Rakvere

The exhibition "If So Reclined: Luxury and Simplicity in Estonian Furniture History from the 1400s to the Early 1900s" at Rakvere's Rehbinder House Museum won the award for best permanent museum exhibition in 2024.
 
An early classicist upper-class residence in the center of Rakvere – Count Gustav Dietrich von Rehbinder’s house – was renovated between 2020 and 2023. Now, an exhibition on the history of furniture is housed there.

The exhibition of Estonian furniture history is structured chronologically, starting with items dating back to the 15th century and proceeding through to pieces produced by the famous Luther factory.

Narva

From 24 February 2026: "Be Prepared! The History of Scouting in Narva" — Narva Castle

Scouting emerged at the beginning of the twentieth century and quickly became an international phenomenon. Thanks to its unique combination of education and adventure, scouting has remained attractive to new generations for more than one hundred years. This exhibition introduces the fundamental principles, laws, and symbols of scouting, and also tells the story of the emergence and development of the scouting movement in Narva.

Hiiumaa

20 June 2026 to 31 October: "Baltic New Painting" — Viscosa Factory Gallery

This exhibition brings together 150 artists aged 40 and younger from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, presenting a cross-section of how the new generation uses, shifts, and redefines painting in an era when visual space is fast, digital, and saturated.

Saaremaa

Until 29 November 2026: "When Men Were Made of Iron" — Kuressaare Episcopal Castle

This exhibition places the viewer face-to-face with persons from the past. The entire exhibition is bound together by a belt chain running through different themes, a piece of jewelry unique to a medieval Saaremaa woman. You can see finds preserved in the ground and learn more about the medieval inhabitants of Saaremaa.