Jazzkaar International Festival to Kick Off

Text Stewart Johnson
Photo Lauren Desberg

Jazzkaar is an international festival organised every year in Estonia since 1990. This nationwide celebration of jazz lasts for two weeks, with concerts across the country, and is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. Many artists performing will of course be from Estonia, yet the festival is proud to present several from the rest of Europe, the Middle East, North America, and even India!

Concerts will take place throughout Tallinn, Tartu, Viljandi, Võru, Otepää, Jõhvi, and Haapsalu. On 20 April, there will also be several free concerts, fully open to the public, in several venues around Tallinn. Special events on this day will include a morning yoga session with live jazz, and a record fair at Jazzkaar’s info tent.

For those travelling between Helsinki and Tallinn, there will also be a few concerts aboard the Tallink Megastar, for a real taste of live jazz at sea! From the police departments and the airport, to a retirement home and on the streets, the selection of venues for this year’s Jazzkaar is truly exceptional. The entire country will come alive with the sounds of jazz.

Jazzkaar, the largest jazz festival in the Baltics, was first organised in 1990, and has been a symbol of Estonia’s independence ever since. Over 35 years, more than 3000 foreign artists from over 60 countries have performed, with around 25,000 visitors one year. Jazzkaar is today recognised as one of the premiere music festivals in Europe, and for a very good reason!

Tickets for individual concerts, day passes, and festival passes are available here.

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Events in Estonia Events in Tallinn jazz Jazzkaar music Music Festival