Tartu Student Days: Autumn 2026
Text Stewart Johnson Photo Visit Estonia / Tartu Student Days
To mark the start of the new school year at the University of Tartu, Tartu Student Days: Autumn 2026 will be held from 21–27 September. Every day there will be several fun activities, and many of them are open to the public to watch, even if you’re not a student. Maybe just nostalgia, maybe out of curiosity to see how young adults socialise in the digital age…Student Days is fun for everyone.
The first major event where spectators are welcome is on 21 September in front of the Old Anatomical Theatre in Toomemägi Park at 14:00: the Modern Medical Pentathlon! Teams of three or four members dressed as crazy doctors will race to find out who the next medical wizard will be. A couple hours later, at 17:45, there will be a 5K fun run starting on Town Hall Square. Expect some craziness here as well.
The next Friday there will be some fun hazing of freshmen at Pirogov Park at 18:00, or at the same time in Tartu Central Park watch teams of three or four compete in LONGorientation, a hilarious and challenging orienteering game.
Saturday, 26 September is one of the main events: the Cart Rally. At 13:00 on Küüni Street, next to the Kaubamaja Mall, teams of two will compete in a shopping race in a simulated grocery store. As an indication of what to expect, competitors are advised to wear knee and elbow pads, but helmets will be provided by the organisers.
The final day of Tartu Student Days: Autumn 2026 will see the other main event, and perhaps the most famous one. It’s called Wipe Out, and it’s held at the Kaarsild Bridge next to Town Hall Square. This event is essentially an obstacle course constructed over the Emajõgi River, and most of the competitors will wipe out, and fall into the water.
For the complete itinerary in English, see here.
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