Happy Big Band Weekend 2026

Text Stewart Johnson
Photo Santtu Salminen

Boston Promenade Big Band

For 12 years now the Happy Big Band Weekend has brought together numerous big band ensembles, guest conductors, and music fans for a weekend of live performances that are free to attend. The main events will take place in Tartu at the Estonian National Museum, or ERM, in the so-called “Bridge” of the building.

Saturday will be the first day of the Happy Big Band Weekend, and the concert will take place at 15:00 on the Bridge at the ERM in Tartu. Performing groups will be Eller Big Band, MUBA Big Band, the Boston Promenade Big Band from Finland. The second day, Sunday, will see the Pärnu Music School Big Band, the Tartu Sax Choir, and Big Band Tartu with guest conductor Bianca Rantala at 13:00.

Sunday in Tallinn will see the Tallinn University of Technology Big Band and Boston Promenade Big Band perform at 15:00 in the Tallinn University of Technology’s main hall.

Bianca Rantala has won numerous awards for her work with big bands, including composing. She has Finnish and Estonian roots, and starting this year she is expected to become the resident composer of the UMO Jazz Orchestra.

More information on performers and the concerts is available here.

To learn more about this and similar topics
big band Concert ERM Estonian National Museum Events in Tallinn Happy Big Band Weekend music Tartu