Summer Start Festival 2026

Text Stewart Johnson
Photo Tartu 2024/Reigo Teervalt

Tartu’s Summer Start Festival is in essence a double festival on 6 June in Tartu’s Song Festival Grounds. During the day there will be an incredibly broad selection of events and activities for children, so they’ll be sufficiently worn out for parents to drop them off at home and return for the long lineup of many of Estonia’s favourite musical acts in the evening. This festival started in 2023 and has quickly become one of the country’s early summer celebrations. Depending on the weather, of course.

The children’s portion of Summer Start is free. Called “Tere Perepäev”, or “Hello Family Day” in English, will feature a fair, or laat in Estonian, featuring all things summer. There will naturally be trampolines galore, food, music, and other activities for children all day long. Parents can enjoy the fair as well, which will also offer gardening goods such as plants. The children’s event will be held from 10:00 until 16:00.

Starting at 17:00, the real fun begins! If you choose to keep your kids with you, they can enjoy the family-friendly acts from Estonia and abroad as the official welcoming of summer in Southern Estonia. Estonian acts include the omnipresent Terminaator, as well as Hellad Velled, and Släm. International headliners will include Italobrothers, and the one and only DJ team Sash! from Germany.

The Summer Start Festival is expected to attract at least a couple thousand people, just to give visitors an idea of what to expect. Visitors can also expect a wide selection of food throughout the entire event.

The full programme, including all children’s activities and musical acts, is available in Estonian here.

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Children Concert Events In Tartu Festival Song Festival Grounds Southern Estonia Summer Summer Start Festival