The ninth edition of Tartu Folk starts tomorrow

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Photo Peeter Paaver / Tartu Folk

The international festival Tartu Folk will begin in the city tomorrow (November 14), and run to Sunday (November 17). The festival, which brings a bit of warmth and joy to the darkest time of the year, will offer a lineup of traditional music and dance performances that focus on local heritage – the theme of this year’s event.

The event features performances from over 250 artists from across the Baltic and Nordic countries. Highlights include Norway’s BUL Bodø with their delicate traditional string music, Finland’s energetic Karjala rhythms from youth ensemble Motora, and Latvia’s folk group Tarkšķi from Iecava. Estonian heritage will be represented by Sörve Sörmitsejad & Ammuker from Saaremaa and the local folk club Maatasa, who will also introduce South Estonian music traditions. Beyond international acts, the festival emphasises Tartu’s local folk talent with various musicians, instrument clubs, and dance groups from the area also performing.

The four-day event begins with a pre-festival concert dedicated to the Year of Cultural Diversity. The concert will bring together multicultural ensembles from Tartu, including Ukrainian and Udmurt groups, and will be followed by a tea evening and dance club session led by Maatasa.

On November 15, festival headliners will perform at schools in the city, sharing their traditions with students at Miina Härma Gymnasium, Hugo Treffner Gymnasium, and other schools. The main event day on November 16 unfolds in Luunja Cultural Centre, where workshops and a grand gala concert will culminate in a dance club featuring traditional dances from Norway, Finland, Latvia, and Estonia.

The festival concludes with a live-streamed final concert from the Estonian National Museum, celebrating regional identity through performances, video clips of headliners, and a premiere of Maatasa’s music video on the legend of Toomkirik.

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