Estonian Music Days 2026 | FESTIVAL PASS • Estonian Music Days 2026 „STORIES“ / EMP 2026
April 11–19 Tallinn, Tartu, Laulasmaa
Storytelling is one of the most central dimensions of being human. Man is a narrative being; we make sense of the world through stories. Stories are like an axis, a driving force through which we love, hate, wage war, build, and create. We have evolved through a narrative evolution, where more effective and compelling stories have pushed aside the weaker ones.
However, stories reach us not only through language and words but touch us through all possible artistic mediums. Perhaps some of the most powerful stories are those that operate beyond words and concepts. They often work even more directly and shake us more deeply than their verbal versions.
Musical stories are surely as old as humanity, if not older. It has been suggested that humans began to sing before they began to speak. This means that musical stories reached us first; they are something we need, something we still long for and reach out to find.
Within the framework of EMP (Estonian Music Days), new stories are being created, while older, more archaic tales are being weighed, gauged, and brought into the modern day.
PASS INFORMATION
The Festival Pass grants the holder access to all festival concerts taking place from April 11–19, 2026, in Tallinn and Tartu, provided that "zero-euro" tickets are reserved in advance via Piletikeskus, with the following exceptions:
- For the Estonian National Male Choir concert (April 11 at 19:00): Pass holders will receive a free ticket via email, or they can collect one at the Estonia Concert Hall box office 5–30 minutes before the concert begins.
- Additional program events are not included in the pass unless otherwise stated (relevant information will be available on the website in February 2026).
After purchasing a pass, a personal code will be generated for you. Use this code to "purchase" free advance tickets for the concerts you wish to attend. We kindly ask that you only reserve tickets for concerts you are certain to attend. These "zero-euro" tickets can be redeemed only via Piletikeskus during the entire sales period, provided the concert is not sold out. A reminder regarding this process will be sent to you as the festival approaches.
FESTIVAL PROGRAM
▩ 11.04 St. John’s Church, Tallinn: Ellerhein Girls’ Choir | M. Valkonen*, K. Matson*, V. Tormis, A. Pärt, U. Sisask
▩ 11.04 Club Hall: "The Birth of Light" | Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, E. Kont, V. Krigul, J. Mikk | M. Rostovtseva*, A. I. Susi*, L. Jürgens*
▩ 11.04 Estonia Concert Hall: Estonian National Male Choir & Ensemble of the Estonian Electronic Music Society | A. Kruusmaa*, J. Tarm*, G. J. Salumäe* et al.
▩ 12.04 String Quartet M4GNET: A.-M. Noorhani*, T. Kozlova-Johannes*, G. Kulla*, M. M. Gildemann*
▩ 12.04 Estonian Centre for Contemporary Music: "Estonian Music Abroad"
▩ 13.04 EAMT Main Hall: EAMT Sinfonietta | New works by EAMT students
▩ 14.04 Estonian National Opera Chamber Hall: Ludensemble | M. Liik*, E. Masing*, L. Jõeleht*, M. M. Gildemann, J. Reinvere
▩ 15.04 Estonian National Opera Chamber Hall: Broken Frames Syndicate (Germany) „HELLO DARKNESS“ | A. Thorvaldsdottir, P. Schäfer, S. Hennies, M. Maltis, T. Kozlova-Johannes*, M. Gordon
▩ 16.04 Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir & Cantoque Ensemble (Iceland): H. Tulve*, R. E. Maimets*, H. Guðmundsson*, F. Martin
▩ 17.04 Estonia Concert Hall: ERSO, H. C. Aavik, H.-R. Leivategija, S. d’Amico | L. Hirsch*, R. E. Maimets, E.-S. Tüür, L. Sumera
▩ 18.04 Tubin Hall, Tartu: "Young Composer Competition Final Concert"
▩ 18.04 University of Tartu Museum: Quiet Music Ensemble (Ireland) | L. Hõbepappel*, M.-M. Lill* et al.
▩ 19.04 Tubin Hall, Tartu: String Quartet M4GNET | A.-M. Noorhani*, T. Kozlova-Johannes*, G. Kulla*, M. M. Gildemann*
▩ 19.04 Arvo Pärt Centre: Quiet Music Ensemble (Ireland) | L. Hõbepappel*, M.-M. Lill* et al.
The organizer reserves the right to make changes to the program.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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