Estonian Song and Dance Festival 2025
More than 100,000 people are expected to travel to the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds in Estonia next July to experience an extraordinary celebration of music and dance. Taking place just once every five years, the Estonian Song and Dance Festival will return in early July 2025, promising to be an event you’ll cherish for a lifetime.
2025 marks the 21st year of the Estonian Dance Festival and the 155th year of the Song Festival — one of the largest amateur choral events in the world, recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. While ticket sales begin in early 2025, it’s important to organise your flights and accommodation well in advance. If you book a tour with us, we can secure those much sought-after tickets for you. See our tour for 2025 here — you can reserve your precious accommodation and tickets now.
The festival itself translates to an unparalleled, even if brief, immersion into another culture - a lovely and deeply moving insight into a nation. Yet, more than that, there is something universally powerful about music - in this case sung by a choir of 30,000 singers to an audience of 80,000-100,000 people! - that transcends language and culture. It resonates and touches us in ways that words cannot express. It reminds me of a quote by Gabrielle Roth:
In many shamanic societies, if you came to a shaman or medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed, they would ask one of four questions. When did you stop dancing? When did you stop singing? When did you stop being enchanted by stories? When did you stop finding comfort in the sweet territory of silence? Where we have stopped dancing, singing, being enchanted by stories, or finding comfort in silence is where we have experienced the loss of the soul. Dancing, singing, storytelling and silence are the four universal healing salves.
Taking a cue from her words, the Estonian Song and Dance Festival feels like it is infused with healing energy. The powerful emotions it stirs are not easily shaken — nor would you want them to be — and they will stay with you long after the festival ends.
Origins of the Estonian Song and Dance Festival
This renowned festival began in 1869 and has since become a powerful symbol of Estonian national pride and cultural identity. Over time, the festival has grown in size and significance, becoming one of the largest choral gatherings in the world. Last time, in 2019, the Song Festival celebrated its 150th anniversary, drawing tens of thousands of singers and spectators from around the globe.
The festival is held at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds (Lauluväljak), an iconic venue that has played an important role in Estonia’s recent history, particularly during the ‘Singing Revolution’ of the 1980s when peaceful mass singing protests contributed to Estonia’s independence from the Soviet Union.
Planning ahead
The Dance Festival usually begins with three performances on Thursday and Friday in the first week of July (with an identical program for both days). These are followed by the first full-length concert on Friday evening, and both a daytime and evening performance on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the ever-amazing Song Festival, features two evening concerts: The first on Saturday night and the second, and final one, on Sunday evening.
The event also includes a vibrant 5-kilometre procession through the streets of Tallinn, where performers dressed in traditional clothing march toward the festival grounds. The parade can be enjoyed for free from anywhere along the route to the stadium and is well worth your time. A great option is to watch the procession, allow yourself to be swept up in its pure joy and energy, and then attend the Song Concert later that day or evening.
Whether you’re attending the concerts or enjoying the colourful parade, this festival is sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience.
Estonia Dance credit Aivar Pihelgas 4
3-6 July 2025
XXVIII Song Festival and XXI Dance Festival
2-4 July 2027
XIV Youth Song and Dance Festival
29 June - 1 July 2029
XXIX Song Festival and XXII Dance Festival
Further inspiration
Article: Destination Estonia: An exception to the rule
Image credits: Aivar Pihelgas, Visit Estonia