. Travel digest

For those who want to combine a ski holiday with comfortable lodging, the Tartu region and the nearby Otepää area offer a wide range of options. Whether you are taking part in the Tartu Maraton, training for a competition, or simply enjoying the snowy landscape, you will find suitable premises with ski‑friendly facilities.

Explore Tartu and the South Estonia region at the upcoming tourism fairs. The new year kicks off with a series of exhibitions that generate fresh travel ideas, new itineraries, and valuable partnerships. In 2026, both South Estonia and Tartu will be showcased in nearby and national markets, highlighting the area's varied nature, culture, and tourism offerings.

Below is a summary

On Friday, 9 January, at 17:00, sculptor Karin Kivisild will inaugurate her solo show “Corpusculum Vitae” in the project room of Gallery Pallas.

The exhibition explores meditation as an artistic method and investigates the sense of inner wholeness. The works were produced through experimental meditative practices, turning microscopic patterns into reflections of the artist’s

Prejudice often appears before we have any real experience – before we see, hear or listen. It forms an invisible shield that can protect us, but also limit us.

On Friday, 9 January 2026, at 17:00, the joint exhibition “Assumption Is the Death of Progress” opens at Gallery Pallas. The show welcomes visitors of all ages and invites them to pause, question their own assumptions

On Friday, 9 January 2026, at 17:00, Gallery Pallas will host the opening of the joint exhibition “Sorry, I Just Woke Up”. The project is created by students of the sculpture department of Pallas University of Applied Sciences.

The show explores the moments when artistic ideas are still forming, when creators are half‑asleep and searching for their voice. It presents works that

On 5 January 2026 at 10:05 a.m., the inaugural train of the new Tallinn–Tartu–Riga passenger line departed from Tartu railway station. The ceremonial journey was attended by the Estonian Minister of Infrastructure, the Latvian Minister of Transport, the mayor of Tartu, and senior representatives of the railway operators and local municipalities.

No tickets were sold for this

On 6 January 2026 at 17:00 the opening of “Valguspesa”, a solo show by Latvian artist Rasmus Marks, will take place in Jakobi Gallery, Tartu.

This is Marks’ first solo presentation in Estonia. The exhibition transforms the gallery into a “reconstructed space of thought”, inspired by Freud’s concept of space as an extension of the psyche. The works explore how a personal environment

For the New Year’s Eve festivities, the main artery of the city – Vabaduse Avenue – will be closed to through traffic from 04:00 on 29 December until late evening on 2 January. The closure covers the stretch between Uueturu Street and the Magistri parking area.

Drivers are advised to use the detour route via Rahu bridge – Narva road – Vabaduse bridge. Access to Poe Street will

All residents and visitors are invited to a major New Year’s Eve celebration on Vabaduse puiestee. The evening will be opened by guitarist‑producer Raul Ojamaa together with keyboardist‑singer Jon Hazel.

The program starts at 23:30 on 31 December. After the first set, video messages from Tartu mayor Urmas Klaas and President of Estonia Alar Karis will be shown. A special production

The Tartu Christmas City programme continues through the final week, offering a variety of free activities for visitors until 4 January.

Tartu will offer a rich calendar of activities during 2026. The program combines international festivals, sports contests, concerts, fairs and neighbourhood celebrations, providing entertainment for residents and visitors alike.

On Friday, 19 December 2025 at 18:00, the traditional annual exhibition of Tartu art will open its doors at the Tartu Art House, a venue designed by architect Karmo Mende.

The programme was curated by Karmo Mende, and the displayed works can be viewed and purchased via the online platform NOBA.ac.

The exhibition features contributions from 250 creators, with 111

The University of Tartu will host the Workshop on Uncertainty in Machine Learning (WUML 2026) from 2 – 4 February 2026.

Building on the previous meetings held in Munich (2024) and Milan (2025), this interdisciplinary gathering continues to serve as an open platform for presenting the newest advances and discussing the challenges of modelling and quantifying uncertainty in machine‑learning

This year’s interdisciplinary gathering is part of the University of Tartu’s Asia Centre “Asia Update” series, which each year focuses on a different Asian region. In 2026 the programme turns to the Middle East (West Asia), a region experiencing deep‑seated change.

The Middle East is currently at a critical juncture. Its internal developments are reshaping everyday life and also

On 25 November, the Tartu Conference Ambassador Club gathered at the newly opened Elutuba Lava Taga venue. Representatives of Visit Tartu, the Estonian Convention Bureau and the active ambassador community met to share sector updates, reinforce partnerships and discuss creative solutions for events.

Elutuba Lava Taga provides private rooms with a contemporary design. It can host

From Sunday, 30 November, the Tartu Toy Museum will host “Advent mornings”. Visitors can take part in festive workshops where they create Christmas decorations and gifts for the upcoming holidays.

The museum’s dedicated Christmas room offers a cozy setting for crafts, family activities and a chance to imagine Santa’s arrival under a beautifully decorated tree. The museum shop also sells

Every year the Town Hall Square in Tartu transforms into a festive “Christmas City”. Over a five‑week period visitors can enjoy a variety of cultural exhibitions organized by the Tartu Art Museum, Aparaaditehas and the TYPA Print & Paper Art Centre, as well as creative workshops and live music performances.

For children there is a straw‑house

From the end of November until early January the city becomes a festive “Christmas City”. An open‑air ice rink on Town Hall Square operates throughout the season, and skate rentals are available for visitors.

As a European Capital of Culture, Tartu offers a rich programme of concerts and cultural events during December and beyond, ensuring a lively

On Friday, 28 November 2025, at 5 p.m., gallery Pallas will open the annual exhibition of the Estonian Textile Artists’ Association.

The exhibition is dedicated to the concept of “material” and explores its significance in artistic practice. It examines how material influences creative decisions, carries meaning, value, character, and memory, and how artists reinterpret it in

Estonia’s designated Culinary Region for 2025 is Tartu County, giving a perfect reason to discover its rich gastronomic scene.

Cafés and restaurants in the city and throughout the county have prepared special Christmas dishes that highlight seasonal flavors. Take a moment to relax, enjoy the festive atmosphere of Tartu and taste authentic local cuisine.

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