Grand opening ceremony of the European Capital of Culture year

The European Capital of Culture year in Tartu and South Estonia kicks off on 26 January at 19:00 with a grand opening ceremony in the centre of Tartu entitled “All are One!”. The opening ceremony, which marks the start of the cultural programme for the whole of 2024, will feature renowned Estonian artists, actors and dancers. The performance will be directed by Taavi Tõnisson and dramaturged by Eero Epner.

The stage for the opening ceremony of the Capital of Culture is the Emajõgi embankment, located between the Tartu landmarks Kaarsilla and Rahu Bridge. In addition, the 35-metre-long Koit, the largest river barge sailing in Estonian inland waters, is used as a platform. The public can watch the performance on the bank on the Vabaduse puiestee side of the river. Large screens help to bring the action closer to the audience.

“The traditional opening ceremonies of the annually selected European Capitals of Culture are modelled on the opening of the Olympic Games – a spectacular concert performance on the banks of the Emajõgi River in winter,” said Kati Torp, creative director of Tartu 2024.

Well-known Estonian artists have composed compositions for the opening ceremony. Trad.Attack! will perform new compositions together with already famous songs. and Sander Mölder. The cinematic music palette for the opening ceremony has been put together by Liina Sumera, and the Eller Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Andres Kaljuste plays an important role in creating the sound patterns.

“The performance is full of surprises for audiences of all ages and a joy of discovery that reflects the uniqueness of Tartu and South Estonia and the curiosity open to Europe,” said Taavi Tõnisson, the director of the opening ceremony.

Capital of Culture opening morning 26. On 1 January, a children’s disco for nursery groups and teachers will start at Club Illusion. The music will be played by DJ Maido Möls and the steps will be performed by Britt Kõrsmaa, Märt Agu and Oliver Soomets from Dance Camp.

Town Hall Square will help 26. On 1 January, before the opening ceremony of the Capital of Culture, from 15:00, an electronic music party will set the mood. After the opening performance, at 20:00, the audience will march in a large procession to the music under the roof of the Estonian National Museum for an open-air revue. Emily Makis (ÜK) will perform and the Estonian Minister of Culture Heidy Purga, Sound in Noise (Eero Muiste) and OLIVAR (Rene Oliver Muiste) will play.

The halls of the Estonian National Museum will be filled with electronic music that night, accompanied by the exhibition “Right Body, Wrong Body?”. and get acquainted with the installations of the exhibition “To Whom the Night Belongs”, which will open in 2024 at the Estonian National Museum of Art.

Tartu, together with 19 municipalities in South Estonia, will bear the 2024. European Capital of Culture in 2007. The opening event and the cultural programme of more than a thousand events are available at tartu2024.ee.