Tallinn-European Capital of Culture 2011

In 2011 Tallinn gets the unique opportunity to hold the title 'European Capital of Culture'. This will be an opportunity to tell fascinating stories through the cultural programme.

It will include 251 different events. Beside smaller events, there will be at least one larger festival each month. More important events to take place include the international Jazzkaar jazz music festival in April, the Tallinn Old Town Days in June, the Youth Song and Dance Celebration and the Tallinn Maritime Days in July, the Birgitta Festival for opera music in August, and the Black Nights Film Festival in November.

While the Capital of Culture year brings together brand new projects with existing traditional events in Tallinn, one will encounter the sea and the use of seaside spaces in the cultural programme of 2011. The theatre-lovers would do well to take heed upon hearing that one of Tallinn's most extravagant theatre companies, NO99, will be setting up something unique near the sea - the Straw Theatre, made of 9 000 bundles of thatch. Those interested in sports can begin to get ready for the Tallinn Marathon, which will take place along Tallinn's 50-kilometer stretch of shoreline, the Simpel Session, which draws the best extreme athletes in the world to Tallinn, or the world championships in martial arts.

In addition to the cultural programme, Tallinn2011 has launched many long-term projects to engage volunteers and young people, and to raise people's environmental awareness.

Tallinn's year as the European Capital of Culture will be kicked off by two major events: the award ceremony of the European Film Academy held in Tallinn in December 2010 and the opening ceremony of the Capital of Culture on 31 December 2010.