BBC Travel names TMW one of the world's most anticipated music events

TALLINN - Tallinn Music Week (TMW), taking place from April 9-12, 2026, has been selected by BBC Travel as one of seven global music events to visit that year.

In the article "Seven live music experiences worth travelling for in 2026," TMW is presented as a city-wide celebration of creativity and culture. The piece highlights the festival's unique format, with events held in traditional concert venues as well as in other urban spaces.

"TMW was founded in 2009 to showcase Estonia's expanding cultural landscape. Since then, the annual spring event has now taken over the entire capital," writes the BBC.

The article specifically points out the festival's special program for the upcoming year, "Sounds of Music Cities," featuring artists from UNESCO Cities of Music. Visitors are also encouraged to explore Tallinn's Old Town and the offerings of TMW's hub, Telliskivi Creative City, from culinary experiences to design shops.

Alongside TMW, the list includes major international events such as the NHK Symphony Orchestra's 100th-anniversary celebrations in Tokyo, Japan; the Laneway Festival in Australia and New Zealand; Flow Festival in Helsinki, Finland; International Jazz Day in Chicago, USA; and OFF Festival in Katowice, Poland.

The TMW festival that took place this past year was covered by international channels such as Euronews and The Guardian, the world's largest alternative music portal Louder, and broadcasters and the cultural press across Europe.

Held since 2009, TMW is now among Europe's top three most important new music showcase festivals, bringing nearly 2,000 foreign guests to Tallinn each spring. Half of these attendees are international music industry experts, including nearly 100 foreign journalists.

The TMW festival is organized by the non-profit organization Muusikanädal and Shiftworks, along with numerous program partners and curators.

TMW is a founding member of FoMC, the federation of international music conferences and talent festivals; a member of the European talent exchange program ESNS Exchange; and a partner festival of the global gender equality initiative Keychange and the European global music platform UPBEAT.

The TMW 2026 music festival will take place from April 9-11 in Tallinn's concert halls and clubs, from Telliskivi Creative City to St. John's Church, providing an overview of the best and most exciting new music from Estonia and beyond. The performing artists will be announced in January, and the list of speakers for the TMW conference at the Nordic Hotel Forum on April 10-11, as well as the festival's city program, will be gradually updated.