KAUGE Festival takes place in Tartu this Saturday

Alternative music and club culture festival KAUGE takes place this Saturday, 16 May, at the Peetri factory complex in Tartu, Estonia.

Now in its third edition, the festival’s full programme features 17 musical performances across four stages, alongside a four-part daytime cultural programme. The festival’s art, visuals and installations programme is created by more than 10 artists.

This year’s headliners are rominimal icon Raresh and Japan’s DJ MARIA. In addition to the festival’s core night programme and daytime cultural programme, visitors are also invited to a morning afterparty at the Emajõgi bar Sulps, starting at 8.00.

According to the organisers, this year’s production is the most extensive and professional in KAUGE’s history with a heightened focus on visitor experience through spatial interventions and engaging lighting solutions. 

“We’ve been hard at work these past six months to turn the factory complex into the festival setting it deserves to be,” said festival production director Martin Sõgel. “We’re adding one more stage, bringing a Funktion-One sound system to the festival, and improving accessibility,” Sõgel added.

According to organiser Brett-Peter Rästas, this year’s programme has been designed so that visitors can shape exactly the kind of festival experience they want. “You can come for the daytime programme and join the party only in the early morning, or focus entirely on the night programme. This year, KAUGE offers more ways to engage with the various programmes and spaces we’re creating,” Rästas said.

The music programme features Raresh (RO), DJ MARIA. (JP), Alabama, Denjoy, Kalev K, Fakign (LIVE), Jaan, Kersten Kõrge, Kiimsask, klmn, Pätt, Mysty, Raul Saaremets, Rii, Rummo, Rästas and Tanel.

The daytime cultural programme, KAUGE Culture, takes place in four parts. From 14.00 to 15.30, the programme explores upcycling in festival space design. From 16.00 to 17.15, there will be an English-language presentation titled “DJing as Archival Practice”. From 17.30 to 18.45, 1990s Estonian rave culture will be compared with the present day, and from 19.00 to 20.15, the discussion will focus on the impact of club culture on society and the individual.

The festival’s art, visuals and installations programme is run by Ursula Ainso with additional works by Lauri Miller, Raluca Mănăilă, kuutipsud, KREAT MINDS, Melani Telliskivi, Anu-Kristel Unt and Henri Tabur.

KAUGE Festival is supported by the Tartu City Government and the Cultural Endowment of Estonia.

ESSENTIAL INFO
Date: 16 May 2026
Location: Peetri factory complex, Kalmistu 21, Tartu, Estonia
Tickets: €18–30
Links: Facebook / Instagram / Fienta

Music: Raresh (RO), DJ MARIA. (JP), Alabama, Denjoy, Kalev K, Fakign (LIVE), Jaan, Kersten Kõrge, Kiimsask, klmn, Pätt, Mysty, Raul Saaremets, Rii, Rummo, Rästas, Tanel.

KAUGE Kultuur:
14.00–15.30 Upcycling in festival space design
16.00–17.15 DJing as Archival Practice (ENG)
17.30–18.45 Comparing 1990s Estonian rave culture with the present day
19.00–20.15 The impact of club culture on society and the individual

Art, visuals and installations: Lauri Miller, Raluca Mănăilă, kuutipsud, KREAT MINDS, Melani Telliskivi, Anu-Kristel Unt, Henri Tabur