News

Estonia is set to present showcase performances and an extensive industry programme at WOMEX 2025 in Tampere, Finland this week from 23–26 October, highlighting the country’s vibrant music scene and regional collaboration. Estonian artists OOPUS and Kass-Talsi-Minn, along with The Baltic Sisters, take the Northern Connections stage, whilst industry activities include the Meet Estonia reception, Nordic-Baltic meetings, conference discussions, and a Music Moves Europe dialogue.

The programme is coordinated by Music Estonia in partnership with the Estonian Traditional Music Center and Tallinn Music Week, with support from the Ministry of Culture of Estonia, the Embassy of Estonia in Finland, and Studio Sound.

With WOMEX taking place in neighbouring Finland, Estonia is making the most of the proximity with a strong and varied delegation at the Nordic-Baltic joint area where eight countries—Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania,—collaborate to enhance their collective visibility..

Tradition Meets Innovation on the Northern Connections stage 

Estonian showcases on the Northern Connections stage in Tampere Hall span from ancient polyphony to electronic experimentation and Nordic minimalism.

The audiovisual folktronica crew OOPUS fuses ancient melodies with pulsing beats, immersive visuals and Finno-Ugric mythology, reimagining folk heritage through techno, analogue synths, and custom light installations.

The genre-bending collective Kass-Talsi-Minn brings together jazz, folk and early music, creating Nordic minimalism enriched with electroacoustic soundscapes, where Renaissance-era English compositions meet vibrant folk melodies.

Presented at WOMEX Tampere by Latvian Music Information Centre, The Baltic Sisters weave Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian voices into pan-Baltic polyphony. Born from a chance meeting at WOMEX Lisbon, the ensemble explores traditional music from all three Baltic nations—from haunting sutartinės harmonies to layered Seto textures.

Building Strategic Connections

Music Estonia and Tallinn Music Week open the WOMEX activities with the co-hosted Meet Estonia Reception at Kulttuuritalo Telakka on Thursday, 23 October. Supported by the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki, the reception invites the delegates to discover what drives one of Europe’s most curious music markets and meet the Estonian artists and industry professionals behind it.

The Nordic-Baltic joint area represents a strategic collaboration across eight countries, pooling resources and networks to amplify regional visibility. Friday’s speed meetings connect professionals from across the Baltic and Nordic music industries in targeted exchanges designed to spark tours, co-productions and collaborative projects, whilst the Nordic-Baltic afternoon gathering offers a more relaxed space for delegates to deepen connections across the region.

“This year marks our second participation in the Nordic-Baltic joint area at WOMEX,” says Director of Music Estonia Ave Sophia Demelemester. “By pooling resources and networks with neighbours, we’re proving that small nations can punch above their weight. Having WOMEX in Finland makes it easier for more Estonian industry professionals to participate and gives us a great opportunity to showcase our distinctive talent and collaborative spirit across borders.”

She adds: “The connections made at WOMEX extend far beyond the four days—they lead to festival bookings, label deals, publishing agreements and touring partnerships for years to come. We’re not just participating in the global music conversation—we’re also actively shaping it.”

The conference panel Navigating the Baltic Music Ecosystem explores how the three Baltic nations form a strong regional circuit. Moderated by Demelemester, the panel features Tarmo Noormaa, Programme Director at Viljandi Folk Music Festival in Estonia; Marija Astromskaite, Project Manager at Music Lithuania; and Daina Zalāne, Founder of Culture Management Centre LAUSKA.

In addition to partnering the Estonian events at WOMEX, Tallinn Music Week co-hosts the Music Moves Europe Dialogue Session: Future-Proofing the Music Ecosystem, exploring new skills, inclusive education and lifelong learning. Part of the MME series of structured dialogues steered by the European Commission, the session brings together TMW with ESNS, Reeperbahn Festival, Linecheck, EEMC and MaMA.

About the project partners

The Estonian presence at WOMEX 2025 is coordinated by Music Estonia, the national music industry development centre and export office representing over 100 music companies. Music Estonia is a member of EMEE, Live DMA, and EMMA.

Estonian Traditional Music Center is a nationwide NGO supporting traditional music education and promoting live performance and serving as an information hub for traditional music ensembles and enthusiasts across Estonia. The centre’s expertise ensures Estonia’s folk and traditional artists are well-prepared for international stages.

Tallinn Music Week is one of Europe’s most acclaimed new music discovery festivals and networking events for creative industry professionals. TMW is a co-founder of The Federation of International Music Conferences (FoMC), a member of the European Talent Exchange, Keychange, and global music network UPBEAT.

The programme is supported by the Ministry of Culture of Estonia, the Embassy of Estonia in Helsinki, Studio Sound, the Latvian Music Information Centre, the Lithuanian Music Information Centre, and the Nordic music export offices: Music Finland, Export Music Sweden, Music Norway, TEMPI, and Iceland Music.

Estonia at WOMEX 2025 schedule 

Thursday, 23 October

15:16–16:15 Music Moves Europe Dialogue Session: Future-Proofing the Music Ecosystem
(Conference Room 1)
18:00–19:30 Reception: Meet Estonia presented by Music Estonia x Tallinn Music Week, Supported by the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki
(Kulttuuritalo Telakka)
23:15–00:00 Showcase: The Baltic Sisters
(Northern Connections Stage, Tampere Hall)

Friday, 24 October

13:30–15:30 Speed Meetings: Nordic-Baltic – invite only 
(Tampere Hall Reception Space)
16:00–17:00 Get-together: Nordic-Baltic (after)NOON
(Nordic-Baltic meeting area, Tampere Hall)
00:45–01:30 Showcase: OOPUS

(Northern Connections Stage, Tampere Hall)

Saturday, 25 October

16:30–17:30 Panel: Navigating the Baltic Music Ecosystem
(Conference Room 2)
21:45–22:30 Showcase: Kass-Talsi-Minn
(Northern Connections Stage, Tampere Hall)