Ms. Kristiina Kokko
State Secretary
Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland
10.03.2025
No 9-6/306-1
Invitation to the Estonian Song and Dance Celebration 2025
Dear Ms. Kristiina Kokko,
Singing has always been at the heart of the Estonian identity, uniting us through both the darkest and the brightest times. The Estonian Song and Dance Celebration is a cherished tradition since 1869 that Estonians look forward to, combining both folk and contemporary culture. Moreover, the Baltic Song and Dance Celebration is part of UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The next edition of the Estonian Celebration, titled Kinship, will take place in July 2025. In 2025 we celebrate both the Estonian language that unites us, and the regional dialects that distinguish us. This time, singers and dancers from every corner of Estonia will bring their unique expressions to the stage: a million notes, a million steps, a million people. Together, they will form one voice and one nation, united in kinship.
I would like to invite you to Tallinn to be part of our Celebration.
The Grand Opening Concert takes place in the evening of July 5, preceded by the procession of all participants. On the previous day, July 4, you are most welcome to the Dance Celebration’s concert in the morning, and a solemn dinner at the Arvo Pärt Centre in the evening.
We would be delighted to host you in the format 1+1 as well as to organize an additional programme. We kindly ask you to inform us of your participation at latest by 07.04.2025. In case of questions please do not hesitate to contact our International Relations Department (contact: Ulla Kihva,
[email protected]). More information about the festival can be found on the homepage https://2025.laulupidu.ee/en/general-information/song-festival-concerts/ .
It would truly be a pleasure if you could join our nation and sing along.
I look forward to seeing you in Estonia in July.
Yours sincerely,
Heidy Purga
Minister
Additional recipients: Embassy of Estonia in Helsinki
Ulla Kihva +372 6282357;
[email protected]