Leigo lake music festival 2026
30 july — 1 august
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Schedule
30 July
19:00
SONIC FOREST WALK
Participants may join the forest walk at any time of their choosing.
The length of the walk is approximately 3 km.
Schedule
31 July
17:00–18:00
HORNS ON THE LAKE
N19:00–20:00
NORTHERN TUNES
Estonian zither (kannel) Anna-Liisa Eller, piano Ulla Krigul, vocals Iris Oja
20:30–21:45
THE STORY OF SIX LANDS
A journey through cultural spaces that brings together the sounds, languages, and traditions of six countries.
Six choirs from the Nordic and Baltic countries (Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia) and Ukraine.
22:15–23:00
World Premiere of the Concert Performance “THE SUMMONING OF IRON”
TORMIS | LIIK | KASTERPALU
8 CHOIRS · 150 SINGERS from the Nordic and Baltic countries (Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia) and Ukraine.
French horn: Kreete Jacobi, vocals and shaman drum: Iris Oja.
The evening culminates in a large-scale staged work inspired by Curse upon Iron by Veljo Tormis, the grand master of Estonian choral music. This production unites choirs from Ukraine and the Nordic–Baltic region into a single collective voice.
A new work by Marianne Liik will be performed as a one-time-only presentation, created especially for the Leigo Lake Music Festival.
Schedule
1 August
17:00–18:00
Maarja Nuut (Estonia)
19:00–20:00
Sóley (Iceland)
20:30–21:45
JFDR (Iceland)
22:15–23:15
SVEN GRÜNBERG, EMA and Soloists
As the culmination of the evening, we celebrate the anniversary of legendary Estonian electronic music composer Sven Grünberg. Joining the composer on stage are the ensemble of the Estonian Electronic Music Society (EMA) and vocal soloists.
Chamber choir Kolm Lindu (Estonia)
Kolm Lindu is a chamber choir founded in Tartu in 2017, actively performing both on concert stages and in a wide range of collaborative projects.
In recent seasons, the choir has taken part in several large-scale and staged productions, including anniversary concerts dedicated to Arvo Pärt together with Vox Clamantis, as well as the large-scale project “Veljo Tormis 95 | 110 Helletust”.
For the choir, respect and joy towards one another, their collaborators and the music itself are of central importance. The female singers wear skirts made from environmentally conscious fine wool fabric and earrings from the “Leaves” collection by artist Mari Seger.
Since 2024, the choir’s chief conductor has been Kärolin Tuisk.
Chamber choir Helü (Estonia)
Kammerkoor Helü is a choir founded in 2004, bringing together enthusiastic singers from all across Estonia. Its members come from many different regions and cultural backgrounds, including Võru, Seto, Tartu, Tallinn, Mulgi, Muhu, Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. The name Helü means “voice”, “sound” or “phoneme” in the Võru and Seto languages.
Helü is a colourful yet close-knit ensemble united by the joy of making music together. Over the years, the choir has participated in numerous choral competitions and festivals both in Estonia and abroad, earning awards and diplomas of many kinds.
For its activities in 2024, Estonian Choral Association awarded Kammerkoor Helü the title of Choir of the Year, while the choir’s conductor Küllike Joosing received the Conductor of the Year award. Küllike Joosing also served as the artistic director of the 2024 Tartu Song Festival 2024.
Seto Leelo Choir Siidisõsarõ (Estonia)
Siidisõsarõ is a folklore ensemble founded in 1994, bringing together singers with roots in Setomaa. The choir’s name means “close sisters”. Today, the ensemble consists of 11 members, including a karmoška (button accordion) player.
Siidisõsarõ preserves and performs authentic Seto cultural heritage that has been passed down orally from generation to generation or preserved in earlier written records and recordings.
In 2009, Seto leelo was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The choir has performed at numerous folklore festivals and cultural events both in Estonia and abroad and has received recognition for its dedicated and consistent work. In 2010, the ensemble was awarded the highest category at the “Baltica” folklore festival review. The group has released four recordings.
Lithuanian National Youth Choir (Lithuania)
The Lithuanian National Youth Choir is a dynamic ensemble bringing together some of the most talented young singers from across Lithuania. Formed to foster artistic excellence and strengthen the country’s choral tradition, the choir unites emerging musicians under the guidance of leading conductors and vocal professionals. Its repertoire spans from Lithuanian composers to major works of the international choral canon, often presented in innovative and collaborative projects. The choir serves as a platform for artistic growth, cultural exchange, and international representation, reflecting the vitality and high standards of Lithuania’s renowned choral culture.
Ternopil Academic Chamber Choir “Brevis” (Ukraine)
The Academic Chamber Choir “Brevis” is a professional choir affiliated with the Ternopil Philharmonic, founded in 1998 by conductor Sviatoslav Dunets. The choir consists of singers who have graduated from leading Ukrainian music academies and has received recognition at numerous international festivals and competitions.
“Brevis” performs both Ukrainian and Western European choral music and has presented large-scale works such as Requiem and Carmina Burana. In addition to Ukraine, the choir has performed in several European countries.
Chamber Choir Utopia (Finland)
Chamber Choir Utopia is a 16-member ensemble based in Helsinki, bringing together professional singers and experienced amateur musicians. Under the direction of Mikael Maasalo, the choir is known for its precise and stylistically sensitive sound.
Utopia’s repertoire moves freely from medieval and Renaissance music to Baroque and contemporary works. Each concert is conceived as an independent artistic whole, combining historical awareness, curiosity and the creation of new music.
Male Choir Sönerna (Sweden)
Sönerna is a male choir from Uppsala, rooted in Sweden’s strong choral tradition. Founded in 2021, the choir brings together more than 35 singers and has quickly gained significant recognition.
Its repertoire combines romantic male choir music, classical works, folk traditions and contemporary music. Sönerna has received awards at European choral competitions and has also reached wider audiences through Swedish television projects. The choir is conducted by Martin Hellberg.
Youth Choir BALSIS (Latvia)
BALSIS, founded in 1987, is one of Latvia’s most distinguished choirs, having received more than 30 international awards. Their creative approach to a cappella choral music makes each concert a unique artistic event.
Under the direction of Ints Teterovskis, the choir has performed around the world and is known for both its high-level repertoire and its experimental projects.
One of the longest-running classical music festivals in the Baltics
festival bus
More info coming soon..
Leigo, Lutike 76504
Valgamaa, Estonia
Producer: Tiiu Tamm
Project Managers: Ulla Juske, Helis Heiter
Show Managers: Triinu Arak, Diana Tiits, Klaara Kollist
Designer: Kadri Vahar
Fire Team Coordinator: Indrek Leht
Volunteer Coordinator: Marianne Sandra Teng
Volunteer Logistics Manager: Mart Uibo
Ticket Sales Coordinator: Piret Püü
Technical Management and Construction: Alo Puustak, Eero Druus, Jaagup Tamm
Marketing Team: Henri Roosipõld, Katrin Ruus, Annika Vihmann, Karmen King, Taavi Raidma
Technical Solutions: Eventech, Uc rent
Many dedicated volunteers contribute to the success
team
Leigo Lake Music thanks all the wonderful volunteers, Von Krahl Theatre, Eventech, DSV, Prike, Valmiermuiža, Otepää Meat Industry, Muhu Bakers, Salvest, Epiim, the Tartu 2024 Foundation, and Tere Piim.
Thanks
In 2026-2028, Enterprise and Innovation Foundation of Estonia will support Leigo Lake Music with 235,000 euros from the European Union’s Cohesion Policy Fund. The project aims to ensure the sustainability and development of Leigo Lake Music as a three-day festival in Southern Estonia, where music and nature intertwine to offer guests a unique cultural experience amidst lakes and forests. As a result of the project, the Leigo Lake Music Festival will bring additional international guests to Estonia, primarily from Finland and Latvia.
supporters
the evolution of leigo
When Tõnu Tamm, the owner of Leigo, went looking for a summer home in Leigo in 1981, he couldn't bring himself to leave. A farmhouse with a collapsed roof, a yard overrun with nettles, a small pond, a meadow full of meadowsweet, and a landscape covered in shrubs deeply fed his dream of a piece of land, which has now become a beautiful home with 14 lakes and several buildings. It took several years for the first artificial lake to be created, and it still has an island in the middle, surrounded by old willows. It was on this island that, in 1998, Tõnu realized his long-nurtured dream, born during his Siberian travels, of listening to beautiful music in the open air.
The first concert at Leigo was performed by Tallinn Brass. However, as Tõnu's dream of a large symphony orchestra did not fit well on the small lake, it was necessary to expand with a larger lake. In 2001, both the lake and the so-called "upside-down umbrella" stage were completed, and the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra performed. At that time, and for several years, the seemingly unachievable idea of an organ concert in the open air was realized, thanks to a newly acquired digital organ and almost unbelievable quadro surround amplification.
Over the years, various orchestras have performed at Leigo, including Kremerata Baltica, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Nordic Symphony Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, All-Estonian Youth Symphony Orchestra, and choirs like the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Estonian National Male Choir, and mixed choir Latvija. Large ensembles fit well on the large lake stage, but the musicians and their essence could be better appreciated up close—the stage was too far away. Thus, concerts moved back to the small island surrounded by willows in 2013.
An interesting period at Leigo from 2006 to 2015 saw, alongside classical music, more jazz, folk, indie, and pop musicians as well as theater performances. The audience at Leigo has been delighted by Chalice, Emilia Torrini, Eric Truffaz, Jäääär, Kimmo Pohjonen, Mari Boine, MuM, Nils Petter Molvaer, Siiri Sisask, Ultima Thule, the Urbs brothers, Villu Veski, and many others from around the world.
In 2015, the focus shifted completely back to classical music. A year later, Risto Joost and Marius Järvi established the first festival orchestra consisting of Estonia's best young interpreters. In recent years, a forest stage has been added to the Leigo lake stages, inspiring the performing arts.
Tõnu Tamm and Neeme Järvi have a long-standing and warm friendship. Musicians from the Järvi family have been involved with Leigo since 2008, when the Järvi Summer Academy was held there. Since then, a Järvi has been involved in the festival every year, either as conductor, instrumentalist, or artistic director.
