Tartu welcomes the New Year with a concert on Vabaduse puiestee
Tartu City Government Press Release
/ Tartu residents are invited to a grand New Year’s Eve concert on Vabaduse puiestee. Renowned guitarist and producer Raul Ojamaa and keyboardist and singer Jon Hazel will kick off the New Year with music.
The programme will begin on 31 December at 23:30 with the first part of the concert. This will be followed by video greetings from Tartu Mayor Urmas Klaas and President of Estonia Alar Karis. The New Year will then be welcomed with a special production, after which the concert will continue on Vabaduse Avenue until 01:00.
A special stage will be set up for the concert on Vabaduse Avenue, between the Kaubamaja and Market Hall. For an hour and a half, artists will perform their own songs, as well as well-known melodies given a new twist, offering both surprises and the joy of recognition.
‘The experience of recent years has shown that people gather in the city centre primarily for New Year’s Eve. That is why we have chosen a more entertaining format for midnight than before, to make the most anticipated moment of the evening special and memorable,’ explained Maarja Liba, Director of the Tartu Events Centre.
The Tartu Christmas City and ice rink will be open from 10:00 to 22:00 on 31 December and 1 January, with skate rental and the cafés open from 10:00 to 21:00.
For several years, the City of Tartu has been organising its New Year’s Eve celebration without fireworks, in order to reduce excessive noise and environmental damage. The ban on higher-category fireworks is part of Tartu’s guidelines for organising environmentally friendly events.
Traffic arrangements
Due to the New Year’s Eve celebrations, traffic will be restricted on Vabaduse puiestee (between Uueturu Street and the Magistri car park). Bus routes will be diverted from the first bus departure on 29 December until the last bus departure on 2 January.
Bussiliinid 6, 7 13
Bussiliinid 21, 22
More information: Tartu Christmas City project manager Maarja Liba, [email protected]
Last changed 29.12.2025
