Across the Old Town, Kalamaja and Kadriorg, the branches of the Tallinn City Museum open their doors for Museum Night 2026 on May 16 from 18:00 to 23:00. The Children’s Museum Miiamilla is open from 18:00 to 21:00.

Entry to all museums is just €1. For Miiamilla, advance registration is still required as usual.

New this year: The Hour of Silence

From 22:00 to 23:00, all museums will observe a special Hour of Silence.

What does silence sound like?

After an evening filled with sounds – and as a quiet counterpoint to Eurovision echoing across the city – all sound installations will be switched off for the final hour and the museums reveal something usually hidden: the subtle, natural sounds of historic buildings themselves.

Visitors are invited to join in by turning off devices, speaking softly, and being mindful of those sensitive to sound, so the silence can be heard by everyone.

KALAMAJA MUSEUM

From 18:00 to 22:00, in the greenhouse of the Kalamaja Museum you can listen to what Kalamaja sounds like. Even more stories await in our audio exhibition in the Vana-Kalamaja street phone booth.

18:00–20:00 Workshop “Make your voice visible!”.

Badge-making workshop in the Kalamaja Museum education room.

19:00–20:00 Kalamaja Museum goes to the cinema!

The legendary Lembitu cinema will reopen for one evening at Kopli 8 as part of Museum Night and Kalamaja Days. The Salvation Army, which normally operates in the building, will welcome visitors and allow access to the former cinema hall. The screening will take viewers on a journey through time, showing historical footage of Kalamaja. Free entry, no registration required.

21:00–22:00 Harmonica workshop in the Kalamaja Museum education room.

22:00–midnight A walk focusing on sewer manhole covers.

For Museum Night, we will take a late evening walk along Vana-Kalamaja street to explore the manhole covers located there. This year, several of them turn 99 years old, congratulations to them! We will also discuss other interesting objects and stories we encounter.

The tour starts at 20:00 at Balti Jaam, platform 1 information board, and ends near Kalaranna street. It lasts about 2 hours and is led by Kalamaja community member and manhole cover expert Andres Siplane.

KIEK IN DE KÖK FORTIFICATIONS MUSEUM

18:00–20:00 A journey through the towers and bastion passages of the Kiek in de Kök Fortifications Museum.

During Museum Night, the bastion passages and the atmospheric wall walk with magnificent views are open, as well as the nostalgic Maiden Tower and Gate Tower. Enjoy the atmosphere of a studio-like setting and café sounds.

NB: The upper floors of the Kiek in de Kök tower, including the exhibition “Moomin Peace,” are closed for safety reasons.

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM MIIAMILLA

Museum Night at the Miiamilla offers an exciting evening sound adventure. As we move through the museum, we discover the sounds that echo in the house at night. In the theatre performance “Peetrikese unenägu” (“Little Peter’s Dream”) we travel through a dreamlike world and uncover resonant sounds in the Sound Room.

20:00 Sound performance for young children “Little Peter’s Dream”

The performance is inspired by the painting “Little Peter’s Dream” from the museum’s permanent exhibition. The artwork was created by Rein Raamat (1931) as a concept for Estonia’s first puppet film, directed by Elbert Tuganov (1920–2007).

Entry only with a €1 advance-purchased ticket. BUY TICKET The seats are limited!

Miiamilla opening hours on May 16:
10–17 regular admission
17–18 closed
18–21 open only with Museum Night pre-purchased ticket BUY TICKET

THE PEOPLE’S MUSEUM OF TALLINN

During Museum Night, the exhibitions “Garage. Гараж. Garage,” Stories of a Young Capital. The Vibrant Twenties.” and “Portals of In-Betweenness. All Roads Led to Eestimaa” are open.

Additionally:

19:00 and 20:00 Creative workshop “Garage collage” in the “Garage. Гараж. Garage” exhibition.

What sounds are associated with a garage? A car engine, radio sounds, or tool noise? Or something else? We invite you to create your own small garage collage using available materials and imagine how it sounds.

The workshop is led by curator and artist Aleksandra Ianchenko (in Russian at 19:00), and museum visitor guide Karoli Loo (in Estonian at 20:00).

NB: Children under 7 should attend with a parent.

21:00 Guitar concert “Garage and Music” in the exhibition.

Music has often been created in garages, and many bands have started there. Garage rock emerged in the 1960s, characterized by simple lyrics, aggressive vocals, raw electric guitar sound, and effects pedals. Guitarist Aivo Akseli Simmo will present his interpretation.

The museum is located in the Old Town opposite the House of the Blackheads. As it is a medieval building, it is not accessible for wheelchairs.

HOUSE OF PETER THE GREAT

Sound installation “The Oldest Museum in Tallinn”

On Museum Night, the House of Peter the Great comes alive in sound. A specially created sound installation allows visitors to immerse themselves in the history of Tallinn’s oldest museum in a new way. Sounds and music blend with the rooms, revealing hidden stories and secrets.

Sound artist: Aivo Akseli Simmo.

MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Shutter choir. Sound traces of the photography process

Although photography is mainly associated with vision, camera operation has always included specific mechanical sounds. These sounds are so familiar that in modern silent digital cameras and smartphones, artificial shutter sounds are added to provide auditory feedback.

The sound profile of a camera depends on its design, while shutter speed directly shapes the length of the sound itself, turning every photograph into a precisely timed sonic event.

The Museum Night theme “Voices in the Night” inspired the Museum of Photography to begin recording camera operation sounds.

Colour Tickle Vote 

On the experiential exhibition “Colour Tickle” dedicated to colour photography, vote quietly by feel. View Estonia’s oldest colour photos and cast your supportive vote for the most appealing colour filter pattern used to shoot them. Museum Night reveals which century-old colour process still resonates with the strongest today. 

TALLINN CITY LIFE MUSEUM

The merchant house at Vene 17 is full of sounds!

Entering through the door, you are greeted by the house owner Hans Viant, whose voice is strong and resonant, while crackling oven embers create a cosy atmosphere.

Moving upstairs, you encounter the cheerful company of the Brotherhood of Blackheads, telling stories of their adventures and festivities, accompanied by music.

In front of the altar of the Virgin Mary, sacred choral singing fills the space, bringing a peaceful spiritual atmosphere.

In the merchant apprentice’s room, it is worth pausing in silence – you may hear faint breathing or even loud snoring as the young apprentice enjoys deep sleep.