The years 2025 and 2026 in four Northeastern European capitals could be the thrill of a lifetime. How can I have this experience, you ask? We prepared this article with all the inside tips, hidden gems, and local info you need to spend a sensational few weeks going north to south through this under-visited region.

Tallinn’s “Singing Nation” and so much more 

As with the entire region, Tallinn is a place of spectacular music. The year 2026 will be no different. Tallinn Music Week (TMW), a festival of new music and urban culture held in Tallinn every spring since 2009, celebrates creativity, curiosity, and freedom through various art forms. The TMW music festival features nearly 175 artists from all over the world performing in the capital’s best concert venues and clubs. The music ranges from experimental sounds to pop, dance beats to metal and folk to post-classical.

A few other must-see events in Tallinn in 2025 and 2026 include the Medieval Days in Tallinn Old Town. Every July, Tallinn’s Town Hall Square and the surrounding area of Niguliste Church transform into a thriving medieval city for four days. On Niguliste Hill, there is a medieval village where visitors can try out various medieval workshops. Skill and strength competitions are held, there is a small knight school, sword fighters give lessons, and there is even an opportunity to practise archery. And finally, if you happen to be in town in December, the Christmas market is one of Europe’s best. Here’s how it will be: you’ll walk over snow-dusted cobblestone streets, built seven hundred years ago. In your hand will be a cup of hot wine. In your heart will be a feeling of pure holiday joy.

Riga, the Baltic city of light and merriment 

Paris may be known as the City of Light, but Riga’s Light Festival could offer a whole new perspective on radiant urban beauty. This magnificent event illuminates this medieval city’s parks, streets, and buildings with gorgeous, glittering installations. Those days of luminosity are more stunning still when a soft bed of pure snow lies on Riga. It brings winter alive and injects merriment into every corner of the city. 

Summer in Riga comes to life thanks largely to the Opera Festival that has occurred each June for twenty-five years. Centered around the elegant Latvian National Opera, the festival draws people from near and far to see some of the world’s most essential and talented opera singers. And in recent years, the festival has also included ballet, a change which has enticed a whole new crowd and some of Europe’s most celebrated choreographers and dancers. What’s perhaps most special about the festival is that it showcases both timeless classics and the most avant-garde, bold new voices who are transforming the genre. If you want to discover tomorrow’s great singers, directors, dancers and choreographers, this is where you need to be.

Vilnius, a city of inclusion, pride, and plenty of whimsy 

As the year draws to a close, make sure to visit the European Christmas Capital of 2025 – Vilnius. This magical city truly earns its title: during the festive season, it transforms into a childhood fairy tale, when simple things seemed magical and fascinated you more than overcrowded glitter. Wander the charming, calm Old Town, where cozy cafés and shops invite you to savor a cup of freshly roasted coffee, and stroll through snow-dusted parks that feel like a winter wonderland in the heart of the city. Vilnius offers both thrilling alpine slopes and relaxing spa retreats – your choice depends on how you want to reconnect with the wonder of childhood, when believing in the magic of Christmas comes effortlessly. 

June in Vilnius is a time to be proud of who you are and support others in their life journeys. Yes, we’re talking about Baltic Pride! Lithuania has a deep history of embracing diversity, whether it has to do with sexual orientation, religious views, or ethnicity. In fact, the city even made a bid to host EuroPride 2027, under the slogan, “Free to be yourself.” In other words, all are welcome here. Pride in Vilnius centers around a massive parade, which attracts thousands of people from all walks of life. But that’s not all, there are dozens of workshops, panels, film screenings, and parties alongside the parade that give the celebration effervescent color and energy. 

Now for something totally different! Arguably one of Europe’s quirkiest events, Vilnius’ Pink Soup Festival is a celebration you shouldn’t miss. So, what is being celebrated, you ask? Fair question. The answer is Lithuania’s beloved national dish, the cold beet soup called šaltibarščiai. Made with kefir, beets, cucumbers, and dill, featuring a vibrant, even neon pink color. In a way, šaltibarščiai represents more than just a delicious soup. Its cold, refreshing taste and the fresh vegetables needed to prepare it signify the end of the cold months and the start of a new year. That sentiment animates the Pink Soup Festival. If you attend, you’ll be stuffed to the gills with all things pink, from various iterations of šaltibarščiai to creative adaptations of it, like pink soup ice cream. Dive into the whimsy and have a jolly time. You won’t regret it!

Warsaw, an epicenter for great music and modern culture 

Fryderyk Chopin is one of Poland’s greatest sons. A revolutionary of the piano, he is loved and admired for his blend of technical brilliance and some of the most deeply felt compositions of all time. Just listen to his Prelude No.4 in E minor and try not to shed a tear. Warsaw, it should come as no surprise, is the world’s great center for Chopin’s music. It was his place of birth and his home for half his life. The best way to explore it is by attending the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, which is held only every five years. Poland’s most important music competition will be held between October 2nd and 23rd, spotlighting the world’s best young piano prodigies in the city’s supremely elegant National Philharmonic Hall. If October doesn’t fit your calendar, all is not lost. Summer is also perfect for exploring Chopin’s music, especially in the verdant Łazienki Garden. For much of the season, there are free performances of Chopin at the base of the great statue of him. These concerts attract some of the world’s greatest performers who create a unique atmosphere of rich culture in an outdoor setting. Check the Łazienki Garden website for the 2025 calendar, but typically, concerts are held on Sundays between May and September. Garden website for the 2025 calendar, but typically, concerts are held on Sundays between May and September. 

Summer 2025 in Warsaw will be a special one. Another rare event taking place is the opening of an observation deck on the Varso Tower. Designed by British architects, it is the tallest building in the EU. As of next summer, you will be able to access an open-air deck on the 49th floor, marking a height of 205 meters! Featuring trees and other greenery, it will be the highest garden and green space on the continent, and the perfect place for a relaxing libation after your city explorations. 

There are so many incredible events in these Northeastern hubs, from the musical to the culinary and just about everything in between.

• In Tallinn, experience the Song and Dance Festival and its forty thousand performers.

• The Winter Light Festival in Riga truly brings the cold months to life and infuses the city with holiday spirit.

• Vilnius’ Pride Festival is the ideal place to be yourself and celebrate the great diversity of humanity.

• Warsaw is where you must be to see the world’s virtuoso pianists in one place as they compete for the top spot at the Chopin Piano Competition.