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Event Details
Welcome to Tartuff Love Film Festival Tartu 2026
From 8 to 15 August 2026, the historic Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats) in Tartu, Estonia, transforms into the largest open-air cinema in the Baltic states. The Tartuff Love Film Festival, organised by the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF), celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026 with an expanded format: for the first time, the festival runs for eight days instead of the usual six, covering two full weekends from Saturday to Saturday.
Highlights
- 20th anniversary edition with a record-breaking 8-day festival run
- Open-air cinema at Tartu Town Hall Square with a 128 m² screen and nearly 1,000 seats
- Over 14 love films on the outdoor screen plus documentaries and children's films at Tartu Elektriteater
- All screenings are completely free of charge
- Audience Award voted online (Tartu's Kissing Students statuette)
- Side program including concerts, discussions and special events
- Legendary Party of Love closing celebration
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Program
Every year Tartuff presents a carefully curated selection of international love films spanning different genres and countries. The program balances new releases with beloved classics, exploring love in all its forms. In addition to the outdoor main screen at Town Hall Square, the Tartu Elektriteater hosts documentary and children's film screenings. The full 2026 program will be announced in mid-July. Past audience favourites have come from the Philippines, Mongolia, Estonia, Norway, France and many other countries.
Tickets & Admission
All screenings at Tartuff are completely free of charge. No reservations are required. Seating at Town Hall Square accommodates nearly 1,000 visitors, so arriving early is recommended for popular evenings. The festival is presented by the City of Tartu and telecommunications company Elisa.
Visitor Tips
- Arrive early before screenings at Town Hall Square; popular evenings fill up fast.
- Bring a warm layer: summer evenings in Tartu can be cool even in August.
- Tartu is reachable from Tallinn by bus or train in approximately 2.5 hours.
- Book accommodation well in advance as the festival attracts visitors from across Estonia and beyond.
- Subscribe to the official festival newsletter to be the first to know when the program is announced in mid-July.
About the Festival
Founded in 2006, the Tartuff Love Film Festival has grown into one of Estonia's most beloved cultural events. It is organised by PÖFF (Pimedate Ööde Filmifestival), the internationally acclaimed Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. In its peak years, Tartuff attracted over 30,000 visitors. The cherished Audience Award is decided by public vote and presented as the iconic Tartu "Kissing Students" statuette.
Note: The information on this page was researched at the time of writing and may have changed since then (e.g. date, venue, or program). Visit the organizer's official website →
The photo used is illustrative and does not necessarily depict the actual event.
