Alongside productions by some of Estonia's most acclaimed theatre-makers, the programme also showcases the first major successes of very young debut artists. 

The festival will take place in Tartu from 7–13 September 2026. Our guests have the opportunity to discover the most exciting new productions that premiered during the 2025/26 season.

Tickets for international theatre professionals are €12. All the shows have an English translation. For more information, please contact Mari Nurk (mari@teater.ee).

We are thrilled to present:

SELF-HELP BOOK (dir. Tiit Ojasoo) – a playful production in which ten adults explore how to love.

I DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE YOU LEAVING (dir. Lauri Lagle) – a new large-scale work that has been described as a "loopy potpourri", a "sick teardown" and a collection of "melancholic musings”.

SNOW IN JULY (dir. Juhan Ulfsak) – inspired by Quentin Dupieux’s film “Yannick”.

AUTUMN SONATA (dir. Eva Koldits) – Bergman's classic drama reimagined as a masochistic concert-performance set in a family aquarium.

I DID NOT LEAVE UKRAINE (dir. Merle Karusoo) – brings to the stage people who have lived through war and continue to fight for free societies today. Recipient of the 2026 Original Playwriting Award.

CARMEN ELECTRA – the theatre debut of ants1, a punk musical set in a magical world of contemporary dance, colourful costumes, haunting music and provocative statements.

THE SUN DOES NOT BURN AT NIGHT (dir. Renate Keerd) – a physical theatre production about how our smiles have mastered the art of obscuring, while our hearts long for morning.

MEDIUM – Mart Kangro’s solo piece, in which Kangro and his worn-out body struggle beneath a waterfall of information overload.

THREE BALLADS, A STORY AND MY MOTHER’S ESTATE (by Maike Lond, Lukas Jansen and Kim Noble) – explores, among other things, the comeback as a cultural phenomenon and the question of how one returns after a long absence.

ENIGMA (dir. Elle Viies) – a dialogue between two riddlers who are unable to answer any question directly, winner of the 2026 Dance Award.

THE NOTEBOOK (dir. Ringo Ramul) – a direct and poetic story of survival and adaptation in our chaotic world based on the novel by Ágota Kristóf.

MACBETH (dir. Ene-Liis Semper and Tiit Ojasoo) – a video recording of one of the most celebrated productions in recent Estonian theatre, combining Shakespeare's tragedy with the music of Lepo Sumera, performed by the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra.

The full schedule for September 7–13 (performances with translation to English):

Monday, 7.09

16.00–18.35 Autumn Sonata

19.30–21.30 The Notebook

Tuesday, 8.09

18.00–19.25 I Did Not Leave Ukraine

20.00–23.00 Macbeth (video recording)

Wednesday, 9.09

18.00–19.20 MEDIUM

20.30–22.10 The Sun Does Not Burn at Night

+ reception to foreign guests

Thursday, 10.09

12.00–14.00 Panel discussion with foreign guests “The grand staircases and backstages of European theatre”, curated by Estonian Theatre Agency

15.00–18.00 I Didn’t Even Notice You Leaving

19.00–22.15 The Self-help Book

Friday, 11.09

17.00–18.00 Enigma

19.00–20.45 Snow in July

Saturday, 12.09

20.00–21.30 Carmen Electra

22.00– Festival Closing Party

The Estonian Theatre Festival DRAAMA 2026 is organized in collaboration with the Estonian Theatre Agency.