News from Estonia

Eesti Pank is issuing a two-euro coin with a special design on 5 June that is dedicated to the beloved character Sipsik from children’s storybooks, who has been a favourite among generations of readers and has inspired a love of books in tens of thousands of children. Sipsik was created...

After a standout NCAA season, Estonian swimmer Eneli Jefimova has been named Women's Rookie of the Year at North Carolina State University. Jefimova, who began studying and training at NC State in Raleigh last August, delivered strong results throughout the U.S. college swimming season. She delivered her biggest moment at...

Two Estonian short films, "Kyiv Cake" ("Kiievi tort") and "Winter in March" ("Lumi saadab meid"), have been shortlisted for the European Film Awards. "Kyiv Cake" was made by the Estonian production company Joonisfilm as a support project for Ukraine. The film was created entirely through online communication with director Andrii...

The Estonian American National Council (EANC) – Eesti Rahvuskomitee Ühendriikides (ERKÜ) is pleased to announce that it will provide travel stipends (up to $1,250 each) for two Estonian American upper secondary and university students who have been accepted to participate in the Estonian Institute of Historical Memory’s (EIHM – Eesti...

Scientists have identified Europe's tallest common aspen (Populus tremula) in Estonia's Nigula Nature Reserve, located in Pärnu County. The record-breaking tree stands at 45.5 meters, surpassing the previous European record by more than four meters. In addition to this record-holder, two other exceptionally tall aspens were found in the forests...

Easter marks the start of spring, the triumph of life and renewal and is a time of festivities and tradition in Estonia. Easter is known by many names in Estonia, including lihavõtted (a direct reference to the return of meat on menus after Lent), munadepüha (egg holiday) and kiigepüha (swing holiday, pointing to the tradition...

Mõnikord pead lahkuma, et aru saada, kuhu sa tegelikult kuulud. My path back to Eesti wasn't direct. After a disappointing 2011 praktika in Tallinn – no real work, no pay, living over an hour from other noored – I disengaged from eestlus for the first time in my life. It...

“The Trei Family in New York City” is part of Vabamu’s new exhibition “Ilmaküla eestlased” or “Estonia Worldwide,” which tells the story of Estonian diaspora communities from the mid-19th century to the present. “The Trei Family” installation, designed as a digital photo album, highlights the lives of my grandparents, Alice...

On November 18, 2025, Airi Uuna, Dr. Karsten Brüggemann, and Dr. Kristo Nurmis (pictured with the author), all of Tallinn University, presented their project “The Soviet West Revisited” during a guest lecture at The Ohio State University. The project, funded by the Estonian Research Council, focuses on the everyday experiences...

Director Taavi Arus' new feature-length documentary about Estonian Eurovision stars Puuluup will be screened as the opening film at the 2026 DocPoint Tallinn film festival on February 3. "Puuluup – kaablid autos veel" ("Puuluup – Cables Still in the Car") tells the story of unlikely duo Ramo Teder and Marko...