Open House Tallinn is an annual architecture festival that opens the doors of the city to everyone curious about what lies behind them. For one weekend each autumn, residents and visitors are invited to explore the stories of Tallinn through buildings, landscapes, and urban spaces that are not always accessible to the public.

This year’s festival (11–12 October 2025) will feature more than 40 buildings and sites across the city and over 400 guided tours, offering unique insights into Tallinn’s past, present, and future. Tours will take place in four languages – Estonian, English, Russian, and Estonian Sign Language – ensuring that as many people as possible can take part.

The programme brings together a rich mix of spaces that shape the city’s identity. Participants can step into iconic landmarks such as Linnahall, Toompea Castle and the Parliament of Estonia, or in the process of revitalisation Manufaktuuri Quarter. They can experience the transformation of industrial heritage at Noblessner and Krulli Quarters, or discover community life at Kopli Community House and new state-of-the-art schools like Pelgulinna State Gymnasium and Mustamäe State Gymnasium.

Modern gems and cultural institutions feature prominently in this year’s festival — from the sleek lines of the Pirita Yacht Club harbour building to the elegant Orangery in Kadriorg Park. The arts are well represented through schools such as Estonian Academy of Arts and Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, offering a peek into the creative studios and performance spaces shaping culture’s future. Stepping back in time, the reconstructed Maarjamäe Palace and the History Museum evoke heritage and memory, reminding us that every stone and façade carries a story worth preserving.

Alongside the building tours, Open House Tallinn offers a diverse special programme designed to spark dialogue about architecture, design, and urban life. Visitors can join thematic walks that explore topics such as the persistence and transience of architectural heritage, material reuse in central city parks, or the intuitive neighbourhood of Štromka. Pop-up lectures and discussions will bring experts and citizens together to think about the city’s future, while family-friendly tours and youth activities will engage the next generation of urban explorers.

By opening doors and creating encounters, Open House Tallinn highlights the importance of architecture and urban space in our daily lives. The festival invites everyone to see the city not just as a backdrop, but as a living, evolving space we all shape together.

The festival is organised by the Estonian Centre for Architecture in cooperation with partners and supporters: Estonian Cultural Endowment, City of Tallinn, European Heritage Days, Hepsor, Laufen, Rockwool, Ruukki, Kingivabrik, Selver, Raba and Punch Club. The festival is co-funded by a joint project of the European Union and the Council of Europe.

We invite all visitors of Open House Tallinn to participate in the Open Call for Visual Stories—an opportunity to creatively interpret the festival experience and this year’s Open House Europe theme, “Future Heritage”. Submissions can take any visual form, including photography, short film, drawing, or other artistic expressions.