Northern Star

International Festival of Creativity “Northern Star”

The festival is held under the auspices of the Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Estonia. It is organised by the Association or its member organisations – in different years together with the Ukrainian Youth Association in Estonia, the PROSVITA Society and other organisations.

“Northern Star” began its creative journey in autumn 2002 with the active support of the Association’s member societies. It is a festival for adult performers: soloists and groups of Ukrainian societies from Estonia and other countries.

For a long time the festival was held every two years; since 2023 it has taken place every year in autumn. The organisers arrange excursions, meetings and joint rehearsals for visiting guests.

Festival history

Over the years, groups from Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the United Kingdom and Ukraine have taken part in the festival. Well-known artists have performed at the final concerts, including Anna Kurylenko (Cherkasy Academic Music and Drama Theatre), Sviatoslav Boiko (band “Shyrokyi Lan”) and Tallinn opera soloist Viacheslav Reznichenko.

The festival is supported by the Estonian Ministry of Culture, the Integration Foundation (Integratsiooni Sihtasutus) and the Embassy of Ukraine in Estonia.

Festival milestones

2016 – the ninth festival in Tallinn: “Kolor”, “Zhurba”, the choir “Ukraina”, “Barvinok” (Pärnu), “Edelweiss” (Sillamäe), “Chervona Ruta” (Tapa), and guests from Latvia – the vocal ensemble “Dzherelo” (Jelgava).
2020 – the festival was cancelled due to the pandemic.
2022 – the tenth festival at the Kaja Cultural Centre (Tallinn), which revealed many new talents among Ukrainians who had come to Estonia because of the war.
2023 – the festival in three stages: 24 October – the concert “One Rhythm” in Tartu; 28 October – the dance festival-competition “Arabesques of Estonia” in Saku (organised by NGO “Barvinok-Kyiv”); 29 October – gala concert in Tallinn. Participants came from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine.
2024 – 27 October, Kaja Cultural Centre (Tallinn); guests from Lithuania, Latvia, the United Kingdom and Ukraine.
2025 – 11 October, Kaja Cultural Centre (Mustamäe, Tallinn); organised by the Association, the Ukrainian Youth Association in Estonia and PROSVITA. Performers included “Dzherelo”, “Volya”, “Malvy” (Kohtla-Järve), “Kolor”, “Rodovid”, “Zhurba” and others.

Below you will find news, photos and videos from “Northern Star” festivals over the years.

Would you like to take part? Write to us via the Contacts page.