Open Arms Fest in Tallinn on 19–20 November: contemporary Ukrainian culture and defence innovation

Open Arms Fest is a touring festival that brings together contemporary Ukrainian culture and defence innovation. It connects Ukrainian participants with representatives of government, business and civil society from the Nordic and Baltic countries to share experience, discuss common security challenges and explore cooperation. The Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Estonia is the festival’s information partner in Estonia.

When and where: 19–20 November 2026, Cruise Terminal Hall, Sadama 25, Tallinn. Admission is free; registration is required: forms.gle/xGXHH2xrpJBa32Nb6. You can register for individual events or for the full programme of one or both days. Entry is only for registered guests after an ID check. Panel discussions will be held in English.

Thursday, 19 November

17:00–18:00 — panel “After Captivity”: what happens to people and society after release from captivity. Speakers: Yuliia “Taira” Paievska, former prisoner of war, paramedic and serving member of the National Guard of Ukraine; Juan Alberto Leiva García, former prisoner of war and serving member of the Navy. Moderator: Valery Shyrokov, serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and press attaché of the Cultural Forces. A participant from Estonia will be announced later.

19:30–22:00 — concert by bandura player and Armed Forces veteran Ivan Tkalenko, who created his own electric bandura, and Dakh Daughters, who blend music, theatre and cabaret.

Friday, 20 November

14:00–21:00 — exhibitions of contemporary Ukrainian art with curator-led tours.

15:00–16:00 — panel “The War You Don’t See” on hybrid warfare and the information space. Speakers: philosopher and Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv professor Vakhtang Kebuladze; philosopher and serviceman Oleksandr Komarov; journalist, historian and serviceman Vakhtang Kipiani.

16:10–17:00 — panel “The Words of War” on how war changes language, concepts and values. Speakers: poet and literary scholar Ihor Mitrov; veteran and human rights defender Alina Sarnatska. Both panels are moderated by literary critic and serviceman Andrii Martynenko. Participants from Estonia will be announced later.

18:30–22:00 — concert by the Vasyl Slipak Ensemble, Orchestra 59, NAZVA and Ziferblat.

The festival was created by Victory Drones, Victory Neurones, the Ukrainian Council of Defense Industry, TechForce, Cultural Forces and MITS Capital, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Embassies of Ukraine in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Estonia, and the Ukrainian Institute. The Strichka app runs a campaign in support of the festival, where you can learn more about the artists and technologies and take part remotely.

Official festival website: openarmsfest.com.

Source: Facebook post by the Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Estonia. Illustration: festival poster.