The Last Weekend of August Belongs to Aparaaditehas Festival
On Thursday, 27 August, the festival kicks off on a sporty note. Taskupark will host the II Aparaaditehas Factory Run Championships, where instead of a conventional running track, competitors will tackle an exciting route winding through the factory’s staircases, corridors and hidden corners. The evening continues with rooftop yoga led by Tartu Ashtanga Yoga School in the Aparaaditehas rooftop garden.
On Friday, 28 August, Gallery Night Vol. 19 takes over the quarter – this time bigger and longer than ever before. Alongside the galleries, artists’ studios, shops, workspaces and other Aparaaditehas residents will open their doors, with the programme continuing late into the evening. Over the course of one night, visitors can explore 14 diverse exhibition spaces, take part in workshops and tours, meet artists and peek into spaces that are normally closed to the public.
The Gallery Night tour programme takes visitors in the footsteps of former Aparaaditehas resident artist Mart Kalpin, through all the galleries participating in the event, and on a journey to discover street art in and around the factory. There will also be a Ukrainian-language artist tour led by Ukrainian artist Viktoria Berezina, who works at Aparaaditehas. Workshops offer the chance to try contact improvisation, decorate ceramics, build your own synthesiser, make leather accessories and experiment with printmaking.
Beyond the art programme, there will be plenty happening throughout the quarter. Studios and workspaces will open their doors, alongside exhibition openings, artist tours and talks, and a live podcast recording. Music will fill SÕÕR Lab, TYPA Gallery, Ajuokse Avangaar, AG47, Taskupark and Kastani Street throughout the evening, while the official Gallery Night afterparty will take place at Peninuki. At 21:30, Lovisa Luka Hiiop’s video installation will light up the wall of Livida Resident on Kastani Street. Street food vendors will also be serving visitors until late in the evening.
On Saturday, 29 August, Kastani Street will be closed to cars and the quarter will transform into one big street party. From 12:00–17:00, Kastani Street and its surroundings will host the Müürilill Flea Market, Ajuokse Alternative Art Market, TYPA PRESSFEST Print Fair, KONK Record Market and Paranduskelder’s flea market. Food trucks, music, pop-ups and other festival activities will also line the street.
In Taskupark, the Karud ja Pojad Family Courtyard welcomes children and families with a kids’ flea market, children’s cafés, a creative area and workshops. Several tours will also take place throughout the day, offering the chance to explore the Aparaaditehas quarter, take a peek inside the newly completed Livida Resident building, and follow the trail of the factory cat on the Gutenberg Cat Tour.
There will be music on Kastani Street throughout the day as well, with Frotee DJs, Teet Liiv and Indrek Mällo behind the decks, followed by a live performance by Karameel at 17:00.
Aparaaditehas Festival takes place from 27–29 August 2026 at Aparaaditehas and across the Kastani–Filosoofi quarter. The festival is free of charge, although some workshops and activities have a participation fee, and advance registration is required for selected tours and workshops.
Full Aparaaditehas Festival 2026 programme:
https://www.aparaaditehas.ee/uritused/aparaaditehase-festival-2026
Gallery Night Vol. 19 programme:
https://www.aparaaditehas.ee/uritused/galeriide-oo-vol-19
The festival is organised by MTÜ Aparaaditehas. Aparaaditehas Festival and Gallery Night are supported by the City of Tartu.