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President Alar Karis at the Estonian Defense League's Victory Day parade in Rapla on June 23, 2026.

President Alar Karis will not run for second presidential termUpdated 13:14

The Estonian Defense League's Victory Day parade in Rapla on June 23, 2026.

Gallery: Estonia's Victory Day marked with annual parade in Rapla

Shooters bar in Tartu.

Tartu's Shooters nightclub to close after 14 years

A deminer.

Police receiving more calls about potential bomb threats

Construction work in Saatse Boot.

Work progressing on Saatse Boot bypasses in south Estonia

Reenactors of the Battle of Cēsis/Võnnu at an event marking the anniversary this weekend. The Estonian flag being borne is emblazoned with the elite Kuperjanov Infantry Battalion's insignia, a unit which still exists today.

Feature | June 23, Estonia's Victory Day

Midsummer break doesn't just concern jaanipäev. June 23 is marked as Victory Day, or võidupüha, which marks Estonia's victory at the Battle of Võnnu. ERR News outlines the events.

A speed camera (photo is illustrative).

Police to relax speed camera fine threshold

University of Tartu main building.

Estonian universities add programs and change admissions rules

Wreckage of a drone found in Rõuge municipality.

Attack drone carrying 5 kilograms of explosives found in south Estonia

midsummer 2026

Midsummer's Day in Estonia.

'Ideal' summer weather forecast for Midsummer's Eve

Midsummer Eve (June 23) will be dry and calm, but rain is forecast on Midsummer Day (June 24), said Meteorologist Ele Pedassaar on Monday.

Midsummer party in North Tallinn on June 22, 2024.

Bonfires and concerts: Midsummer events around Tallinn

Tartu Midsummer at the Estonian National Museum (ERM). June 23, 2025.

Tartu Midsummer event to bring folk traditions, live music to the city

Ferns are common imagery in Estonian folklore.

Myths and traditions: How does Estonia celebrate Midsummer?

latest news

Alcohol on sale.

Consumers are buying less alcohol around Midsummer

Hanno Pevkur at the handover ceremony of Estonia's first Medium-range air defense missile system IRIS-T SLM on June 23, 2026.

'Key' to Estonia's first IRIS-T missile defense system unit handed over to Air Force

Civilians watching an EDF parade.

Defence Forces want to retain right to check civilians' smart devices

Warm weather on the beach at Tartu's Anne Canal.

Summer expected to be warmer than average, heatwaves not ruled out

Chocolate in a supermarket.

Neuromarketing helping reveal secret mechanisms behind purchase decisions

Electric scooter.

Rescue Board struggling with lithium battery fires

russia's war in ukraine: latest from estonia

Gert Kaju.

MoD official: Ukraine able to fend off overwhelming Russian troops with drones

Aron Kalmus,

EDF: Russia has no restraints when targeting Ukrainian cultural sites

Estonian intel: 82% of foiled terrorist attacks in Ukraine involved Telegram agents

Destruction in Kyiv after Russia's aerial attack early on Sunday.

EDF intelligence: Russia has not achieved its strategic goals

Olena Zelenska opening the Ukrainian-language audio guide at the Vabamu Museum of Occupations in Tallinn, June 9, 2026.

Photos: Ukraine's first lady opens Vabamu museum audio guide

politics

Prime Minister Kristen Michal (Reform).

Estonia to become first country to issue ID codes to AI agents

Screenshot of Mart Helme's Facebook post that played Alo Mattiisen's

EKRE's Mart Helme post pulled over disputed use of Singing Revolution anthem

June saw no significant changes in Estonia's political party ratings.

Ratings: Isamaa, Center Party remain neck and neck at the top

Urmas Reinsalu.

Survey: Isamaa's Reinsalu leads as top choice for prime minister

A mobile speed camera (photo is illustrative).

Estonia passes law obligating police to place warning signs ahead of mobile speed cameras

presidential election 2026

Alar Karis.

Estonia's parliament to vote for new president on September 2

Alar Karis at the second round of voting in the 2021 presidential election on August 31, 2021.

Incumbent Alar Karis most popular choice for president in public poll

Center Party board meeting.

Center Party backs Karis for second presidential term

Vote counting in the Estonian Parliament during the 2016 presidential election

How has Estonia chosen its presidents?

Kristina Kallas and Alar Karis.

Eesti 200 does not support the re-election of President Alar Karis

economy

Finnair aircraft livery.

Helsinki is main global gateway for Estonian air passengers

Ferries Piret (foreground) and Tõll taking people to and from Muhu.

Island ferry traffic for Midsummer down from last year

Graduates from the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences.

Salaries too low to fill employment gaps, emergency service agencies say

Render of a planned swim complex in Lasnamäe.

Tallinn to offer €20 million toward private Lasnamäe pool development

Online slot machines being played on a phone.

Estonia's online gambling tax cut fails to lure new operators

Defense and security

Blood samples.

Estonia to change crisis blood donation rules, share stocks with allies

U.S. Marine Corps force reconnaissance unit practiced an amphibious landing on Saaremaa during BALTOPS 2026.

Photos: US Marines practice amphibious landing on Estonia's Saaremaa

Rainer Saks.

Expert: The initiative in the war is beginning to tilt toward Ukraine

A border guard on the Latvian-Belarusian border.

Estonia sends police unit to Latvia–Belarus border

Allied French troops wrapped up their Estonia rotation with a ceremony in Pärnu. June 2026.

Photos: French troops wrap up Estonia rotation with ceremony in Pärnu

society

Viscosa Cultural Factory.

Viscosa Cultural Factory in Hiiumaa showcases art on 4,000 square meters

Tartu Prison.

Preparations underway in Estonian prisons for receiving Swedish prisoners Updated 22.06

Pärnu declared Estonia's summer capital again.

Pärnu becomes Estonia's summer capital again

Hill of the 7th restored.

Seitsmemägi Hill officially reopened after restoration on 100th anniversary

Prison (illustrative).

Finland hands Estonian gang members prison sentences

opinion

Züleyxa Izmailova.

Züleyxa Izmailova: Reform Party populism will cost Estonia hundreds of millions

Tõnis Saarts.

Tõnis Saarts: Estonian voters are choosing greater inequality

Tiit Land

Tiit Land: Engineer, lead young people to mathematics

Harri Tiido.

Harri Tiido: Will the climate stop supporting human existence?

Kilvar Kessler.

Kilvar Kessler: An open door to online casinos needs a strong guard

sports

Katrina Lehis at the European Senior Fencing Championships in Antony, France. June 2026.

Estonian fencer Katrina Lehis claims second European title with épée gold

Erich Teigamägi.

Erich Teigamägi elected head of Estonian Olympic Committee

Marleen Mülla.

Estonian athlete Marleen Mülla 12th in US NCAA Championships finals

Mark Lajal.

Mark Lajal comes from behind to beat US player in Yorkshire

Oliver Kullamäe.

Oliver Kullamäe latest Estonian basketball star to be snapped up by US college team

foreign affairs

Raivo Vare.

Experts: Russia's fuel crisis keeps getting worse

Kaja Kallas.

Kaja Kallas to ERR: Israeli foreign minister's statement came as a surprise

Plane (Photo is illustrative).

Foreign ministry requests €700,000 from state for Middle East evacuation flights

Prime Minister Kristen Michal (Reform).

Estonian PM vague on alumina shipping firm's Russia ties

NATO vessels in Tallinn.

Estonian experts warn of risks as US eyes military drawdown in Europe

science and research

People in Tartu.

Report: Mental health crisis delaying Estonian youths' independence

A children's summer camp at Tori Stud Farm.

Children's camp VAT relief pushed to July, leaving families paying more

OPIC, the optical periscope camera bound for Estonia's first deep-space mission.

Estonian camera headed for deep-space mission in 2028

Rescue archaeological excavations behind the wall of Järva-Jaani cemetery, where an extension of a shopping center will be built.

A shopping center is rising on top of an ancient cemetery in Järva‑Jaani

Kristina Kallas.

Minister's partially Russian‑language thank‑you at graduation surprised teachers

culture

Van Gogh Immersive Experience in Tallinn.

Gallery: Van Gogh immersive exhibition opens in Tallinn's Telliskivi

Tallinn Fringe 2024

Tallinn Fringe announces first acts for 10th anniversary festival

Ekaterina Taklaja, editor-in-chief of ERR's Russian-language station ETV+.

ETV+ warns Estonia's language law changes could cut viewership

EKA students finished building

Gallery: Ruins reimagined in EKA student installation in Tartu

Merit Kopli.

Cultural envoy: Estonian performers proudly represent their homeland on every stage

features and interviews

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs at the NB8 summit in Tallinn on Jun2 9, 2026.

Latvian PM to ERR: Ukrainian drone experts arriving in Latvia next week

Ivo Visak meeting with President Alar Karis.

AI Leap project lead: Students say our model is annoying but full of potential

The comparison of folklore and modern crisis texts revealed a clear difference in tone when it comes to guiding people's behavior. A social distancing sign in Tallinn from the COVID-19 pandemic.

How modern crisis communication can benefit from plague mythology

Ivar Heinmaa.

War-zone cameraman: Once you smell a decomposing body, you can recognize it anywhere

A black cat crossing the road.

Estonians' superstitions — from the thunder god's scythe to toppled cake

watch again

NB8 meeting in Tallinn on June 9, 2026.

Press conference with NB8 leaders and Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska met with Estonian President Alar Karis and Sirje Karis in Tallinn on June 9, 2026.

Estonian and Ukrainian presidents' press conference

This year's LMC takes place September 3-5 (photo from the 2019 event).

Lennart Meri Defense and Security Conference 2026

Interview with Alexander Stubb, the President of Finland.

Finland's President Stubb: We were too soft on Russia before 2022

Arseniy Yatsenyuk speaking to ETV's "Esimene stuudio."

Former Ukrainian PM: The only way to get real peace is to fight like hell

tallinn

Lubja tänav intersection after tram track repairs.

Lubja intersection traffic and trams return to normal

Bike lane traffic signal in Central Tallinn.

Tallinn sees 60% rise in bike and scooter traffic in recent years

Gonsiori tänav.

Traffic reorganized on several key Tallinn road sections

Tallinn Secondary School of Science extension construction site.

Tallinn to finish two new schools this year

Former Ministry of Rural Affairs building.

Tallinn eyes former ministry building in state real estate swap plan

tartu

The outage took place in Tartu's largest electricity substation (pictured).

Tartu power outage caused by mix of maintenance error and malfunction

The bear cubs headed back to the woods.

Four motherless bear cubs wandering Tartu County woods

The new Epler & Lorenz hazardous waste incineration plant in Tartu.

Tartu plant expands hazardous waste incinerator capacity to meet demand

Rüütli tänav in central Tartu.

Tartu unveils strategy to guide nightlife development through 2035

Egert Belitšev and Margo Klaos.

Police, rescue chiefs: Swedish inmates plan creates unequal pay

narva

Estonia-Russia pedestrian crossings remain open at the Narva 1 border checkpoint.

Estonia reduces opening hours at border crossings with Russia over summer

Ukrainian flag with an Estonian flag in the background.

Ukraine to open honorary consuls in Estonia's Narva and Tartu

The Narva City Run half marathon was canceled after a suspicious bag was found along the route. June 6, 2026.in Narva on Saturday. June 6, 2026.

Gallery: Narva half marathon canceled after suspicious bag found along route

Narva City Council chair Mihhail Stalnuhhin and Mayor Katri Raik.

Land deal for Narva EDF base caught in local political standoff

Victory Day parade in Narva on Sunday. June 24, 2024

Construction of Defense Force's Narva base will start this year

galleries

The

Gallery: June mass deportations remembered in Tallinn with 'Wagon of Tears'

Florian Wahl and the Tallinn Complaints Choir performing at Balti jaama turg on Saturday. June 13, 2026.

Gallery: Complaints Choir debuts crowdsourced lament at busy Tallinn market

Ingrian Finns held a Dance Festival in central Paide on June 13, 2026.

Gallery: Ingrian Finns hold dance festival in Estonia's Paide

The Estonian government unveiled its new drone roadmap in Tallinn on Friday. June 12, 2026.

Gallery: Government unveils new Estonian drone roadmap

Opening of Ukrainian artist Yeva Sihachova's exhibition

Gallery: Ukrainian artist's new Tallinn show explores violence 'everywhere'

news in simple Estonian

Lihtsad uudised.

Lihtsad uudised 19. juunil

Lihtsad uudised.

Lihtsad uudised 12. juunil

Lihtsad uudised

Lihtsad uudised 5. juunil

Lihtsad uudised

Lihtsad uudised 29. mail

Lihtsad uudised.

Lihtsad uudised 22. mail

podcasts

Ari Matti Mustonen has appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience and been warm up act at his live show as well.

Feature | Estonia's English-language podcasts, all in the one place

Tallinn Airport.

Estonia Explained part seven: Why are you here?

Maarja Merivoo-Parro.

Estonia Explained part six: The language has issues

Estonia Explained part five: What is with the sauna?

Maarja Merivoo-Parro.

Estonia Explained part four: A Thousand Years of Multi-culti

Hea lugeja, näeme et kasutate vanemat brauseri versiooni või vähelevinud brauserit.

Parema ja terviklikuma kasutajakogemuse tagamiseks soovitame alla laadida uusim versioon mõnest meie toetatud brauserist:

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