XVI Rahvusvaheline Kandlefestival ja VI Väikekandlefestival Pärnus

XVI International Kannel Festival and VI Small Kannel Festival in Pärnu, 16–18 October 2026   Autumn brings kannel friends together again from near and far – three days full of music, inspiration and encounters await!   Friday, 16 October 9:15 School concert at Paikuse Basic School Performers: students of Elo Kalda and Raili Käär from Pärnu Music School, Pärnu Arts School and Sindi Music School. The concert is free!   11:00 School concert at Sütevaka Humanitarian Gymnasium Performs: Paula Linde [contact details withheld] from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. The concert is free!   14:00 and 15:00 VI Small Kannel Festival workshops Free for festival pass holders. Places are limited; advance registration via Fienta is required. Running in parallel are workshops by Koidu Ahk – South-[contact details withheld] dance stories and songs, “Kui laupäe õhtul”; Eva Väljaots – Non-kannel tunes on the kannel; Leanne Barbo – Seto-Russian playing techniques; Laura Lehto – Practices in Finnish kannel-playing pedagogy; and Vincent Michaud-Lain – the return of the Karelian plucking technique to the context of dance.   16:00 Group kannel playing and dancing Intended for those who took part in the day's workshops to play and dance together.   18:00 Opening concert “Kannel Bridges” at Ammende Villa Performers: Duo LennaK (EST), Kertu-Liis Õnnis and Aino Rahel (EST), and Baltic Duo Liisa & Līga (EST/LV). Admission with festival pass.   Saturday, 17 October 10:00 Līga Griķe (LV) workshop on the Latvian kokle Free for festival pass holders. Places are limited; advance registration via Fienta is required!   12:00 Lauri Schreck (FIN) workshop on the Finnish kantele Free for festival pass holders. Places are limited; advance registration via Fienta is required!   15:00 Church concert “Silver Spring” at Pärnu St Elizabeth's Church Performers: James D. Hicks (USA) & Hedi Viisma (EST/FIN), Duo Insolitum (EST). Admission with festival pass!   18:00 Solo concert by Lauri Schreck at Wunderbaar Performs: Lauri Schreck (FIN). Admission with festival pass!   19:30 Dance club at Wunderbaar Performers: Kertu Liis Õnnis (EST), Kalle Vassila (EST). Admission is free!   Sunday, 18 October 11:00 Kannel House: Concerts and meetings with instrument makers at Pärnu Sütevaka Humanitarian Gymnasium Student concerts will take place, and a pop-up exhibition of chromatic kanneles restored by Toivo Tähemaa from the Klaverivabrik factory will be open. Various instrument makers will also be present to introduce their instruments and offer advice on instrument care and repair. The event is free!   14:00 Café concert with Triinu Orgmets at Sonne Café Performs: Triinu Orgmets (EST). The concert is free!   16:00 Gala concert “Kannel Power” in the chamber hall of Pärnu Concert Hall Performers: Sotto Voce kannel orchestra (EST), Finn Kanteleet (FIN), Kukulind (EST). Admission with festival pass!   Festival passes are available on Fienta. Tickets for each concert can be bought on site, cash only. Separate registration for workshops is required on Fienta under the workshop event.   Supporters: KULKA, City of Pärnu, [contact details withheld] Kandleliit, [contact details withheld] Estonian Traditional Music Center