Henry Sildaru wins silver at the Winter Olympics

Finally! The wait is over! Estonia is up on the medals table at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games! Nineteen-year-old Henry Sidaru won silver in the mens freestyle skiing halfpipe and Estonians around the world are thrilled. The halfpipe is one of three categories of freestyle skiing and involves performing a series of tricks while skiing down a semi-cylindrical slope. This is Henry Sidaru's first Olympic medal. His older sister Kelly Sidaru was Estonia's only medalist at the last Winter Games in Beijing in 2022. 

It's seal breeding time in Estonia

In Estonia, peak seal breeding season takes place during the months of February and March. The number of pups born each year is heavily dependent on winter ice conditions. While seals prefer to give birth on drifting sea ice, in milder winters without enough ice, they will use coastal areas and rocky shores, particularly in Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. 

This year, winter in Estonia has been significantly colder than usual, with a bumper crop of baby grey seals seen around Estonia's coastline. Approximately 4,000 seal pups are born in Estonia each year,  predominantly grey seals and Baltic ringed seals.

People eager to take a selfie with seal pups are advised not to get too close. Seals are very protective of their offspring and territory and can be extremely dangerous to a person who approaches. A safer way of getting close to the animals is through a seal monitoring camera set up. The final number of seals born this year will not become clear until spring when the animals come out onto the rocks to moult and can be more easily observed.

Johanna Talihärm makes history as the first Estonian to join the International Olympic Committee

Estonian biathlete Johanna Talihärm, who participated in her fourth Olympics, was chosen as the first Estonian to join the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes' Commission.

During the Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, 11 athletes ran for two vacant seats on the IOC Athletes' Commission, with 84 percent of eligible athletes casting their votes. Talihärm received 983 votes and she will join the committee along with South Korean bobsledder Yunjong Won, who received 1,176 votes.

Talihärm's new role will be officially announced at the closing ceremony of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games in Verona on February 22.

The 108th birthday of the Republic of Estonia

On Tuesday the 24th of February 2026 the Republic of Estonia will celebrate its 108th birthday. The day will begin with the ceremonial raising of the national flag in the Governor's Garden at Toompea. The flag will be raised at 7:32 a.m. accompanied by the national anthem.

This year the anniversary parade will be held at Freedom Square in Tallinn. The event will start at 12 noon with military units lining up from 11am. The parade will be received by Estonian President Alar Karis and will be led by the Commander of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General Andrus Merilo. The units participating in the parade will be sending a clear message to the world, that the Estonian Defence Forces are disciplined, well organised, highly motivated and equipped to protect Estonia's statehood.

 

 

On Independence Day the Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom will open early at 8:30am for anyone who wishes to come directly after the national flag hoisting ceremony. More information can be found here.

 

Estonia 8th in the world for Economic Freedom

In the 2025 Economic Freedom Index released by The Heritage Foundation, Estonia was ranked 8th in the world and is considered “mostly free”. With a score of 78.9 out of 100, Estonia's rating has increased by 1.1 points from last year, and ranks 5th out of 44 countries in the Europe region. Estonia’s economic freedom score is higher than the world and regional averages. In comparison, the world's largest economy, the United States, ranked 26th place in the index.

Vanilla Ninja to represent Estonia at Eurovision

Last night, Estonian girl band Vanilla Ninja won Eesti Laul with their song 'Too Epic to be True' and will go on to represent Estonia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna in May.

Vanilla Ninja originally formed in 2002 as a four-piece girl band with members Lenna Kuurmaa, Piret Järvis, Katrin Siska and Maarja Kivi. The band has released five albums and had a string of hit songs, most popular in Estonia, Germany and Austria. Band members have changed over the years with Vanilla Ninja now a trio, consisting of Lenna Kuurmaa, Piret Järvis and Kerli Kivilaan.

2026 will be the first time Vanilla Ninja will represent Estonia at the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2005 they did take part in the competition, representing Switzerland with their song 'Cool Vibes'. They came 8th place in the competition. 

Fun fact for Valentine's Day

Which European Union countries imported the most roses from other EU countries per capita in 2024?

Happy Valentine's Day!

In Estonia Valentine's Day is known as 'Sõbrapäev' (Friend's Day). It is a day not only reserved for romantic love, but a celebration of friendship, kindness, and affection for friends and family. On Sõbrapäev hand written cards are exchanged, flowers are given as well as heart-shaped chocolates and sweets. It is a day to show those nearest to you that you care.

For the past four years in Estonia there has been a nationwide initiative called "Estonia's Biggest Hearts". It's a  competition to form the largest heart-shaped human chain in honour of Valentine's Day. This year a total of 45 local governments and over 6,000 people participated in the event. Last year, Narva set the record, with 489 people joining hands, and they might win again this year with over 600 Narva residents participating. Great effort went into making the heart perfectly symmetrical.

 

Narva residents form heart-shaped human chain for Valentine's Day.
 

Ice-roads officially open in Estonia

A 17-kilometer-long ice road was officially opened by the Transport Administration on Sunday between Estonia's biggest islands, Hiiumaa and Saaremaa, to give islanders an alternative route to the mainland as ferry services struggle with sea ice. To ensure safety on the 24-centimeter-thick route, drivers must adhere to strict protocols, including a ban on seatbelts to allow for emergency exits and a mandatory "speed gap" between 20 and 40 kph to prevent destructive ice vibrations. Ice-roads have cultural significance in Estonia but due to the recent mild winters, they have not been open for the past eight years.

Estonia: A truly 'switched on' country

Estonia introduced online voting in 2005.  For over twenty years Estonians have chosen not stand in long queues at polling stations, but instead, vote in the privacy of their own home that only takes minutes. Fast, efficient e-services is what makes Estonia shine above the rest!

5 highlights from the past week in Estonia

Last week was an eventful week for Estonia. The Winter Olympic Games commenced in Italy on February 6 and for the first time the event is being hosted in two cities - Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. The Winter Olympics will run until February 22. Estonians excel at winter sports, especially in events such as crossing-country skiing, ice skating and biathion. It would be great to see Team Estonia come home with a few medals this year!

Estonia in review last week.

1. Estonians athletes shine bright at the Winter Olympic Games, with a win in mixed doubles curling.

 

Estonian mixed doubles curling duo Marie Kaldvee and Harri Lill took their 

first win so far at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy. 

They must play nine rounds in total.

 2.  The largest battery park in continental Europe was opened in Kiisa, Harju County, on Tuesday, capable of serving 90,000 households.

3. Estonia opens 'Point of Invincibility' in Kyiv to help residents during winter blackouts.

4.  Ice road opens between Tärkma in Hiiumaa and Triigi in Saaremaa. 

5. Defence Industry Growth. Twelve Estonian defence companies shared €1.8 million in project development support. It's the largest sum awarded to date.

Tartu Folk X Final Concert

Last November the final concert of the 'Tartu Folk X Lõppkontsert' took place in the form of a web show, highlighting the Year of the Estonian Book. Performances represented characters from Estonian fairy tales. The closing concert was held at the bridge area of the Estonian National Museum in Tartu. 

A frosty look at Estonia from space

January 2026 provided excellent conditions for space photography. This photograph taken by the MODIS instrument on NASA's Terra satellite, observed Estonia from space. This image shows clouds, ice and snow conditions in Estonia and its vicinity. It is estimated that almost 90,000 km² of the Baltic Sea was covered with ice on that day.

 

This winter has been one of the coldest in Estonia for many years, with the air temperature measuring almost 5 degrees below average in January. February is expected to be even colder with meteorologists predicting the temperature dropping to -30 degree this month.

Some of Estonia's islands face the worst ice conditions in a decade, halting ferries and forcing residents to rely on hovercraft for deliveries of essential items.

Today marks 106 years since the signing of the Tartu Peace Treaty

On the 2nd of February 1920 the Tartu Peace Treaty was signed between Estonia and Soviet Russia. Russia agreed to recognise Estonia's independence and the borders of its territory. With the signing of the treaty, Estonia's War of Independence came to an end.

Jaan Poska, chief negotiator of the treaty and later the first Foreign Minister of Estonia said, “For the first time in 700 years, Estonia decided its own fate.”

The Tartu Peace Treaty is considered the birth centificate of the Republic of Estonia.

 

Jaan Poska (centre)

 

Tommy Cash wins 3 awards at the 2026 Estonian Music Awards

Eccentric Estonian singer Tommy Cash scooped up three awards at the Estonian Music Awards in Tallinn last week. The Eurovision favourite won 'Song of the Year' with his hit 'Espresso Macchiato' as well as 'Pop Artist of the Year' and 'Male Artist of the Year'. Newcomers Sadu also won three awards this year. The folk pop band won 'Album of the Year', 'Band of the Year' and 'Debut Album of the Year' for "Probleemid paradiisis." 

 

'Espresso Macchiato'  was only a huge hit in Estonia last year but also in Italy and Germany. 

 

You can watch the Estonian Music Awards / Eesti Muusikaauhinnad 2026 here.