Baltoscandal Festival in Rakvere Sets Attendance Record

The international performing arts festival Baltoscandal, which concluded in Rakvere, has set an attendance record for the last decade. The festival was visited by 5,830 people from Estonia, Europe, and more distant parts of the world – over a thousand more than in 2024.

This year, Baltoscandal brought together artists from 22 countries in Rakvere. One of the main events was Milo Rau's production "La Lettre" ("The Letter") – Rau is considered one of Europe's most esteemed directors and theatre thinkers. The director himself also attended the festival.

Another audience favorite was London-based Estonian-origin artist Julia Masli, who presented her international breakthrough work "ha ha ha ha ha ha ha" to Estonian audiences for the first time.

The festival also featured a world premiere. The production "Ma olen pannud segast" by Liis Vares and Taavet Janssen was staged in the Ukuaru music house using a mixed reality environment, which the audience experienced through virtual reality glasses.

During the festival, 264 events took place, including performances, installations, and film screenings, most of which were completely sold out. The significant increase in attendance also benefited the city of Rakvere. According to festival director Velvo Väli, it was difficult to find free accommodation during the five days, and many festival guests also sought lodging in the surrounding areas. The city's catering establishments and taxi services were in very high demand during the festival.

Artistic director Priit Raud emphasized at the opening that in these serious, anxious, and contradictory times, it is especially important to come together to hear and respect each other, not to fear the unknown, and to feel how diverse the world is, yet at the same time surprisingly similar in human terms.

The next Baltoscandal festival will take place from June 30 to July 4, 2028. The artistic directors will be Priit Raud and Hedi-Liis Toome.