Estonia begins preparations for expanded 2028 Song Celebration, seeks solution for sign-language performers
Estonia has officially begun preparations for the 2028 Youth Song and Dance Celebration, which will run a week and a half for the first time. Organizers are working to find a way for sign-language choirs to take part.
This week marked the official launch of preparations for the XIV Youth Song and Dance Celebration and the XXIX Song and XXII Dance Celebration, set to take place in Estonia in summer 2028. Artistic director Riivo Jõgi said several changes are planned, including ongoing efforts to find a suitable way for sign-language performers to participate.
The 2028 festival will run a full week and a half, from June 30 to July 9. Jõgi explained that the extended length stems from the coronavirus pandemic, after which organizers decided to combine the youth festival tradition with the general Song Celebration tradition, making this edition significantly longer than before.
The festival carries the title "Olemise viis" ("Way of Being"), chosen for its multilayered, philosophical meaning tied to the passage of time — who Estonians have been in the past, who they are now, and what will be left to future generations. Unlike previous editions held only on Saturday and Sunday, the Song Celebration will now span three days, Friday through Sunday. Friday will feature communal singing, Saturday will showcase adult choir categories accompanied by wind orchestras under the arch, and Sunday will be dedicated to children's categories. Performers from earlier days will join for the final combined choir.
Jõgi noted that reaching the Song Celebration stage requires significant effort, but stressed that everyone can ultimately take part in the festival, whether performing under the arch or listening as part of the audience. Organizers have already held meetings with sign-language choirs, and discussions will continue in autumn to find a suitable way for their participation.
Other changes include separating mixed choirs from youth mixed choirs, and separating girls' choirs from women's choirs. A wind orchestra will accompany performers on Friday, while a symphony orchestra will play on Saturday and Sunday. For the first time, a combined children's choir will also be formed, bringing together boys' choirs, young children's choirs, and children's choirs.
