The Niguliste Museum will create a Christmas atmosphere with a magical Christmas tree, treasures from Toledo Cathedral and special concerts

Christmas at Niguliste has become an eagerly awaited tradition and marks the beginning of the winter holiday season at the museum. To celebrate the season of Advent, the interior design company Shishi is decorating the museum’s Christmas tree for the ninth time.

It has become customary that the theme of the tree remains a secret until the first day of Advent. At noon on Sunday, 30 November, we will ceremonially switch on the lights on the Christmas tree, accompanied by the singing of the Tallinn French Lyceum’s children’s choir and organ music. In the evening, the Avis Animi chamber choir and soloists will bring musical entertainment to the museum with the concert Adventus Domini, dedicated to the beginning of Advent.

In anticipation of Christmas, the museum’s new exhibition, Dives Toletana: Treasures of Toledo Cathedral from Medieval to El Greco, will create a festive and glowing atmosphere in Niguliste. For the first time in Estonia, viewers will be able to see original works by El Greco and rare art treasures from the Toledo Cathedral: one of the most important religious buildings in Spain.

The tower of St. Nicholas’ Church is also open to visitors: you can take a glass lift to the sky level, from where you can enjoy a magical view of Tallinn’s Old Town in its Christmas glow.

On Advent Sundays, the Niguliste Museum invites you to participate in workshops, and listen to organ music and performances by young musicians. School and kindergarten children are welcome to take part in the annual Christmas-themed museum lesson “The Legends of St. Nicholas”.

Niguliste is a great place to enjoy music. In addition to the traditional organ half-hours, the museum is looking forward to hosting other exciting concerts. On the eve of the first Advent Sunday, 29 November at 6 pm, the ensemble Una Corda will perform with the renowned saxophonist Maria Faust at the concert Garden of Souls. On 11 December at 7 pm, the concert series Art Sounds will bring to Niguliste the Californian singer England Brooks and the Villu Veski trio, whose performance will feature beautiful works, ranging from soulful jazz pieces to evergreen Christmas melodies.

Jazzkaar, Hortus Musicus, Ellerhein, the Tallinn Boys’ Choir, the Estonian Sinfonietta and many others will also delight audiences with their concerts. At the beginning of the new year, the Niguliste Museum will welcome all music lovers to the 40th International Niguliste Organ Week, which will start on 1 January 2026 and offer a rich daytime programme in addition to evening concerts.

The Christmas season at the Niguliste Museum will last from 30 November 2025 until 7 January 2026.

See the full Christmas at Niguliste programme here.