The Festival in Tallinn 2026, powered by OlyBet, runs November 20 to 29 at the Olympic Park Casino and the adjoining Hilton Tallinn Park Hotel, bringing more than 80 tournaments, two €555 Main Events, and Northern Europe’s biggest mixed-game schedule to a compact, atmospheric capital. With the Old Town, Christmas market, creative neighborhoods, and museums all close by, the tables are only part of the story. Here is what to do when you step away from the felt.
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The Old Town: Walk It, Then Warm Up
Tallinn’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval city centers. Much of its medieval street plan and fortifications remain visible today. Start at Viru Gate, the twin-towered entrance from the modern city, and work your way up through the winding cobblestone lanes toward Toompea Hill.
The Kohtuotsa viewing platform is free to access, so an early morning visit before the day’s first flights gives you the orange rooftops and church spires with almost nobody else around. St. Catherine’s Passage, a narrow medieval alley lined with artisan workshops and guild signs, is the kind of shot that sells itself in November fog.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on Toompea Hill is free to enter, though photography is not permitted inside. Raeapteek, on Town Hall Square, is often described as one of Europe’s oldest continuously operating pharmacies and has a small free museum attached. The Kiek in de Kök medieval tower and its underground bastion passage tunnels are worth an hour if you want to get underground. Tickets are required for entry.
The Christmas Market
The Festival opening on November 20 coincides exactly with the launch of Tallinn’s Christmas market in Town Hall Square, which runs through January 6. The stalls are right there from day one: gingerbread, grilled sausages, sauerkraut, and mulled wine under string lights with medieval spires in the background.
It costs nothing to walk through and is worth building into any evening break between sessions. For something more active, the Old Town ice rink on Harju Street, next to St. Nicholas Church, opens on November 14 and should be running throughout The Festival.
Kalamaja and Telliskivi: The Neighborhood Worth Finding
About a ten-minute walk from the Old Town, Kalamaja is Tallinn’s creative quarter, built around rows of brightly colored wooden houses from the 19th century. Even without snow, the rows of wooden houses give Kalamaja a distinctly different feel from the Old Town. The area runs straight into Telliskivi Creative City, a former industrial complex now full of street art, craft beer bars, vintage shops, and street food stalls. It is one of the best areas for craft beer, casual bars and a more local atmosphere.
Taptap is a solid Estonian craft beer spot. Uba ja Humal is a relaxed bar with a good bottle selection and specialty coffee if you need to stay sharp for a late session. The Humalakoda brewpub at the top of Balti Jaam Market has a large tap list and pairs well with a walk through the market below, which covers antiques, second-hand clothing, fresh produce, and plenty of street food.
Where to Eat
The Able Butcher is the most convenient option for players staying at the Hilton Tallinn Park: it is the hotel’s own restaurant, right in the building, and it does exactly what a meat-focused restaurant should, with well-executed steaks, grilled fish, and an open kitchen. No commute required after a long session.
Radio is a quick walk from the casino: a wine shop and bistro with a wine cave at its center, sharing plates built around seasonal ingredients and, for the record, in this author’s opinion, the best fried chicken in the Baltics.
Leib Restoran on Uus Street is a strong choice for modern Estonian food: local, seasonal ingredients treated seriously without being precious. Book ahead. Kompressor on Rataskaevu Street is the other end of the spectrum, serving thick Estonian pancakes with local jam, cheap and filling.
For coffee and a cinnamon bun in the morning, Røst Bakery in the Rotermann Quarter does both well. August Cafe in the Old Town is small and characterful, with good specialty coffee. Olde Hansa in the Old Town leans into the medieval atmosphere and runs a Medieval Christmas Feast during the market period, worth knowing about if you have an evening free.
Sauna
Sauna culture is central to Estonian life, and Tallinn has options across every tier. Kalma Sauna in Kalamaja has been operating since 1928, making it one of the oldest public saunas in the city and the most characterful. If you are staying at a larger hotel, it will more often than not have its own spa, but Kalma is the authentic version.
Many Estonians follow a sauna session with a cold plunge where facilities allow, a tradition that makes considerably more sense in theory than in late November practice.
The Estonian Maritime Museum
The Seaplane Harbour branch of the Estonian Maritime Museum is one of the genuinely great museums in the Baltics. It is housed in a vast seaplane hangar from the early 20th century and contains a decommissioned submarine you can walk through, a full-scale icebreaker, a flight simulator, and a collection of historic vessels.
Budget two to three hours. It is a solid full-morning option on a day off between events and sits in a part of the city, Noblessner, that has developed into a good eating and drinking destination in its own right.
Kadriorg: Park, Palace, and the Kumu Art Museum
About a 15-minute tram ride from the city center, Kadriorg is the best option for players who want green space, history, and art in one place. The district was built around a baroque palace commissioned by Peter the Great in the early 18th century, and the surrounding landscaped gardens are among the city’s more serene spots, even in November.
The main draw for a half-day visit is Kumu, Estonia’s national art museum, which sits at the edge of the park and houses a strong permanent collection of Estonian art alongside rotating international exhibitions. After a long tournament or a brutal cooler, an afternoon in Kadriorg followed by dinner back in the city center is a solid reset.
Catch PÖFF: The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
If you are arriving for the first weekend of The Festival, the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) is still running. Its 30th edition runs November 6 to 22, so the final three days overlap directly with the poker series’ opening weekend. That edition features 230 feature films and 259 shorts from 87 countries, with screenings in Tallinn and Tartu. If you have a free evening on November 20, 21, or 22 and an interest in film, it is worth checking the program. Not many poker festivals overlap with one of Northern Europe’s leading film festivals.
Getting Around
Tallinn is compact. The Old Town, Kalamaja, Telliskivi, and Noblessner are all within walking distance, though Noblessner is a longer walk from the center. Olympic Park Casino is inside the Hilton Tallinn Park Hotel in central Tallinn, a short walk from the Old Town, so the two parts of the trip connect easily on foot. Ride-hailing apps such as Bolt are widely used and practical for late-night returns. Public transport is inexpensive; check current fares and ticket options at the R-Kiosk or online before traveling.
Daylight is limited during The Festival, with sunrise after 8 a.m. and sunset before 4 p.m. for most of the series. Build outdoor sightseeing into the middle of the day and lean on the city’s indoor options once it goes dark, which happens fast. Pack waterproof boots, layers, and something windproof. Cobblestones in November can be icy, especially on Toompea Hill.
A Simple Three-Day Plan
| Day | Away from the tables |
|---|---|
| Arrival day | Walk the Old Town from Viru Gate up to Toompea, check out the Christmas market in Town Hall Square, skate or walk past the ice rink on Harju Street, and have dinner in Kalamaja or Telliskivi. |
| Day off or early bustout | Morning at the Estonian Maritime Museum (Seaplane Harbour), afternoon in Kadriorg and Kumu, evening sauna at Kalma. |
| Rest day | Explore Telliskivi Creative City, Balti Jaam Market, craft beer at Taptap or Humalakoda, PÖFF screening if the dates align (November 20–22 only). |
For the full schedule, results, and more information, visit OlyBetEvents.com and TheFestival.com.
For players planning their time in Tallinn, the full day-by-day schedule is below.
The Festival in Tallinn 2026 Full Schedule
| Date | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Thu Nov 19 | 5:00 p.m. | Freebuy Mega Satellite |
| Fri Nov 20 | 12:00 p.m. | Freebuy Satellite to THMC Day 1a |
| 3:00 p.m. | €350 Sviten Special | |
| 5:00 p.m. | €350 Hendon Mob Championship Day 1a | |
| 7:00 p.m. | €200 NLHE Seniors | |
| 8:00 p.m. | €200 FL Baducey/Badacey | |
| 9:00 p.m. | €200 NLHE Total Knockout | |
| 11:00 p.m. | €125 Chicago European Championship Day 1a | |
| Sat Nov 21 | 11:00 a.m. | €125 Chicago European Championship Day 1b |
| 12:00 p.m. | €200 NLHE 7-2 Special | |
| 1:00 p.m. | €350 PL Dealer’s Choice | |
| 3:30 p.m. | €100 Win TV Live | |
| 5:00 p.m. | €350 Hendon Mob Championship Day 1b | |
| 8:00 p.m. | €200 PL Razz PKO | |
| 9:00 p.m. | €200 NLHE PKO Live Straddle | |
| 10:00 p.m. | €50 NLHE Mega Satellite to Mystery Bounty | |
| 11:00 p.m. | €125 Chicago European Championship Day 1c | |
| Sun Nov 22 | 11:00 a.m. | €125 Chicago European Championship Day 1d |
| 11:00 a.m. | €350 Hendon Mob Championship Day 1c Turbo | |
| 11:30 a.m. | Freebuy Satellite to Mystery Bounty Day 1a | |
| 1:00 p.m. | €350 NLHE Mystery Bounty Day 1a | |
| 1:30 p.m. | €350 Sviten Six | |
| 3:00 p.m. | €350 Hendon Mob Championship Day 2 | |
| 7:00 p.m. | €200 NLHE Super Hold’em | |
| 9:00 p.m. | €200 OmahaJack | |
| 10:00 p.m. | €50 NLHE Mega Satellite to Mystery Bounty Day 1b | |
| 11:00 p.m. | €125 Chicago European Championship Day 1e | |
| Mon Nov 23 | 11:00 a.m. | €125 Chicago European Championship Day 1f |
| 11:30 a.m. | Freebuy Satellite to Mystery Bounty Day 1b | |
| 12:00 p.m. | €350 OFC Pineapple | |
| 1:00 p.m. | €350 NLHE Mystery Bounty Day 1b | |
| 2:00 p.m. | €350 PLO 4/5/6 Card Bomb Pot | |
| 7:00 p.m. | €50 NLHE Wild Rebuy Madness | |
| 8:00 p.m. | €200 Triple Draw Mix | |
| 10:00 p.m. | €50 NLHE Mega Satellite to Mystery Bounty Day 1c | |
| 11:00 p.m. | €125 Chicago European Championship Day 1g | |
| Tue Nov 24 | 11:00 a.m. | €125 Chicago European Championship Day 1h |
| 11:30 a.m. | Freebuy Satellite to Mystery Bounty Day 1c | |
| 1:00 p.m. | €350 NLHE Mystery Bounty Day 1c | |
| 1:30 p.m. | €555 T.O.R.S.E.S. Day 1 | |
| 6:30 p.m. | €200 Seven Card Stud Mix | |
| 7:00 p.m. | €350 NLHE Mystery Bounty Day 1d Turbo | |
| 8:00 p.m. | €200 NLHE/PLO Bomb Pot | |
| 8:00 p.m. | Cash Game Challenge | |
| 9:00 p.m. | €125 Slots Championship | |
| 10:00 p.m. | €80 Mega Satellite to Main Event Day 1a | |
| 11:00 p.m. | €125 Chicago European Championship Day 1i | |
| Wed Nov 25 | 11:00 a.m. | €125 Chicago European Championship Day 1j |
| 12:00 p.m. | €555 NLHE Main Event Day 1a | |
| 12:30 p.m. | €555 T.O.R.S.E.S. Day 2 | |
| 1:00 p.m. | NLHE Mystery Bounty Day 2 | |
| 1:30 p.m. | €200 OFC Pineapple | |
| 5:00 p.m. | €350 PLO Bomb Pot 4/5/6 Card | |
| 6:30 p.m. | €200 NLHE Deepstack | |
| 7:00 p.m. | €125 Blackjack Championship | |
| 8:00 p.m. | Cash Game Challenge | |
| 8:00 p.m. | €200 Big O | |
| 10:00 p.m. | €80 Mega Satellite to Main Event Day 1b | |
| 11:00 p.m. | €125 Chicago European Championship Day 1k | |
| Thu Nov 26 | 11:00 a.m. | €125 Chicago European Championship Day 1l |
| 12:00 p.m. | €555 NLHE Main Event Day 1b | |
| 12:30 p.m. | €350 8-Game | |
| 1:00 p.m. | €80 Satellite to High Roller | |
| 2:00 p.m. | Chicago European Championship Day 2 | |
| 3:00 p.m. | €350 PLO Bomb Pot | |
| 5:00 p.m. | €1,100 NLHE High Roller | |
| 6:30 p.m. | €125 Sviten Special World Record Attempt | |
| 7:00 p.m. | €125 Roulette Championship | |
| 8:00 p.m. | Cash Game Challenge | |
| 9:00 p.m. | €200 NLHE PKO Madness | |
| 10:00 p.m. | €80 Mega Satellite to Main Event Day 1c/D | |
| Fri Nov 27 | 12:00 p.m. | €555 NLHE Main Event Day 1c |
| 12:30 p.m. | €350 The Festival 10-Game | |
| 3:00 p.m. | €350 PLO 4/5 Card Bomb Pot | |
| 5:00 p.m. | €1,100 PLO High Roller | |
| 6:00 p.m. | €200 Mixed Games Madness (24 Games) | |
| 7:00 p.m. | €555 NLHE Main Event Day 1d Turbo | |
| 8:00 p.m. | Cash Game Challenge | |
| 9:00 p.m. | €200 NLHE PKO Live Straddle | |
| Sat Nov 28 | 12:00 p.m. | €200 NLHE 7-2 Special |
| 12:30 p.m. | €350 FL Dealers Choice | |
| 1:00 p.m. | €350 PLO 4/5/6 Card Bomb Pot | |
| 2:00 p.m. | €125 Sportsbook Championship | |
| 2:00 p.m. | NLHE Main Event Day 2 | |
| 4:00 p.m. | €150 The Festival Queens | |
| 5:00 p.m. | €1,100 The Festival 10-Game Day 1 | |
| 6:00 p.m. | €200 NLHE Crazy Pineapple | |
| 9:00 p.m. | €200 FL PLO | |
| Sun Nov 29 | 12:00 p.m. | €200 The Festival NLHE Brunch |
| 12:30 p.m. | €100 PLO5 Flip Tournament Round 1 | |
| 1:00 p.m. | NLHE Main Event Day 3 | |
| 1:30 p.m. | €1,100 The Festival 10-Game Day 2 | |
| 1:30 p.m. | €200 Baby T.O.R.S.E.S. | |
| 2:00 p.m. | €1,100 OFC Pineapple High Roller | |
| 4:00 p.m. | PLO5 Flip Tournament Final |
The Festival in Tallinn 2026: FAQ
When and where is The Festival in Tallinn 2026?
The Festival in Tallinn 2026 runs November 20 to 29 at the Olympic Park Casino inside the Hilton Tallinn Park Hotel. The series features more than 80 tournaments including two €555 Main Events in NLH and T.O.R.S.E.S. formats.
Is Tallinn worth visiting beyond the poker?
Yes. The Old Town is one of the best-preserved medieval city centers in Europe, and late November brings the Christmas market to Town Hall Square. Kadriorg and the Kumu Art Museum are worth a half-day, and the Estonian Maritime Museum at the Seaplane Harbour is one of the best museums in the Baltics. The city is compact enough to cover a lot of ground in a day off between sessions.
What is the weather like in Tallinn in late November?
Expect cold temperatures, typically around freezing, though conditions can vary, with possible snow and ice. Daylight is limited to around six hours. Pack waterproof boots, warm layers, and something windproof. The cobblestones in the Old Town can be icy.
What is the best neighborhood to explore in Tallinn?
The Old Town is the obvious starting point, but Kalamaja and Telliskivi are where the best bars, craft beer, and local atmosphere are. The two neighborhoods connect and are about a ten-minute walk from the Old Town. For something different, Kadriorg offers a baroque palace, landscaped gardens, and Estonia’s national art museum.
Where should I eat in Tallinn?
Leib Restoran on Uus Street is a strong choice for modern Estonian food. Kompressor on Rataskaevu Street serves filling Estonian pancakes at a low price point. Olde Hansa in the Old Town runs a Medieval Christmas Feast during the market period if you want the full medieval experience. Røst Bakery in Rotermann is a good option for coffee and pastries in the morning.
Is there a film festival happening during The Festival Tallinn?
Yes. The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) runs November 6 to 22, so its final three days overlap with the poker series’ opening weekend. It is one of the most prominent film festivals in Northern Europe. If you are arriving early or have a free evening on November 20, 21, or 22, it is worth checking the program.
Is there anything unusual to do in Tallinn in winter?
Tallinn’s sauna culture is genuine and worth experiencing. Kalma Sauna in Kalamaja has been running since 1928. The Estonian Maritime Museum at the Seaplane Harbour is one of the best museums in the Baltics, with a decommissioned submarine and a full-scale icebreaker. The Old Town ice rink on Harju Street opens November 14, so it is running throughout The Festival.
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