This year the Festival of Opinion Culture will be held on August 14-15th on the Vallimägi Hill in Paide.

The aim of the festival is to provide an open platform for discussions on society and culture, without any hindrance of political ambition. This is a self-evolving communitywide festival open to everyone. We want alert and active people to discuss issues that are important to them and to Estonia in general.

The word ‘communitywide’ means that the festival welcomes representatives and interest groups from all walks of life. ‘Self-evolving’ means that those organisations and associations bringing issues to the table to be discussed will do so using their own resources. ‘Open to everyone’ means that anyone interested in sharing his or her ideas is welcome to take part. It also means that the festival is free of charge for the participants, with the initiators of topic-based stages organising everything.

The festival will give the opportunity to hear inspiring speeches, exchange opinions about social and political issues, gain new knowledge and fresh ideas, participate in workshops, meet new people and enjoy the social programme.

We want to:
• bring people together from all corners of Estonia, including from political and non-political institutions;
• give the participants the opportunity to discuss issues that are vital to the present and the future of Estonia – something usually done behind the closed doors of conference rooms;
• create a platform for people to exchange opinions regardless of their position or title;
• leave visitors motivated with a sense of wellbeing and the desire to return the next year.

The Festival of Opinion Culture was inspired by the 46-year-old Almedalsveckan festival in Sweden, as well as other similar events in Finland, Norway and Denmark.