The music and city festival Station Narva fills Estonia's easternmost city Narva with music, art, communal gatherings and cross-sector initiatives.
Since 2018, the festival has brought renowned performers from Estonia and abroad to Narva, including world-famous names such as Echo and the Bunnymen, Tricky, Roni Size, A Guy Called Gerald, James Lavelle, Actress, Spiritualized, GusGus, and others, alongside beloved Estonian artists from Tommy Cash to Vaiko Eplik.
Yet the festival's brightest tar is always the "station" Narva itself, a unique and multicultural city in Northeast Estonia perched on the border of the European Union, resplendent with all its past glory and current day smartness, post-industrial grandness and exciting hidden corners that reward the curious explorer.
Beyond the music programme, Station Narva hosts public debates by the local discussion day BAZAR, cutting-edge art exhibitions, a Future Day exploring the region's creative economy opportunities, communal Narva-style breakfasts, immersive experience tours in the city and its surroundings, and much more.
Station Narva is the result of the collective efforts of numerous contributors, led by the Narva-Tallinn joint team with support from the youth team, volunteer helpers, and a network of partners, supporters, and programme creators.
The Station Narva team and partners believe that cultural and sports events have a unique ability to bring together people from all walks of life. These gatherings build trust, welcome everyone from young to old, and foster a shared space for values and understanding. Through these meaningful connections, they help strengthen the bonds that hold our community together, encouraging integration and social cohesion.
National culture weekly Sirp:
"Extraordinary is the courage to invite performers who have left such a significant mark on music to perform here! Station Narva is a festival that unfortunately takes place too rarely."
ERR Culture:
"Station Narva is one of those events that builds cultural fabric, and this is needed both on a regional and cultural-political level."
Regional daily Põhjarannik:
"Station Narva is like a brilliant colourful carnival where all guests will find comfort."
Regional daily Virumaa Teataja:
"One would like to hope that Station Narva has also contributed a worthy part to ensuring that the next generation could say 'Privet, gorod Narva!' (reference to famous Estonian rapper nublu’s Narva-themed song “für Oksana”) without ingrained prejudice or feelings of alienation."
Local journalist Roman Vikulov:
"The most amazing thing about Station Narva is that it exists in Narva at all."
The Quietus (UK):
“Narva is an example of the New Europe that allows a lot of individual freedom and civic potential.”
Maria Smorževskihh-Smirnova, Director of Narva Museum:
"Station Narva brings to our border town the creative, intellectual and cultural environment that European cities thrive on."
Larissa Shabunova, Director of Fortaco Estonia:
"The festival attracts diverse people from across Estonia and other countries. It unites people and is one of Narva's most important integration events. It shows how stylish, beautiful and progressive Narva can be. The more such events we host here, the more attractive Narva becomes to younger people. Young people are the key to the city's successful future!"
Vladimir Aret, Manager of Narva Hotel:
"Station Narva isn't merely a music festival. Among its guests are both domestic tourists and international visitors who haven't been to Narva before, yet are also interested in the development of Narva's new infrastructure. Station Narva represents a symbiosis of quality services, experiences, active engagement and modern trends that multicultural regions desperately need and that both the private sector and the public must support."
Vivian Rankel, young musician and tattoo artist from Narva:
"Station Narva is important to local young people for two reasons. Firstly, it creates a fresh atmosphere that helps us learn how liberated people can be and how to feel safe and comfortable within such cultural events. Secondly, it's an excellent opportunity for Narva's youth to participate in creating an engaging event, for example as volunteer assistants."