UNESCO Heritage City Viljandi invites everyone to the fifth Viljandi Repair Festival on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the courtyard and building of the Vilma Study Building of the Viljandi Culture Academy of the University of Tartu. The festival is one of the events celebrating the 743rd anniversary of the city of Viljandi.
The Viljandi Repair Festival is a community event that has been held since 2022 with the aim of helping everyone interested in extending the life of their belongings and finding new uses for unused materials by sharing knowledge and skills. The Repair Festival is an important cultural event for the whole of Estonia, highlighting the significance of heritage and valuing skills, knowledge, and attitudes that support sustainability.
The UNESCO Heritage City of Viljandi Committee chose living food heritage as the theme for 2026, which is also the focus of this year's Repair Festival. In addition to the usual repair topics, local food culture, customs, and flavors will be highlighted.
Over 30 practical workshops
There will be at least 30 practical workshops covering:
repair
maintenance
reuse
recycling
The workshops will be led by recognized masters and heritage bearers, who will help participants improve their skills and give advice on how to make the most of the materials and material heritage around us.
Children, young people, adults, and seniors are all welcome to participate. The workshops and seminars are free of charge for participants.
Areas covered by the festival
Passing on traditional skills
Heritage masters introduce historical handicraft techniques and methods, demonstrating their practical use. For example, a scythe master demonstrates traditional mowing techniques and teaches how to maintain and repair tools. The focus is on keeping valuable skills alive and supporting a culture of DIY.
Knowing and valuing materials
Workshops teach participants about natural and artificial materials, their sustainable use, and ways to extend their lifespan. Special attention is paid to the wise use of local natural materials. The goal is to keep materials in use for as long as possible.
Principles of sustainability
The Repair Festival emphasizes that repairing, reusing, and taking care of objects is beneficial to nature, people, and the community. Participants learn how to extend the life of objects and reduce waste, thereby developing sustainable and conscious habits.
