In 2026, new action programmes are launched in four different regions of Estonia with the aim of introducing participants to Estonian culture and customs and creating opportunities for people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds to participate in society. 

All adults residing in Estonia on a legal basis and whose native language is not Estonian can participate in the activities.

The programmes comprise workshops, discussions, and cultural meetings (20 academic hours) and five study trips. Study trips include tours, visits to cultural events, and educational trips. Activities take place on weekday evenings or weekends to encourage participation.

All activities will be conducted in Estonian, and Estonian-speaking volunteers will also participate in each region. This gives participants the opportunity to practise the language, make new contacts, and become more involved in everyday life in Estonia. 

You can register for action programmes via the self-service portal of the Integration Foundation at https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/login

Action programme in Harju County

In Harju County, the programme is run by ImmiSchool OÜ. Groups are opened at least once a quarter and each group has up to 25 participants.

Each meeting lasts for 3 academic hours. Study trips include at least two academic hours of substantive activities and one hour of discussion or workshop.

Activities include visits to museums, cultural institutions, and performing arts institutions, excursions, and participation in cultural events. Cooperation takes place with local cultural and national folk culture societies, museums, and community centres, such as the Tallinn Botanical Garden, Padise Monastery, and Nuku Choir.

The activities give participants an overview of the most important cultural and historical topics in Estonia, nature, art, music, theatre, and literature, and present well-known Estonian creators and influential figures. 

The aim of the study trips is to strengthen knowledge of Estonian culture and customs and to broaden understanding of everyday life in Estonia. 

Action programmes in Ida-Viru County, Tartu, and Pärnu

These programmes are run by Targa Eesti Instituut MTÜ. New groups are opened in each region once a quarter, with up to 45 participants per group.

Activities include visits to cultural institutions, tours, and study trips across Estonia.

In Ida-Viru County, the programme is carried out in cooperation with the Narva Museum, the Virumaa Museum, and Rakvere Castle.

In Tartu, cooperation takes place with the Oskar Luts Palamuse Museum, TYPA, the Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum, and the Estonian National Museum.

Activities in Pärnu are organised in cooperation with the Pärnu Museum (Pärnu Museum, Koidula Museum, the Red Tower).

The activities have been co-financed by the Swiss Confederation to reduce economic and social disparities in the European Union. The Swiss-Estonian cooperation programme supports activities that help people of different nationalities and linguistic backgrounds to better integrate into Estonian society. The programme aims to foster a feeling of unity and provide opportunities for participating in cultural and educational activities. Support is provided, for example, for learning Estonian, getting to know Estonian culture, developing digital services and volunteering, and events that bring together people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The activities of the programme help participants to better understand life in Estonia and find their place in society. The programme is implemented by the Ministry of Culture in cooperation with the Integration Foundation and other partners.

On the occasion of Citizen’s Day, which is celebrated today, 26 November, the Integration Foundation invites everyone to test their knowledge of the Estonian state in an online quiz. The quiz is open until 4 December and includes 30 questions. 

Many of questions focus on events in Estonia in 2025. The topics range from culture, sports, education and science to how the state functions.

The Integration Foundation is organising the Citizen’s Day e-quiz for the 23rd time, with the support of the Ministry of Culture.

The winners will be determined after the quiz ends, and they will be contacted individually.

Personal data processing conditions: https://integratsioon.ee/isikuandmete-tootlemine

Questions and feedback: viktoriin@integratsioon.ee

Starting from 26 November, the Settle in Estonia adaptation programme will open new Estonian language course groups at levels A1, A2, and B1. The courses are intended for people who have arrived in Estonia through regular migration, have lived here for less than five years, and hold either a temporary residence permit or the right of residence as an EU citizen — for example, those who have come to Estonia for studies, work, to reunite with a family member, for business purposes, or for other regular reasons.

A total of 375 free study places will be offered for the courses starting in the new year. The courses will be held online. Registration opens on 26 November at settleinestonia.ee/login.

How to register for the courses and trainings of the adaptation programme? 

1. You can register for adaptation trainings and Estonian language courses once you have received a notification letter from the Police and Border Guard Board about the possibility to participate in the adaptation programme. 

2. For more information on the training courses of the adaptation programme, visit settleinestonia.ee/login. To use the self-service environment, you need to create an account using an ID card, Smart-ID, or Mobile ID. 

3. On your personal account, you can see all the courses suitable for you that are open for registration and have available spots. You can choose the course that suits you best and register by clicking on the ‘Register’ button next to the course. 

4. When you log in, you will see a list on your personal page of the Estonian language courses and trainings you can participate in. You can choose the course that suits you best and sign up for it. Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation and other details from the provider of the course a few days before the start of the course. 

For further questions about the language courses or registration, please contact us by email: info@settleinestonia.ee. 

The adaptation programme is co-funded by the European Union and state budget funds.  

In January 2026, two new educational programmes in simple Estonian will begin, offering learners the opportunity to develop their language skills and learn about Estonian culture and society in a museum environment. 

You can participate in the educational programme of the Viljandi Museum and the educational programme of Museum Education MTÜ at the Sillamäe Museum, which will take place from January to July in 2026. The programme comprises a total of 70 academic hours, with activities taking place twice a month, mainly at weekends. In total, the educational programme consists of 14 regular meetings plus two days of cooperation with the local community. Each meeting focuses on listening, speaking, reading and writing, using worksheets, exhibits, archival materials and creative tasks.

All educational programmes are prepared and implemented in accordance with the Integration Foundation's guidelines ‘Educational programmes in simple language for Estonian language learners’, which support the inclusion of people with limited Estonian language skills and make the learning experience comprehensible and practical.

The programmes are open to at least 18 years old adult learners of Estonian – newly arrived immigrants, people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, returnees, and Estonian citizens.

You can register for educational programmes via the self-service portal of the Integration Foundation at https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/login.

‘Welcome to Viljandi!’ educational programme of the Viljandi Museum

The educational programme introduces participants to Estonian everyday life, culture, and society through the history of Viljandi and its surroundings. The programme focuses on practical language learning, intercultural communication, and learning through experience.

During the programme, participants will learn about the history, cultural heritage, handicrafts, nature, and cultural life of Viljandi and Viljandi County. Simple Estonian is used at every meeting, and activities are structured so that participants can practise the language in real-life situations.

Topics covered in the programme include:
– Estonian history and Viljandi as a historical town;
– the Estonian state, elections, and security;
– the Estonian economy, green transition and digital state;
– cultural heritage and Viljandi as a UNESCO Creative City;
– Handicrafts and folk culture;
– Estonian language, literature, and book culture;
– Theatre, film, and local cultural life;
– Tourism and multicultural Viljandi;
– Mulgimaa and Estonian tribes;
– Estonian nature, forests, lakes, and bogs.

Activities include tours, workshops, guided tours, visits to nature and cultural institutions, and meetings with local partners. An important part of the programme is cooperation days, where participants can interact with local residents and take part in experiential activities in various fields, such as farm work, handicrafts, or folk culture.

At the end of the programme, each participant will summarise their learning journey, and the programme will conclude with a joint tour of Viljandi.

‘Journey Through Time’ educational programme of the Sillamäe Museum

The Sillamäe Museum programme combines Estonian literature, cultural history, and museum education and is based on the theme of 500 years of Estonian books. The programme focuses on the rich cultural heritage of North-East Estonia and Sillamäe, which is explored through exhibits, archival materials, literary texts, and digital resources.

The programme meetings will take place at the Sillamäe Museum (Kajaka 17a). Each meeting lasts four academic hours and consists of four parts. Teaching is conducted in simple Estonian, focusing on practical communication skills.

The programme consists of three parts and two collaboration days:

Part 1: Discovering the history of Sillamäe and North-East Estonia (5 meetings)

You will learn about the main periods in the history of the region: life in fishing villages, the resort town, industrial development, world wars, the uranium plant, the closed city, and regaining independence. Museum exhibits, magazines, films, and documents are used.

The cooperation day ‘Open Doors Day’ includes a museum tour conducted by the participants themselves, and a meeting with the museum director.

Part 2: Creation of the joint exhibition ‘Journey Through Time’ (4 meetings)

Participants develop the concept for the exhibition, select exhibits, and come up with descriptions.

The collaboration day ‘Exhibition Opening’ includes the opening of the exhibition, a tour led by the participants, and roundtable and panel discussions on the past and future of the city.

Part 3: Thematic meetings inspired by the cultural history of Sillamäe (5 meetings)

Topics include, for example, the Kirderannik dialect, Vaivara Parish, Baltic German heritage, the first mention of Sillamäe, and the depiction of the town in films and literature.

The programme includes role-playing, group work, pictograms, exhibits, and archive materials. Each participant collects worksheets and thoughts in their learning portfolio.

The aim of the educational programmes is to support the development of participants’ language skills, increase their confidence in communicating in Estonian, and raise awareness of Estonian culture and society. Practical activities, meetings with the community, and the museum environment make the learning process lively and meaningful.

The programmes are funded by the European Social Fund Plus under project No. 2021-2027.4.07.23-0006 ‘Activities supporting Estonian language learning and civic education’, sub-activity 3.4.4.3 ‘Establishment of educational programmes, including in simple Estonian language, in cultural and sports institutions’.