The nominees for the 2026 Estonian Music Awards have been revealed, and this year’s roster highlights the strength and diversity of Estonia’s contemporary music scene. Leading the pack is the folk-pop duo SADU, which picked up an impressive five nominations, the most of any artist. Following close behind are nublu & Vaiko Eplik with four nominations, while a range of other artists from indie to electronic made strong showings across categories.
Source: err.ee
A 156-member jury selected the nominees across 17 award categories, reflecting both broad popular appeal and artistic depth. SADU received nods in major categories including Debut Album of the Year and Band of the Year, with their album Probleemid paradiisis featured multiple times. Their music, blending traditional influences with contemporary pop textures, clearly struck a chord with both the jury and audiences alike.
Other nominations underscore the range of Estonia’s current music landscape. Acts like Alonette, An-Marlen, Duo Ruut, mariin k., and Tommy Cash earned three nominations each, demonstrating how pop, indie, and folk-rooted artists are shaping the sonic identity of Estonian music in 2025.
Beyond popular genres, the classical music field also received significant recognition. Albums featuring works by leading composers alongside performances by the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, including Erkki-Sven Tüür’s Aeris conducted by Olari Elts, were nominated in the Estonian Composition Album of the Year and Orchestral/Stage Music Album of the Year categories. Other classical nominations included chamber and choral music by figures such as Eduard Tubin and Rudolf Tobias, illustrating the continued vitality of Estonia’s serious music traditions.
Notably, the awards nominations highlight how artists across generations are navigating between tradition and innovation, from bulk streaming hits and radio favorites to carefully crafted albums that reward deep listening. As program director Vaido Pannel pointed out, the scene continues to grow both in local relevance and in broader visibility, with artists dominating charts, festival stages, and international conversations
The winners of the 2026 Estonian Music Awards will be announced at a gala ceremony on 29 January at Unibet Arena in Tallinn, one of the most anticipated nights in the country’s music calendar. Fans can expect a showcase of genre-spanning performances and the celebration of creative achievement across Estonia’s musical spectrum.
#EstonianMusicAwards2026 #EstonianMusic #EstoniaArtNews #TallinnMusic #EstonianIndie #EstonianPop #EstonianClassicalMusic #MusicAwards
