Tallinn - On Tuesday, 24 February 2026, Estonia will mark Independence Day, the national anniversary commemorating the proclamation of the Republic on 24 February 1918, the founding act of the modern Estonian state. The date 1918 remains a core marker of national identity: the Manifesto - also known as the “Manifesto to the Peoples of Estonia” - was prepared by the Salvation Committee and, after its first public readings, was issued in Tallinn on 24 February, amid the upheaval of the First World War and the collapse of the Russian Empire.
Today, the national holiday brings together historical memory and civic ritual. The day traditionally begins with a dawn flag-raising on Toompea, linked to the tower of Pikk Hermann, a state symbol: a public moment that draws citizens and officials each year before the official ceremonies across the city. Throughout the morning and early afternoon, tributes and commemorations follow: flags displayed across the capital, wreath-laying, and initiatives at sites associated with the War of Independence, alongside institutional celebrations and official addresses. The centrepiece of the 24 February programme - again in 2026 - will be the Estonian Defence Forces parade in Tallinn. According to information released by Estonia’s military authorities, units will begin lining up at 11.00 in Vabaduse väljak (Freedom Square), with the parade set to start at 12.00. More than a thousand service personnel and a significant number of vehicles will take part, including the participation of allied units.
As is customary, the day concludes with its most solemn and representative moments: a ceremonial concert and the President of the Republic’s reception - an event which, together with the parade, is broadcast live by national media and underscores the institutional character of the anniversary. For historical reasons and in the public imagination, 24 February remains the Republic’s “birthday”, the date that points back to the original act of 1918 and to the continuity of the state’s founding idea.