Upcoming events in Riga

Seasonal traditions, culture nights, and city-weekend highlights.

Photo: AleWi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

February 2026

3 events

February 9–2026 (day: 15)Art Riga Fair venue (see official info)

Art Riga Fair: PAPER 2026

A winter art fair week with exhibitions and a design-forward vibe—nice if you want something cultural beyond museums while Riga is quiet.

Culture · Art · Indoor

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February 28–March 8, 2026Cinemas and venues in Riga (see program)

Artdocfest/Riga 2026

A documentary film festival with screenings and discussions—great for travelers who like real stories and a curated program.

Festival · Film · Indoor

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Typically late February (date TBA)Latvian National Opera

Riga Opera Ball (seasonal)

A glamorous ‘dress up’ night at the Latvian National Opera—worth knowing about because it shapes the city’s high-end nightlife calendar in late winter.

Culture · Night · Dress-up

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March 2026

2 events

Usually has spring + autumn editions (dates TBA for 2026)Runway venues across Riga (varies by edition)

Riga Fashion Week 2026 (watchlist)

A runway-focused week with shows and industry events—worth tracking if you like fashion, styling, and the city’s modern creative scene.

Fashion · City life · Culture

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March 25–2026 (day: 27)Hanzas Perons + side-event venues (see official schedule)

TechChill Riga 2026

The Baltics’ flagship startup and tech conference—talks, networking, side events, and a great excuse to visit Riga for a high-energy March week.

Conference · Tech · Indoor

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April 2026

2 events

Program dates vary (check official announcements)Multiple galleries and venues (program varies)

Riga Photography Biennial (seasonal)

A citywide photography program with exhibitions and events—great for an art-forward trip where you want ‘one show per day’ without rushing.

Culture · Exhibition · Photography

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Typically spring and/or fall (dates TBA)Participating restaurants across Riga

Riga Restaurant Week (seasonal)

Fixed-price menus across participating restaurants—great for a short trip where you want one ‘planned meal’ without overthinking it.

Food · City life · Indoor

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May 2026

3 events

Concerts run year-round (check the official programme for dates)Riga Cathedral (Rīgas Doms)

Riga Cathedral organ concerts (seasonal)

A classic Riga experience: powerful cathedral organ concerts in the Dome—an easy, atmospheric evening plan when you want something timeless and indoors.

Music · Culture · Indoor

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May 16–2026 (day: 17)City course (starts/finishes around the riverfront and Old Town)

Rimi Riga Marathon 2026

Riga’s biggest running weekend—marathon, half, and shorter races with Old Town scenery and big spectator energy.

Sport · Running · Outdoor

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Typically late May–early June (dates TBA)Multiple venues across Riga

Riga Art Week (RAW) (seasonal)

A city-scale contemporary art week with exhibitions, talks, and pop-ups—good if you want Riga to feel more ‘creative capital’ than ‘quick weekend stop’.

Culture · Art · City life

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June 2026

2 events

June 4–2026 (day: 20)Latvian National Opera

Riga Opera Festival 2026

A focused opera-and-ballet stretch at the Latvian National Opera—ideal if you want one “dress up” night in Riga.

Culture · Performance · Evening

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June 23–2026 (day: 24)Citywide celebrations (often in parks like Mežaparks)

Jāņi (Midsummer) in Riga

Latvia’s biggest holiday: bonfires, flower wreaths, folk songs, and a long light-filled night. Riga’s parks and riverbanks come alive.

Festival · Holiday · Culture

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July 2026

6 events

Nearby · Cēsis, LV

July 10–2026 (day: 11)Cēsis Castle Park and citywide venues

LAMPA Conversation Festival 2026

LAMPA is Latvia's biggest public discussion festival, with around 400 events across dozens of open-air venues in Cēsis — talks, debates and interviews on social and global issues, some in English. The 2026 edition's theme is 'About what must we not talk?'.

Festival · Talks

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Typically July (dates TBA)Festival grounds (see official announcements)

Positivus Festival 2026 (seasonal)

Latvia’s biggest pop/alt festival energy—big nights, big production, and a classic ‘summer weekend’ crowd (check the official site for the 2026 format).

Festival · Music · Nightlife

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Nearby · Jūrmala, LV

July 13–2026 (day: 18)Dzintari Concert Hall

Jūrmala Festival 2026

A week-long international classical music festival at the open-air Dzintari Concert Hall in Jūrmala, featuring chamber music, choral art, opera arias, tango and symphonic programmes. It is one of the Baltic seaside's marquee summer cultural events.

Festival · Classical Music

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Nearby · Cēsis, LV

Musical programme opens 15 July; festival runs into August (full 2026 dates not yet confirmed)Cēsis Castle Park and citywide venues

Cēsis Art Festival 2026

One of Latvia's most important summer cultural events, the Cēsis Art Festival fills the medieval town of Cēsis with classical concerts, exhibitions, theatre, film and discussions across historic venues including Cēsis Castle Park and the Vidzeme Concert Hall. Cēsis is about 1.5 hours from Riga.

Festival · Classical Music · Arts

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Nearby · Jūrmala, LV

July 24–2026 (day: 26)Dzintari Concert Hall

Laima Rendezvous Jūrmala 2026

An international summer music festival at Jūrmala's Dzintari Concert Hall gathering world-famous stars and leading Latvian performers for orchestral concerts in popular and crossover styles. It is one of the seaside resort's most glamorous July events.

Festival · Live Music

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Nearby · Sigulda, LV

July 31–August 2, 2026Sigulda Castle Ruins

Sigulda Opera Music Festival 2026

The International Sigulda Opera Music Festival stages opera and classical concerts in the dramatic open-air setting of the Sigulda Castle Ruins and Castle Quarter, featuring leading Latvian and international singers. Sigulda, in the Gauja National Park, is about an hour from Riga.

Festival · Classical Music

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August 2026

3 events

August 1–2026 (day: 31)Multiple outdoor venues across Riga

Rīgas vasara (Riga Summer) cultural programme

A month of city-run concerts and cultural events across Riga—perfect for building an easy evening plan without overthinking it.

Culture · Outdoor · Music

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August 14–2026 (day: 16)Ķīpsala International Exhibition Centre

UniCon 2026 (Latvian Comic Con)

Latvia's biggest pop-culture and fan convention — cosplay, anime, manga, K-pop, gaming, esports, comics and tabletop — fills the Ķīpsala International Exhibition Centre across three days in August.

Comic Con · Gaming · Anime

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August 16, 2026Citywide (often along the river and central squares)

Riga’s Birthday celebrations (Rīgas dzimšanas diena)

A classic city celebration weekend with concerts, pop-up programming, and a festive riverside mood in mid-August.

Festival · City life · Outdoor

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September 2026

4 events

Nearby · Vilnius, LT

September 4–2026 (day: 6)Vilnius city centre

Vilnius Capital Days (Sostinės dienos) 2026

Vilnius's biggest city festival takes over Cathedral Square, Gediminas Avenue and open-air spaces across the capital for a free weekend of music, art, food and sport, with hundreds of events and headline concerts. Vilnius is about 4 hours from Riga.

Festival · Live Music · Family

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September 10–2026 (day: 12)Ķīpsala International Exhibition Centre

Riga Food 2026

The Baltics' largest food-industry exhibition draws ~22,000 visitors to the Ķīpsala expo centre for three days of tastings, trade displays, chef demos and competitions spanning local and international cuisine.

Food And Drink · Trade Fair · Culinary

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September 10–2026 (day: 11)Conference venues in central Riga (see official info)

The Rīga Conference 2026

A major Baltic-region foreign policy and security conference—worth knowing about because it brings a ‘big week’ atmosphere (and full hotels) in early September.

Conference · City life · September

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September 19, 2026RISEBA Āzenes Zāle

Rīga Pours Craft Beer Festival 2026

One of the Baltics' biggest craft-beer gatherings, with around 30 regional and world-renowned brewers pouring rare and small-batch beers for unlimited tasting in a single September session.

Beer Festival · Food And Drink · Craft Beer

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October 2026

1 event

Typically October (dates TBA)Cinemas across Riga (see official program)

RIGA IFF (Riga International Film Festival) (seasonal)

A curated film festival week—great for a few cozy autumn evenings when you want Riga to feel like a cultural city, not just a postcard.

Festival · Film · Indoor

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November 2026

4 events

November 11, 2026Citywide (commemorations vary)

Lāčplēsis Day (November 11) in Riga

A significant remembrance day in Latvia. In Riga, it’s often marked with commemorations and a more reflective city mood—useful context if you’re visiting in early November.

Culture · History · November

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Typically mid-November (dates TBA)Central Riga (installation zones vary)

Staro Rīga (light festival) 2026 (seasonal)

Riga’s citywide light festival: installations and projections across central spots—perfect for crisp November nights and purposeful evening walks.

Festival · Night · Photography

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November 18, 2026Citywide (official ceremonies vary by year)

Latvia Independence Day (November 18) in Riga

Latvia’s national day. In Riga, expect a ‘city in ceremony mode’ feeling, possible commemorations, and adjusted opening hours—useful if you’re planning a November trip.

Holiday · Culture · November

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Typically late November–early January (dates TBA)Dome Square (Doma laukums)

Riga Christmas Market at Dome Square (seasonal)

A classic winter market vibe in Old Town: lights, warm drinks, and gift browsing—Riga feels especially atmospheric when it’s cold and dark early.

Market · Winter · Evening

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December 2026

3 events

Nationwide

December 24–2026 (day: 26)

Christmas (Ziemassvētki) in Latvia

Latvia observes Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the Second Day of Christmas (December 24–26) as public holidays — a midwinter celebration rooted in both Christian and older winter-solstice traditions. Riga's Christmas market and decorations run through the period.

Public Holiday

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Nationwide

December 31, 2026

New Year's Eve (Vecgada vakars) in Latvia

December 31 is a public holiday in Latvia, building to midnight fireworks across the country. In Riga the biggest display lights up the sky over the Daugava and the Old Town embankment.

Public Holiday

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December 31, 2026–January 1, 2027Old Town + riverfront viewpoints

New Year’s Eve in Riga (Jaungada vakars)

A festive Old Town countdown with winter-city atmosphere—do it simply: one warm meal, one outside midnight moment, then back to your hotel.

Seasonal · Nightlife · Winter

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January 2027

1 event

Nationwide

January 1, 2027

New Year's Day (Jaungada diena) in Latvia

January 1 is a public holiday across Latvia, marking the start of the new year. Most shops, banks and public offices close, and the day follows the big New Year's Eve fireworks of December 31.

Public Holiday

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June 2027

1 event

Pride week in early-to-mid June; parade typically a Saturday. 2026 ran 6–15 June with the parade on 13 June. 2027 dates not yet announced.Esplanāde park (parade start/finish)

Riga Pride 2027

Latvia's main LGBTQ+ Pride week of marches, concerts, discussions, films and workshops, culminating in a parade through central Riga that ends with a concert at the Esplanāde park. (2026's edition was 6–15 June; 2027 dates not yet announced.)

Pride · Lgbtq · Human Rights

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Pick one event that fits your dates, verify the official schedule, then pair it with a nearby walk.

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