Cēsis Art Festival 2026
Cēsis Art Festival runs from 18 July to 30 August across the medieval town, with contemporary art, concerts and other cultural programming. Cēsis is about 1.5 hours from Riga by train or car.
Photo: Diliff (David Iliff) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
- Dates
- July 18–August 30, 2026
- Where
- Cēsis Castle Park and citywide venuesNearby · Cēsis, LV
- Price
- Ticketed — varies by event
- Official link
- pasakumi.cesis.lv ↗
What to expect
- Classical concerts, exhibitions, theatre, film and talks across a medieval town
- Venues include Cēsis Castle Park, the Old Brewery and St John's Church
- Nearly two decades as a Vidzeme summer highlight
Planning tips
- Pair the festival with a visit to Cēsis Medieval Castle
- Check the municipal event calendar for individual venue times and ticket links
- Cēsis is about 1.5 hours from Riga by train or car
Build a day around it
Riga event days feel best when you keep the schedule light: one event block, one food anchor, and one walking loop — with buffer so nothing feels rushed.
- If you have 2–3 hours: arrive early → event → short Old Town/canal walk.
- If you're making a full day: one architecture/market block + event + an easy evening plan.
- If the weather turns: keep walking minimal and use cafes/museums as your buffer.
Before you go
- Confirm the details: check the official link for last-minute schedule or venue updates.
- Arrive with buffer: 15–30 minutes early usually makes the whole experience calmer.
- Have a weather plan: keep one indoor “warm stop” in mind in case the day turns.
Related upcoming events
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.
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.
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?'.