RIGA IFF 2026
The 13th Riga International Film Festival runs for 11 days from 15 to 25 October, with auteur cinema, premieres, competitions and filmmaker talks at cinemas across Riga.
Photo: Guillaume Speurt · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
- Dates
- October 15–25, 2026
- Where
- Cinemas across Riga (see official program)
- Price
- Ticketed screenings and passes.
- Official link
- rigaiff.lv ↗
What to expect
- A curated lineup (easy to pick one great night)
- Perfect solo-travel activity: one screening at a time
- Good ‘dark-season’ plan when evenings come early
Planning tips
- Start with one central-venue screening so you don’t over-commit transit.
- Check language/subtitle notes before buying tickets.
- If you want a calmer vibe, go midweek rather than Friday/Saturday.
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
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?'.
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.
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.