This year, Riga will be celebrating its 825th anniversary in style, and everyone is invited to attend the wide range of festive events taking place throughout August – neighbourhood celebrations, musical parks, Riga’s birthday celebrations on 11 November Embankment and elsewhere.
“Riga’s 825th anniversary is, in a sense, also the second birthday of each resident of Riga. This year’s theme: ‘Open Riga!’ Code: “825!” invites us to see the city in a new light. It is a city that is alive not only in its historic centre, but in all our neighbourhoods. This festival will tell the story of Riga – the city that is never finished, as it is constantly growing, evolving and drawing inspiration from its people. I invite every resident of Riga and every visitor to the city to join in the celebrations throughout August, so that together we can create the next chapters in the city’s history,” says Mr Viesturs Kleinbergs, Mayor of Riga.
Vilnis Ķirsis, Deputy Mayor of Riga, whose areas of responsibility include cultural events in Riga, points out that this year’s capital city celebrations have been organised with particular care, given that Riga will be celebrating a near-round birthday. “Of the three Baltic capitals, Riga is the oldest and, as a native of Riga and a patriot of the city, I believe it is also the most beautiful. Riga deserves a spectacular celebration on its 825th anniversary, and the City Council has planned the programme of events to ensure there is something special for every resident of Riga and every visitor to the city, so that everyone celebrating Riga feels welcome and moved by our city. Events such as these are important not only for celebrating, but also for generating economic activity in the city, which is why we have already begun actively promoting Riga’s festival programme in neighbouring countries well in advance; as a result, we are expecting many visitors from abroad to attend the festivities.”
“Riga is like the Daugava – constantly in motion, shaped by various currents and always open to new ideas, people and experiences. From ancient Livonian Riga to the modern-day capital, it preserves a rich cultural heritage whilst looking to the future. On Riga’s 825th anniversary, we invite everyone to discover their own Riga and celebrate a city that lives, breathes and develops alongside its people,” emphasises Mr Dāvis Stalts, Chair of the Riga City Council’s Culture Commission.
The theme for Riga’s anniversary this year is ‘Open Riga!’ Code: 825!”, which invites people to celebrate and discover Riga as a vibrant and multifaceted city, whose character is shaped by its people, neighbourhoods, history and culture. Riga can still take pride in its openness to diversity and in an environment that is just as safe, charming and welcoming in the city centre and the Old Town as it is on the outskirts and in the neighbourhoods. Riga’s 825th anniversary marks a forward-looking path of development, innovation and inspiration, which echoes the traditional story of ‘Riga, which will never be finished’.
The central element of the anniversary campaign’s visual identity is a vibrant, dynamic and monumental letter ‘R’ – the first letter of the word ‘Riga’ – which visually serves as the city’s space in its own right. Dozens of tiny figures inhabit the shape of the letter and the space around it, each going about their own business: they dance, read, run, rest, exercise – living out their own unique lives, together creating a lively and bustling portrait of the city. The visual identity for the festival was created by the artist Reinis Pētersons.
The festivities will begin on 1 August with the unveiling of the Riga Summer mural – at 46 E. Smiļģa Street and the Left Bank Festival in Victory Park, which will invite Riga residents and visitors to rediscover Riga – as an open city for open-minded people. A day featuring creative workshops, participatory activities, performances, sporting events, concerts by up-and-coming musicians and a special food area – for participants in the Latvian stage of the European Street Food Awards. During the first part of the day, new bands representing various contemporary music genres and sounds will take to the stage: the band “Laiki”, the band “Gaisaa” and the band “Idille”. The highlight of the evening will be a performance by singer Aija Andrejeva and a special concert project featuring Gustavo and the “Rīga” Orchestra.
The series of events marking the city’s anniversary continues with the National Theatre’s production of “Dumpīgā Rīga”, which will be performed in Doma Square on 7 and 8 August. It’s a singing game for the whole family, inspired by Rutku Father. Action period – the spring of 1582, when calendar riots broke out in Riga, as the city’s inhabitants had their own views on the system established in Europe. In a light-hearted, song-and-dance style, the director invites us to explore the distinctive features of the national character, both then and now. The cast features beloved actors from the Latvian National Theatre, musicians and the young performers of the Riga Cathedral Boys’ Choir. The director of the production is Klāvs Mellis.
On 8 August, residents of Riga are also invited to attend the Right Bank Festival in Grīziņkalns Park, where a variety of activities, musical events and participatory experiences to suit all tastes will take place throughout the day.
Riga’s anniversary celebrations will kick off on the evening of 14 August with an electronic music concert in Rātslaukums. From 21.00 to 1.00, visitors will be treated to a contemporary and multi-layered journey through electronic music, blending atmospheric electronic, electronic pop, melodic house, synthpop and emotionally charged dance music. The concert will feature performances by Sign Libra, Evija Vēbere, the Lithuanian group “Solo Ansamblis” and the local band “Oil X Gas”.
The celebrations will continue on 15 August – on 11 November Embankment, in Old Riga, in Vērmane Garden, in Victory Park, on Eksporta Street, on the Esplanade, near the Riga Congress Centre and in Opera Square.
On 11 November Embankment, as part of the programme “Open RIga! Code: 825!” – every resident of Riga and visitor to the city is sure to find something to suit them. Throughout the day, there will be creative workshops for young and old alike, culinary adventures, and a diverse programme of live music featuring the contemporary folk group “Auļi”, Atvara, the band “Citi zēni”, hip-hop legend Ozols, the band “Alejas”, and the band “Sudden Lights”, whilst the evening concert programme “Mana partitūra Rīga” will feature Shipsea, Andrejs Reinis Zitmanis, Jānis Aišpurs, Aija Andrejeva and Jurģis Namejs. The concert will feature performers from various dance genres, bike trial masters, roller-skating professionals and parkour enthusiasts. Concert programme director – Juris Jonelis; artistic director – Reinis Sējāns. The concert will be hosted by Gerds Lapoška, an actor at the New Riga Theatre, and Elza Rūta Jordāne, an actress at the Latvian National Theatre.
After the concert, a special laser, fountain and video display will be staged on the Daugava, whilst the celebrations will continue into the night with DJs Linda Samsonova and Magnus Eriņš.
On 15 August, Old Riga will be transformed into a vibrant European cultural space, where two long-standing traditions of Old Europe – street music and the art of mime – will come together. Such a symbiosis of cultural events is rare in modern-day Europe, whilst Riga, as an ancient Hanseatic city, is a particularly suitable place for preserving and developing these traditions. The streets and squares of Old Riga will resound with jazz, Dixieland, classical music and percussion, whilst the urban landscape will be filled with pantomime, clowning and Butō movement theatre. At the end of the event, the artists will come together for a joint, energetic ‘flash mob’-style performance in Town Hall Square, where music, dance and performance art will merge into a single event.
During the celebration of Riga’s anniversary on 15 Augst, Doma Square will host the Artisan Market where residents and visitors of Riga will be able to view and purchase authentic, traditional crafts products from various regions of Latvia.
Visitors are also welcome at Vērmane Garden, which will be transformed into a meeting place where traditions, cultural diversity and the joy of being together will create a special festive atmosphere. Throughout the day, representatives from foreign embassies and Riga’s twin towns will share their stories, and the participation of Latvian towns will lend a special atmosphere to the event, creating a celebration of friendship and cooperation. Meanwhile, the evening’s concert programme will feature performances by the band “Le Petit Paris” and Diāna Pīrāgs, a showcase of the world’s most beautiful songs by Roberto Meloni and friends – Riga residents from other countries – and the evening will be rounded off by the band “Big Al & the Jokers”.
On this day, the “Discover the Wonder!” event in Victory Park will invite visitors to experience amazing street art performances. In the first half of the day, there will be a show, games and a children’s disco, whilst from 15.00 until midnight, renowned street performers from the UK, Sweden, Belgium, Spain, Estonia and Hungary will be performing in the park.
Food lovers are invited to Opera Square over the festive weekend, where the Riga Anniversary Festival restaurant will open its doors on 14 and 15 August – a special place where the city’s flavours, people and stories will meet. Over the course of two days, the festive atmosphere will be enhanced by a diverse range of culinary delights, musical highlights and the chance to enjoy the town’s laid-back, welcoming atmosphere. It will be an opportunity to celebrate Riga through its flavours, character and people.
Meanwhile, on the Esplanade, Riga’s anniversary will be celebrated in a sporting spirit, with the traditional “Krastu mačs” (Game of the Banks) 24-hour basketball tournament taking place, whilst the “Riga Football Festival 2026” will take place on the pitch next to the Riga Congress Centre. Both sporting events will take place on 15–16 August, bringing together several hundred participants and thousands of visitors for a two-day festival of sport and entertainment.
Riga’s anniversary celebrations will be enhanced by the Red Bull Showrun — a unique motorsport show that will bring together world-class technology, athletes and energy right in the heart of the capital. The highlight of the show will be a unique opportunity in Latvia to see Red Bull Formula 1 live, complemented by spectacular drifting, rallying, MotoGP and other show elements. Local rally star Mārtiņš Sesks will also be taking part in the Red Bull Showrun.
Throughout the festive month of August, the Musical Parks programme will bring music to the Dzegužkalns open-air stage, Ziemeļblāzma Castle Park, Vērmane Garden, the Kalnciems Quarter and the Street Art Month events in Sarkandaugava, which will culminate in the ‘Row Baltics 2026’ street art festival on 22 August.
At the end of the month, on 29 August, in Old Riga – at 5 Mazā Jauniela and in the car park next to Mazā Jauniela – the opening event for the “ĪRGA” Centre for Traditional Culture and Crafts will take place; everyone is welcome to the Riga International Kite Festival “Fantadroms” at the Riga Passenger Port’s pier, whilst at Vakarbuļļu Beach, as the day draws to a close, we will experience the magical events of the Night of Ancient Fire.
Listen to the sound, the breath and the heartbeat of Riga – a city that is open, vibrant and free!
More information about Riga Summer and Anniversary events will be available on the website rigasvasara.lv from 6 July, as well as on the Riga City Council social media pages “Rīga” and “Rīgā notiek”.
Information was prepared by Ineta Miglāne, Project Coordinator of the External Communication Division of the Communication Department of the Riga local government, e-mail: ineta.miglane@riga.lv