During the winter season, Latvia offers a diverse programme of events that attracts both local residents and international visitors. This is a time to enjoy a wide range of musical genres, attend captivating performances, take part in national celebrations and experience the special atmosphere of Christmas.
During the colder months of the year, Latvia offers plenty of opportunities to discover new artists, as well as attend concerts, exhibitions and city celebrations. This winter will also feature a wide range of entertainment programmes and seasonal markets serving mulled wine and gingerbread, while illuminated city streets and snow-covered landscapes create a particularly festive atmosphere.
Below is a selection of notable events taking place in Latvia from late September this year to February next year. The guide also includes practical information and links to official event websites. Up-to-date information is also available in the events section of our portal.
Turn up the volume
The arrival of colder weather does not slow the pace of Latvia’s cultural life, as late autumn and winter months offer opportunities to see and hear internationally renowned artists in concert venues across the country. On 28 October 2026, Finnish performer and Eurovision fan favourite Käärijä will take the stage at Palladium Riga, bringing his energetic blend of rap, pop and electronic music as part of his concert tour.
In the second half of November, music fans will be spoilt for choice, with two major events taking place on 20 November 2026. Fans of 1990s dance music can head to Xiaomi Arena for the 90’s Disco Show, featuring Haddaway, Dr. Alban, Mr. President and SNAP! on the same bill. That evening, Fatboy Slim, one of the leading names in electronic music and the big beat genre, will take over Palladium Riga with a spectacular DJ set. Tickets and further information for both events are available via Biļešu Serviss. In mid-December, on 11 December, legendary British musician and former Smokie frontman Chris Norman will return to Xiaomi Arena. Accompanied by his band, he will perform both classic hits and some of the best-known songs from his solo career.
The new year will continue with a strong line-up of rock concerts in the capital. On 29 January 2027, one of Finland’s best-known rock bands, The Rasmus, will perform at Palladium Riga as part of their Weirdo Tour, presenting songs from their new album alongside classic favourites. Tickets for the concert are available via Ticketshop. Just a few days later, on 1 February 2027, the same venue will welcome American alternative and modern rock band Black Veil Brides for an energetic live show. Tickets are available via Mticket Latvia.
Music for the ages
Alongside major concerts of popular music, winter in Latvia would not be complete without spectacular classical music performances, creating a festive atmosphere both in the capital and across the regions. Traditional Advent and Christmas concerts occupy a special place in the winter programme, with performances at St John’s Church and the Spīķeri Concert Hall, where audiences can enjoy the Latvian Radio Choir together with some of the country’s leading instrumentalists in programmes filled with serenity and spiritual depth. A refined atmosphere will also await visitors at the House of the Black Heads, where Candlelight: Queen vs. The Beatles string quartet concerts will take place on 7 November 2026 and again in early December. On 6 February 2027, the same venue will host a tribute to the music of Michael Jackson. Fans of orchestral music can also look forward to a performance by the Sinfonietta Rīga State Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Olari Elts, at the Great Hall of the University of Latvia on 30 January 2027.
In Liepāja, the Duo Synthesia piano duo from Austria and Latvia will perform on 27 October 2026. On 12 December, the city will welcome the Italian opera ensemble Appassionante, a trio of sopranos offering an emotional live performance. Up-to-date information about events at this cultural venue in Kurzeme is available on the official website of the Great Amber Concert Hall. It is also worth noting that Liepāja will be the European Capital of Culture in 2027, with an extensive opening programme already planned for 23 January.
Art and culture on display
During the autumn and winter season, Latvia’s museums, exhibition halls and theatres offer a rich programme of visual art, design and stage productions. For lovers of visual art, the Latvian National Museum of Art is a particularly worthwhile destination during this period. Until March 2027, the Romans Suta and Aleksandra Beļcova Museum is hosting the exhibition Melancholia imaginativa, offering a philosophical exploration of melancholy in the visual arts. Nearby, at the Art Museum RIGA BOURSE, visitors can enjoy the vibrant exhibition Horn of Plenty until 3 January 2027, showcasing outstanding examples of decorative and applied art.
In Riga Old Town, the Riga Porcelain Museum will host educational events designed specifically for people with visual, hearing or mobility impairments. Advance registration is required.
During the winter months, Latvia’s regions host several notable visual art exhibitions. At the Rothko Museum in Daugavpils Fortress, the exhibition Kecskemét Notes by Pēteris Martinsons will be on display until 21 February 2027. It features ceramic works created between 1992 and 2003 at the International Ceramics Studio in Kecskemét, Hungary.
In Vidzeme, the Cēsis New Castle will host the art exhibition The City Beyond the Window until 14 February 2027. Meanwhile, in Kurzeme, the Adatu Fabrika in Kuldīga will present the group exhibition A Question of Time by four female artists until 9 January 2027. Through painting and textile art, the exhibition explores personal experiences of the passage of time, waiting and memory.
At the Latvian National Opera and Ballet, audiences can look forward to several major new productions, including Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Un Ballo in Maschera, as well as two world premieres – the ballet Constellation of Longing and Krists Auznieks’ opera Rosa Alchemica. A special winter treat for families with children is planned for 5 January 2027 at VEF Culture Palace, organised by the international ballet company L'ETOILE. Soloists from the Paris Opera and La Scala will perform the ballet The Snow Queen.
A nation comes together
November is Latvia’s month of statehood, when cities and towns are decorated in the country’s red-and-white colours and people gather for patriotic commemorations and celebrations. The festive period traditionally begins with Lāčplēsis Day on 11 November, when thousands of candles are lit across the country in memory of those who fought for Latvia’s freedom. The celebrations culminate on 18 November – Proclamation Day of the Republic of Latvia – with a military parade in the capital. Ceremonial concerts are held in Riga and across the regions, and people join together in singing the national anthem.
A visually impressive part of the celebrations will be the “Staro Rīga” Light Festival, taking place from 15 to 18 November 2026. This year’s festival theme is “unum momentum – that one moment”. The route will run along both banks of the Daugava River, including the Latvian National Library, Mūkusalas Promenade, Central Market, Old Riga and Viesturdārzs. Over the course of four evenings, the city’s façades and parks will be transformed into an open-air multimedia gallery
Meet, mingle and discover
Miķeļi, or the autumn equinox, marks the time when nature and people prepare for winter and the harvest season comes to an end. One of the traditional ways to celebrate is at Miķeļi fairs, held across Latvia and offering a wide range of seasonal produce. In Riga, visitors will be welcomed to the fair at Dome Square on 26 September 2026 from 9:00 to 17:00. On the same day, a similar event will take place at Lutriņi Park in Saldus Municipality, alongside the Mikofest ’26 mushroom festival. On 27 September, autumn harvest markets and cultural programmes will take place both at Ērģelnieki in Jaunpils Parish, Tukums Municipality, and in Rēzekne, offering residents and visitors the opportunity to buy locally produced food and handcrafted goods from regional artisans.
Christmas in Latvia is traditionally associated with festive markets, filled with the aroma of gingerbread and hot seasonal drinks, and bringing together local farmers, producers and craftspeople.
A must-visit at this time of year is the Riga Old Town Christmas Market, which will take place at Dome Square from 27 November 2026 until early January 2027. Set beneath the towers of the historic churches, the market offers handmade crafts, honey from Latvian beekeepers, and traditional food and drinks. The market has gained international recognition and attracts many visitors from abroad.
From 11 to 13 December 2026, a three-day Christmas fair will take place at the Ķīpsala International Exhibition Centre, bringing together more than 400 vendors from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Admission to the event is free of charge, and there will also be creative workshops and play areas for children. Further information and lists of participants are available on the organisers’ website, Baltic Expo Markets.
For regional fairs and craft markets in other Latvian cities, such as Cēsis, Valmiera and Liepāja, the specialised MyExpo fair calendar provides a convenient way to keep track of upcoming events.
Customs that connect
In Latvia, the winter solstice has historically been associated with rituals celebrating the return of light and the renewal of fertility. One well-known tradition is dragging the Yule log, which symbolises the hardships of the past year. After the log has been pulled through a village or along city streets, it is ceremonially burned in a bonfire, symbolically cleansing the land for the new solar cycle. The ritual is accompanied by songs and traditional games performed by masked revellers.
In Riga, the traditional Yule log procession takes place every year in late December, with the log dragged through the streets of Riga Old Town accompanied by folklore groups and watched by large crowds. The event usually begins at Rātslaukums (Town Hall Square) near the House of the Black Heads. Winter solstice celebrations and traditional craft workshops are also regularly held at the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum. Meanwhile, in Kurzeme, the Tukums Museum traditionally organises the educational programme Winter Solstice School, along with other seasonal activities at its rural homestead.
