Expats Latvia

International Organ Music Festival - Riga Cathedral
2026-07-08 19:00 - 2026-08-09 00:00 (Europe/Riga) | Riga Dome Cathedral, Doma laukums 1, Rīga
One of Riga’s signature summer music festivals returns to Riga Cathedral, home to one of Europe’s most celebrated historic organs. Over a month of concerts, internationally acclaimed organists and guest musicians will perform classical masterpieces alongside contemporary works in the cathedral’s remarkable acoustics.
Whether you’re a classical music enthusiast or simply looking for a unique cultural experience in Riga, the festival offers an opportunity to hear one of the city’s most iconic instruments in an unforgettable setting. Concerts take place on selected evenings throughout the festival.
🎟 Tickets: €15–25
🌐 Full programme and tickets: doms.lv/en/events

📅 July 8 – August 9, 2026 / Most concerts at 19:00, 📍 Venue: Riga Dome Cathedral, Doma laukums 1

Resonance Residence: Mosquito Farm and Gareth Byrne
2026-07-28 19:00 | Baltic Analog Lab, Lienes iela 19a, Rīga
What happens when computer fans, bellows and singing biscuit tins become musical instruments? UK duo Mosquito Farm create noisy, physical performances using handmade instruments and repurposed mechanical, electronic and acoustic devices. Their work is energetic, deliberately unstable and often seems close to falling apart.
During their July residency in Riga, artists Maddie Banwell and Grace Black have been building new mechanically powered and breath-driven instruments, including reed instruments, bellows and novelty singing biscuit tins. They have also been developing new performance ideas that bring movement, dance and the human body into their unpredictable sound experiments.
The evening will also feature analogue film loops created by Irish moving-image artist Gareth Byrne. Working with optical printing, darkroom processes and found materials, Byrne explores rhythm, repetition and the physical qualities of analogue film. The material developed in Riga will later contribute to a live performance with long-term musical collaborator Sour Blood.
This event presents work created during the artists’ residency at Baltic Analog Lab. Expect an intimate experimental art evening combining sound, machines, movement and analogue film, rather than a conventional concert or film screening. The event is organised by Baltic Analog Lab and festival Skaņu mežs and will be held in English.

📅 July 28, 2026 / 19:00, 📍 Baltic Analog Lab, second-floor residency rooms, Lienes iela 19a, Riga
Admission: Free
Drinks: Available for donations

International Trombone Festival: Liepāja Symphony Orchestra
2026-07-29 20:00 | Riga Latvian Society House, Merķeļa iela 13, Rīga
The Liepāja Symphony Orchestra opens the International Trombone Festival with Swedish trombonist and conductor Christian Lindberg. Trombonists Line Johannesen and Sophie Bright appear as soloists.
This concert is part of International Trombone Festival 2026, a four-day programme of performances and professional events taking place in Riga.
🌐 Festival concert programme
🎟 Tickets on Biļešu Paradīze

📅 July 29, 2026 / 20:00
📍 Riga Latvian Society House, Merķeļa iela 13, Riga
Admission: From €20
Other festival concerts

Trombone and Organ at Riga Cathedral
Latvian National Guard Orchestra
Orchestra RIGA
Latvian Radio Big Band with Marshall Gilkes

Riga Last Thursdays: Gallery Evening on July 30
2026-07-30 18:00 - 22:00 | Various art spaces across Riga, Riga
Riga Last Thursdays turns an ordinary Thursday evening into a self-guided walk through the city’s contemporary art scene. Galleries, museums and independent art spaces across Riga will remain open from 18:00 to 22:00, giving visitors time to explore current exhibitions and meet some of the artists and curators behind them.
There is no single starting point or fixed route. Choose a few spaces that interest you, build your own walk and join at any time during the evening. It is a practical way to discover smaller galleries and project spaces that can be easy to miss, especially if you are new to Riga.
The July edition includes established institutions, artist-run spaces, photography and media art galleries, pop-up projects and the RSU Anatomy Museum. Programmes vary between locations and may include exhibition openings, curator-led tours, conversations, performances and other special events.
Participating art spaces

427
TUR
ASNI
ISSP Gallery
DOM
Kim?
DUUJA
SMILGA
RIXC
Gallery Jēkabs
Part Time Gallery
GrataJJ / MuseumLV
RSU Anatomy Museum
Riga Contemporary Art Space
Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art (LCCA)
Veldze Pop-up Gallery “Lielās noliktavas”
M/Gallery

You do not need to visit every location. Check the current programme before leaving and select a route that fits your interests and available time.
🌐 Current programme and route updates

📅 July 30, 2026 / 18:00 to 22:00, 📍 Various art spaces across Riga
Admission: Free

International Trombone Festival: Trombone and Organ at Riga Cathedral
2026-07-30 20:00 | Riga Dome Cathedral, Doma laukums 1, Rīga
Italian trombonist Peter Steiner and Austrian organist and pianist Constanze Hochwartner perform a programme for trombone and organ at Riga Cathedral.
The concert is part of International Trombone Festival 2026 and the 39th International Organ Music Festival RĪGAS DOMS 2026.
🌐 Festival concert programme
🎟 Tickets on Biļešu Paradīze

📅 July 30, 2026 / 20:00
📍 Riga Cathedral, Herdera laukums 6, Riga
Admission: From €15
Other festival concerts

Liepāja Symphony Orchestra
Latvian National Guard Orchestra
Orchestra RIGA
Latvian Radio Big Band with Marshall Gilkes

Ezera Skaņas 2026
2026-07-31 16:00 - 2026-08-02 17:00 | Ezera Skaņas, Lake Kāla, Vestiena Parish, Madona Municipality
Looking for a summer weekend beyond Riga? Ezera Skaņas is a three-day outdoor cultural event by Lake Kāla that brings together live and electronic music, sound art, architecture and nature in one of Latvia’s most unique settings. Across the weekend, visitors can explore art installations, enjoy performances, camp by the lake and experience the festival’s signature sunrise performance on a floating stage.
A perfect opportunity to discover a different side of Latvia beyond the city.
🎟 Tickets and full programme

📅 July 31 – August 2, 2026 / from 16:00, 📍 Lake Kāla, Vestiena Parish, Madona Municipality (approx. 150 km from Riga)

International Trombone Festival: Latvian National Guard Orchestra
2026-07-31 20:00 | Riga Latvian Society House, Merķeļa iela 13, Rīga
The Latvian National Guard Orchestra performs music by composer, conductor and trombonist Johan de Meij. Swedish trombonist Håkan Björkman appears as soloist, with Major Andis Karelis conducting.
This free public concert is part of International Trombone Festival 2026. No ticket or registration is required.
🌐 Festival concert programme

📅 July 31, 2026 / 20:00
📍 Riga Latvian Society House, Merķeļa iela 13, Riga
Admission: Free / No registration required
Other festival concerts

Liepāja Symphony Orchestra
Trombone and Organ at Riga Cathedral
Orchestra RIGA
Latvian Radio Big Band with Marshall Gilkes

Slow Reading Club: August 1
2026-08-01 11:00 - 15:00 | Radošā rūpnīca Veldze – Katla māja, Matīsa iela 8
The second Slow Reading Club meeting creates four hours for unhurried reading and conversation inside the exhibition Notes from a Volatile Time. It is a flexible reading space rather than a traditional book club built around one assigned title.
Visitors can read one of the contemporary artist books available in English or bring something of their own. The selected books focus on intangible cultural heritage, climate change and resilience. Conversations can take place in English or Latvian, and coffee from Aura will be available.
The club is curated by Katrīna Marta Riņķe in collaboration with ISSP and entropy.press. Further Saturday sessions will continue until August 29.

📅 August 1, 2026 / 11:00 to 15:00, 📍 Radošā rūpnīca Veldze, Bruņinieku iela 25, Riga
Admission: Free

International Trombone Festival: Orchestra RIGA
2026-08-01 15:00 | Riga Latvian Society House, Merķeļa iela 13, Rīga
Orchestra RIGA presents a programme of contemporary works and trombone concertos with soloists Denis Jiron, Louise Pollock and Kristaps Malahovskis.
The concert is part of International Trombone Festival 2026 and explores different sides of the trombone repertoire through music for soloists and symphonic wind orchestra.
🌐 Festival concert programme
🎟 Ticket information on Biļešu Paradīze

📅 August 1, 2026 / 15:00
📍 Riga Latvian Society House, Merķeļa iela 13, Riga
Admission: Ticket sales are currently unavailable / Check the official ticket page for updates
Other festival concerts

Liepāja Symphony Orchestra
Trombone and Organ at Riga Cathedral
Latvian National Guard Orchestra
Latvian Radio Big Band with Marshall Gilkes

International Trombone Festival: Latvian Radio Big Band with Marshall Gilkes
2026-08-01 20:00 | Riga Latvian Society House, Merķeļa iela 13, Rīga
The Latvian Radio Big Band closes International Trombone Festival 2026 with American jazz trombonist Marshall Gilkes. The ensemble is led by artistic director Kārlis Vanags.
The closing concert brings the festival’s four-day programme to an end with a focus on big band and jazz trombone.
🌐 Festival concert programme
🎟 Tickets on Biļešu Paradīze

📅 August 1, 2026 / 20:00
📍 Riga Latvian Society House, Merķeļa iela 13, Riga
Admission: From €20
Other festival concerts

Liepāja Symphony Orchestra
Trombone and Organ at Riga Cathedral
Latvian National Guard Orchestra
Orchestra RIGA
