Entertainment & Events in Latvia

A three-day Christmas fair at the Ķīpsala exhibition hall that bills itself as the largest in the Baltics: free entry, free creative workshops in the “Rotaļnīca Quarter”, an inflatable park and the Baltic Food Zone. In 2026 it runs 11–13 December.

A theatre in Unity House, built in 1937 in central Daugavpils. Performances in Latvian and Russian.

Latvia’s oldest concert hall: the enclosed Small Hall dates from 1936 and was restored in 2015; the summer Great Hall with about 2,100 seats was built in 1963. Festivals and big concerts in summer, concerts in the Small Hall in winter.

A music club and bar in a historic building in central Liepāja, known for live music.

A multiplex in central Riga by the Central Market (formerly Kino Citadele): new releases, mostly in the original language with subtitles.

A culture venue in Skanste, opened in 2019 in a 1903 freight-station warehouse wrapped in glass and steel. The main hall holds up to 2,000 people; concerts, shows and exhibitions.

A theatre founded in 1992. After a long reconstruction it returned to its historic building at Lāčplēša iela 25 in 2024.

The city’s culture centre on Jomas iela in Majori: concerts, shows, film screenings and events.

A quarter of restored 19th-century wooden houses across the river. On Saturdays 10:00–16:00 there is a market of local producers and craftspeople with free workshops for kids, and seasonal festivals bring concerts, exhibitions and open-air plays.

A small cinema and gallery on Elizabetes iela screening auteur and documentary films.

A concert hall and culture centre in Rēzekne, opened in 2013: concerts, shows and festivals in the capital of Latgale.

A puppet theatre in central Riga, founded in 1944; it moved back into its renovated building on Barona iela at the end of 2023. Shows for children and teens in Latvian and Russian, plus productions for adults.

The home of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet by the City Canal. The building opened in 1863 as the Riga City Theatre; today it stages operas and ballets, concerts and guest performances.

A drama theatre in a building from 1902, where the state of Latvia was proclaimed on 18 November 1918. Performances run in three halls, mostly in Latvian.

The historic Great Guild hall in the Old Town, rebuilt in the Gothic Revival style in the mid-19th century. Its concert hall is home to the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra.

A concert hall on Liepāja’s waterfront with an amber-coloured facade, opened in 2015 and designed by architect Volker Giencke. Home of the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, with pop concerts and shows too.

Latvia’s oldest professional theatre, founded in 1907: drama, comedy and musical productions in the centre of Liepāja.

The main stage of the Song and Dance Festival in Mežaparks, held here since 1955. After the first phase of reconstruction (2018) it seats about 30,000, and Latvia’s biggest summer concerts take place here.

A Russian-language drama theatre in the Old Town, founded in 1883 and one of the oldest Russian theatres outside Russia.

The largest medieval church in the Baltics, built from 1211. The Dome organ (1884) has more than 6,700 pipes; organ and choir concerts are held regularly.

A concert hall in the historic Spīķeri warehouses behind the Central Market, home of the Sinfonietta Rīga chamber orchestra. Chamber and contemporary music.

A cinema with an ornate historic interior, opened in 1923. It shows European and world arthouse films and hosts film festivals and premieres.

A theatre and concert house in Ventspils’ Ostgals district: touring productions, concerts, exhibitions and events.

A drama theatre in Valmiera, founded in 1923. In 2024 it moved back into its reconstructed building on Lāčplēša iela.

The Christmas market on Dome Square: crafts by Latvian makers, hot drinks and treats from more than 80 vendors. At weekends there are concerts and things for kids: Santa, a carousel and creative workshops.

A palace of culture in Teika, built in the mid-20th century for the VEF factory’s workers. Concerts, shows and events, and home to many amateur arts groups.

A concert hall opened in 2014, designed by architect Juris Poga. The main hall seats 805, and smaller halls host concerts, plays and film screenings.

Latvia’s largest multi-purpose arena, opened in 2006 (formerly Arena Riga). Hockey and basketball games, big concerts and shows.

A multiplex in the Akropole Rīga shopping centre, opened in 2019 as the first Apollo cinema in Latvia.

A cinema in the Domina Shopping centre in Teika, opened in 2021.

A cinema in the Rīga Plaza shopping centre, opened in 2021, with eight screens and 963 seats.

A theatre founded in 1920 by director Eduards Smiļģis. Since 1977 it has played in a modernist building by architect Marta Staņa, with up to 980 seats in the Large Hall plus a Small Hall and a Chamber Hall.

An independent theatre in Āgenskalns where new and emerging artists stage work on current global, local and personal themes.

A theatre that stages plays only by living playwrights.

An independent theatre in the Avoti neighbourhood: its own productions, guest shows from abroad, concerts and other contemporary performing arts.

An illusion theatre and museum in Torņakalns: magic and illusion shows for families and an exhibition on the art of illusion. Visits by arrangement.

A small independent cinema in central Riga showing arthouse and auteur films.

Ventspils concert hall, opened in 2019: 578 seats in the Large Hall and a concert organ by Klais. The building also houses a music secondary school.

A concert venue in a former cinema on Marijas iela, hosting local and international artists.

A cavernous Old Town cellar bar with affordable Latvian beers and spirits, traditional Latvian food and a changing line-up of folk bands. Open until 5 am on Fridays and Saturdays; book a table at weekends.

A two-floor bar and event venue in Cēsis with separate bars, a dance floor and a stage: live music, DJs and themed nights. Usually open Friday and Saturday 22:00–04:00.

A late-19th-century villa turned culture venue. In summer there is live music in the courtyard every week, the M/Darbnīca bar-club gives artists a stage, and the hip-hop club De Flou is on the villa square.

A professional karting circuit in the forest by Kandava: 1,012 m and 11 turns, rebuilt in 2008 to CIK-FIA standards with a layout by Hermann Tilke. It hosts Latvian and Baltic championship rounds, and hobby drivers can rent karts with lap timing.

The cathedral of the Bishop of Liepāja in the old town, an 18th-century Lutheran church with a richly decorated Rococo interior. Its organ was once the largest mechanical organ in the world, and organ concerts are held here.

A 1,750 m motocross track with sand and clay in Ķegums, home of the Latvian round of the MXGP World Championship (6–7 June in 2026).

The historic circus building in central Riga, now a stage for contemporary circus — productions by Latvian and visiting international companies — and family shows such as the Christmas programme in December.

Biķernieki Complex Sports Base, Latvia’s main circuit, built in 1966 in Biķernieki forest; its longest layout is 5.9 km. It hosts Baltic touring-car races, Drift Masters and European Rallycross rounds, and has a speedway school, a motorsport simulator, safe-driving seminars and a karting track, plus a winter track in the cold months.

An alternative music club in the Old Town: a bar at street level, a concert room in the basement and indie, rock and punk bands almost every weekend at a friendly entry price.