On 15 August, Riga will celebrate its 825th anniversary, inviting residents and visitors alike to join a city-wide celebration across the Old Town, the 11 November Embankment, and other locations throughout the capital. This year’s theme, “Open Riga! Code: 825”, encourages everyone to rediscover the city’s stories, people, and cultural diversity.
Before the main Riga 825 celebrations, the city will already come alive in early August with a series of pre-festival events across different neighbourhoods. From open-air concerts and theatrical performances to creative workshops and community celebrations, these events offer the perfect opportunity to experience Riga’s festive spirit ahead of the city’s biggest celebration.
On 1 August, the festivities begin with the unveiling of Riga’s new summer mural on E. Smiļģa Street 46 and the Left Bank Festival in Victory Park. Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy creative workshops, sports activities, performances, live music by emerging Latvian artists, and a food zone featuring participants of the European Street Food Awards Latvia. The evening programme includes performances by Aija Andrejeva and a special concert by Gustavo & Orchestra Riga.
On 7 and 8 August, Dome Square will host the Latvian National Theatre’s open-air production “Rebellious Riga”, a lively musical performance for the whole family inspired by the famous Calendar Riots of 16th-century Riga.
The pre-celebration programme continues on 8 August with the Right Bank Festival in Grīziņkalns Park, featuring live music, family-friendly activities, creative workshops, and entertainment throughout the day, inviting visitors to explore Riga’s neighbourhoods before the city’s grand birthday celebrations begin.
Riga’s 825th birthday celebrations will begin on the evening of 14 August with an open-air electronic music concert in Town Hall Square. From 21:00 until 01:00, visitors can enjoy a contemporary and immersive musical journey blending atmospheric electronica, electronic pop, melodic house, synth-pop, and emotionally charged dance music.
The line-up features performances by Sign Libra, Evija Vēbere, Lithuanian electronic duo Solo Ansamblis, and Latvian act Oil X Gas, setting the tone for a weekend of celebrations in the heart of Riga’s Old Town.
Food lovers are invited to Opera Square on 14 and 15 August, where the Riga Birthday Restaurant will open its doors as part of the city’s anniversary celebrations. This special pop-up venue will bring together the flavours of Riga, local culinary talent, and a welcoming festive atmosphere in the heart of the city.
Over two days, visitors can enjoy a diverse selection of food and drinks, live musical performances, and a relaxed setting that celebrates Riga through its gastronomy, creativity, and vibrant community. Whether stopping by for lunch, dinner, or a drink with friends, the Riga Birthday Restaurant offers a delicious way to be part of the celebrations.
On 15 August, Riga’s 825th Birthday celebrations will take over 11 November Embankment, the Old Town, Vērmanes Garden, Victory Park, Eksporta Street, Esplanade, the area around the Riga Congress Centre, and Opera Square, offering a vibrant programme for visitors of all ages.
The heart of the celebrations will be 11 November Embankment, where visitors can enjoy creative workshops, street food, picnic areas, market stalls, and family-friendly activities throughout the day. The programme also includes the Red Bull Showrun on Eksporta Street, while the main stage will feature performances by Auļi, Atvara, Citi Zēni, Ozols, Alejas, and Sudden Lights. The evening culminates with the specially created anniversary concert “My Riga Score”, bringing together Shipsea, Aija Andrejeva, Andrejs Reinis Zitmanis, Jānis Aišpurs, Jurģis Namejs, the choirs Kamēr… and Ave Sol, and musicians from Sinfonietta Rīga. The performance will be enhanced by dancers, parkour artists, bike trials, and roller-skating performers. After the concert, the Daugava will become the stage for a spectacular multimedia show combining lasers, fountains, video projections, and music, followed by a late-night party with DJs Linda Samsonova and Magnuss Eriņš.
Throughout the day, Riga Old Town will transform into a vibrant European cultural stage, where street musicians, jazz bands, classical performers, percussionists, mimes, clowns, and Butoh performers will fill its streets and squares with music and visual art. Dome Square will host the traditional Crafts Market, featuring authentic handmade products from artisans across Latvia.
Vērmanes Garden will become a lively meeting place celebrating cultural diversity, with daytime programmes presented by foreign embassies and Riga’s partner cities. The evening concerts will feature Le Petit Paris, Diāna Pīrāgs, Roberto Meloni & Friends, and Big Al & the Jokers.
Celebration Programme at the 11 November Embankment:
Every year, Riga’s birthday celebrations attract tens of thousands of visitors and remain one of the city’s largest summer events, offering something for everyone – from families and children to music lovers, sports enthusiasts, and culture seekers.
On 15 August, from 14:00 to 18:30, Riga Old Town will transform into an open-air stage where two of Europe’s oldest street performance traditions come together. Historic squares and winding streets will be filled with jazz, Dixieland, classical music, and percussion, creating a vibrant festive atmosphere.
Alongside live music, visitors will encounter mimes, pantomime artists, clowns, and Butoh performers, turning the city’s public spaces into a dynamic celebration of art and culture. Throughout the afternoon, Riga Old Town will become a living cultural landscape where music, movement, and history blend into a unique birthday experience.
Performance locations (14:00–18:30):
During Riga’s Birthday celebrations, Vērmanes Garden will become a vibrant meeting place where cultures, traditions, and flavours from around the world come together. Visitors can explore pavilions hosted by foreign embassies, discover Riga’s sister cities and Latvian regions, and enjoy a diverse programme of international music and cultural performances.
The park will also host the RE RĪGA International Festival of Contemporary Circus and Street Art, feature The World Traveller’s Sailing Ship – a striking art installation by Ivars Mailītis – and welcome book lovers to Book Street, offering the latest publications, family activities, and interactive events.
A festive atmosphere will fill the entire park with interactive installations, including a giant Hopscotch game created especially for Riga’s 825th anniversary, featuring exactly 825 squares. Visitors can also enjoy an international street food selection alongside a symbolic recreation of Riga’s historic Mineral Water Pavilion, celebrating one of the city’s beloved landmarks through food, design, and storytelling.
Music Programme:
18:00 – Le Petit Paris and Diāna Pīrāgs
18:45–20:15 – The Most Beautiful Songs of the World featuring Roberto Meloni, his band, and international artists from Riga
20:30–22:00 – Big Al & the Jokers
At Victory Park, the event “Discover the Wonder!” will invite visitors to experience spectacular street arts performances throughout the day. The programme begins with a children’s show, interactive games, and a family disco, while from 15:00 until midnight, the park will come alive with performances by renowned street artists from the United Kingdom, Sweden, Belgium, Spain, Estonia, and Hungary.
During Riga’s Birthday celebrations on 15 August, Dome Square will host the traditional Crafts Market, bringing together skilled artisans from across Latvia. Visitors will have the opportunity to browse and purchase authentic handmade products while discovering the country’s rich craftsmanship and cultural heritage.
From ceramics, woodwork, and textiles to jewellery and traditional handicrafts, the market showcases the work of talented makers from every region of Latvia. Whether you’re searching for a unique souvenir, a locally made gift, or simply want to experience the festive atmosphere, the Crafts Market in Dome Square is a must-visit during Riga’s birthday celebrations.
Experience a spectacular fusion of light, water, and music on the banks of the Daugava River. As the grand finale of Riga’s 825th birthday celebrations, visitors will be treated to a special multimedia show where laser beams, dancing fountains, video projections, and a carefully curated soundtrack come together in a unique tribute to the city.
Staged directly on the waters of the Daugava, the performance will transform the river into an extraordinary open-air stage, creating an unforgettable atmosphere for visitors of all ages. Blending modern technology, visual art, and music, this dazzling show promises to be one of the highlights of Riga’s birthday celebrations.
This summer, on 15 August, Riga will become louder, faster, and more exhilarating than ever before. As part of the city’s 825th birthday celebrations, Riga will host the Red Bull Showrun for the very first time – a unique motorsport spectacle bringing world-class machines, elite athletes, and high-octane energy directly into the heart of the city.
This is where motorsport leaves the racetrack and takes over the streets. Expect roaring engines, drifting tyre smoke, and an adrenaline-fuelled atmosphere unlike anything else in Riga.
What to expect?
Red Bull Showrun offers a rare opportunity to witness motorsport icons up close. A genuine Red Bull Formula 1 car will take to the streets alongside thrilling drift, rally, and MotoGP demonstrations. For two action-packed hours, Eksporta Street will transform into a live motorsport arena, showcasing precision driving, speed, and technical mastery.
Riga Becomes the Track
14 August – Red Bull Showrun Village
Get up close to the vehicles, meet the drivers and riders, and experience the excitement before the main event. The Showrun Village on Eksporta Street will offer fans an exclusive look behind the scenes.
15 August – Red Bull Showrun
14:00–16:00
Eksporta Street (between Elizabetes Street and Vanšu Bridge)
The main event takes over the city with a two-hour motorsport showcase featuring Formula 1, drifting, rally, and motorcycle performances in a spectacular urban setting.
As one of the highlights of Riga’s 825th birthday celebrations, Red Bull Showrun promises an unforgettable experience for motorsport enthusiasts and first-time spectators alike.
“Krastu mačs” is a public sports event with a rich entertainment programme – for 24 hours, basketball players of various skill levels from the right and left banks of the Daugava take to the court, while DJs and musicians perform continuously, contests for spectators take place, and visitors can enjoy delicious food.
