Guide to Autumn Festivals in Latvia, 2024 Edition

Get ready for an exciting autumn in Latvia as various cities gear up to host a plethora of arts and culture events. Here's a roundup of some of the most anticipated festivals and exhibitions happening across the country.

Baltic Filmtales and Manhattan Short Film Festival

From October 4 to 6, the winner of the Baltic Filmtales, a short film festival for children and young people, will be screened in Riga before the Manhattan Short screenings. Baltic Filmtales, organised by director Stanislavs Tokalovs, is a celebration of cinematic storytelling for the younger generation. The Manhattan Short Film Festival, now in its 27th year, will be held in various parts of the world, including Riga, Liepaja, Ventspils, Kuldiga, Cēsis, Valmiera, Jūrmala, Sigulda, and Daugavpils, from September 26 to October 6. The festival showcases the ten best films from around the globe, and audiences will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite actor and short film.

Liepaja Art Forum and "Stories of Growth"

From September 27 to 29, Liepaja will play host to the Liepaja Art Forum. This year's theme is "succession". On the first evening, the visual art exhibition "Stories of Growth" will be opened, and a performance of the mono-opera "Awareness" will take place. On Saturday, the contemporary dance performance "Borrowed Landscape" will take place, and in the evening, the Latvian Radio Choir will perform Morton Feldman's masterpiece "Rothko Chapel" for the first time in Liepaja.

Bildes Music and Art Festival

Celebrating its 35th anniversary, the Bildes music and art festival will take place at VEF Culture Palace and the Daile Music House from October 11 to November 9. The festival programme includes eight concerts highlighting various genres, such as blues or folk songwriters. This year, the festival will also feature a concert for children and a collaboration between veterans and young talents.

Autumn Chamber Music Festival

From October 5 to 17, the Autumn Chamber Music Festival will take place in various venues in Riga and Jūrmala. The festival programme includes a diverse range of chamber music performances.

New Festivals on the Horizon

Two new festivals are set to make their debut this autumn. The experimental music event "Sound Forest/Skaņu mežs" at Kulturraum "Hanzas perons" on October 4 features artists including Fatboi Sharif and Kilbourne. On October 28, a free "Sound Forest" warm-up event will take place at the Riga bar "Laska V21" on Vagonu Street. The theme of the "Arena" music festival, which will take place in Riga from October 18 to 25, is space and its interaction with artistic processes.

Zemlika Festival

Durbe will host the annual music, art, and harvest festival "Zemlika" on October 18 and 19. More details about the festival programme are yet to be announced.

Riga International Film Festival

The Riga International Film Festival will take place from October 17 to 27, both in person and digitally. The festival programme includes over 100 films. Some films from the Riga International Film Festival will be available online on the festival's website.

Stay tuned for more updates on these exciting events as they approach!