Riga's Page Break Festival Unites Global Poets for Peace Through Verse

From Latvia to Cuba, poets take the stage to turn words into bridges. Three days of readings, concerts, and hope—all free to the public.

, and Administrator

2026 May 23 . 2:02 PM

1 min read

The image shows a poster for the Ixé Festival Internacional de Música, featuring a logo and text. The logo is a circle with a musical note in the center, surrounded by a wreath of leaves and flowers. The text on the poster reads "International Music Festival" in bold, white lettering. The background of the poster is a deep blue, with a few stars twinkling in the night sky.

Riga's Page Break Festival Unites Global Poets for Peace Through Verse

The 5th international poetry festival Page Break will take place from April 23 to 25. This year’s event focuses on the theme of peace, aiming to foster understanding through verse. Poets from 12 countries, including Latvia, Italy, and the USA, will participate in readings and performances across Riga. The festival’s main events will unfold at the Splendid Palace cinema over three days. On April 23 and 24, poetry readings will also be held in the Straumes hall. The closing concert is scheduled for April 25 in the Grand Hall.

Latvia will be represented by four poets: Arvis Viguls, Erika Berzina, Elvira Bloma, and Ilmars Slapins. They join writers from Slovenia, Sweden, Germany, Turkey, Spain, Bulgaria, France, Denmark, Cuba, and beyond. Organisers from the association *I did it* have partnered with cultural institutions to support the programme. Details about the full schedule, venues, and participants are available on the festival’s official website and Facebook page.

The festival seeks to highlight poetry’s role in bridging divides during times of conflict and polarisation. All events are open to the public, with readings, discussions, and performances spread across multiple venues. Tickets and further updates can be found through the festival’s online channels.