“Staro Riga 2026” light festival to run in Riga on 15–18 November
During Latvia’s national holiday period, Riga will host the “Staro Riga” light festival for four evenings, with 52 light objects in its main programme. The route spans both banks of the Daugava and is almost five kilometres long.
The light festival “Staro Riga 2026” will take place in Riga, the capital of Latvia, from 15 to 18 November, as the country celebrates its birthday. According to Riga City Council, the event will be open each evening from 5 pm to 11 pm. During those hours, streets and parks will feature light installations, audiovisual light objects and video projections on building facades, created by local and international light artists.
Theme and programme
The main programme includes 52 light objects. This year’s theme is “unum momentum – that one moment”. Artists interpret it as a moment that changes the world or a person’s inner world, a moment when a choice is made, or a fleeting instant. The mood of the theme is captured by words of the poet Imants Ziedonis: “I am nothing if I do not have the light that people call love.”
More than two thirds of the main programme consists of new works by Latvian artists. The programme also includes seven installations by students of the Art Academy of Latvia and four objects by the Latvian Culture College of the Latvian Academy of Culture, made in cooperation with students from nine countries within a European university alliance.
Route
The main axis of the route is the River Daugava, with objects placed on both banks. On the left bank, the route leads from the Castle of Light along the Mūkusala promenade. On the right bank, its end points are the Spīķeri area near the Central Market and Viesturdārzs park, while an extension covers Old Riga and the area from the “Ave Sol” concert hall to Kronvalds Park. The total length is almost five kilometres.
Works by foreign artists
- Hungarian light artist Laszlo Zolt Bordos created the installation ASCEND on the facade of the Castle of Light.
- Norwegian artist Anastasia Isachen will present an interactive installation on Pils Square that combines art and science.
- The Hungarian group “Lightspray Visual” will create a projection on the facade of the Riga Congress Centre.
- French artist Sebastien Lefevre’s work SOLEIL NUIT in Viesturdārzs contains more than 5,000 mirror elements.
For the first time, an object called “Voices of the Great Trees” will stand at the foot of the Freedom Monument. On 18 November it will become the stage for a holiday concert, with a light show added at the end.
The festival’s visual identity was developed by designer Dace Sūna, and the graphic design is by Matīss Zvaigzne. The full programme is available at www.staroriga.lv.
