Staro Rīga Light Festival Begins in Riga, Traffic Restricted in Old Town

The light festival "Staro Rīga 2026" opens in Riga, Latvia's capital, today, 15 November. Through 18 November, 52 light objects will be on show on both banks of the Daugava river each evening from 5 pm to 11 pm. According to Ineta Miglāne, a project coordinator at the Riga city council's External Communications Department, the city's streets and parks will host light installations, audiovisual objects and video projections on building facades. Traffic is being restricted in Old Town during the festival.

Festival programme

The theme is "unum momentum – that one moment". Artists reflect on a significant moment through various forms and genres of light art.

The route is centred on the Daugava. On the left bank it runs from the Palace of Light along the Mūkusala promenade, while on the right bank it ends at the Spīķeri area near the Central Market and at Viesturdārzs park. An extension covers Old Town and the area from the "Ave Sol" concert hall to Kronvalda Park. The whole route is almost five kilometres long.

The route comprises light-arc exhibitions by seven creative groups, works by young artists from the Art Academy of Latvia and the Latvian Culture College of the Latvian Academy of Culture, and individual objects. More than two thirds of the main programme consists of new works by Latvian light artists.

For the first time, the object "Voices of Great Trees" ("Dižkoku balsis") stands at the foot of the Freedom Monument. On 18 November it will become the stage for a festive concert, and a light show will complement it at the end.

Foreign artists also take part. Hungarian light artist László Zsolt Bordos created the installation "Ascend" on the facade of the Palace of Light. Norwegian artist Anastasija Isašena's interactive installation stands in Pils Square, and the Hungarian group "Lightspray Visual" will create a projection on the Riga Congress House facade. In Viesturdārzs, French artist Sébastien Lefèvre's kinetic work "Soleil Nuit" ("Sun at Night") contains more than 5,000 mirror elements.

The programme also includes seven installations by Art Academy of Latvia students and four objects by the Latvian Culture College, created with students from a European university alliance across nine countries. The 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.

Traffic restrictions

Until 11 pm on 18 November, stopping and parking are prohibited in Pils Square near building No. 4. From today until 18 November, entry for vehicles is banned daily from 4 pm to 11 pm on Peterbaznicas Street between Kungu Street and Reformācijas Square.

The city council urges drivers to plan routes in advance, follow road signs and traffic controllers' instructions, and expect possible delays near event venues.