Ukrainian Cinema in Riga: “Ukrainian Film Days in Latvia” lands in Riga Aug. 28–30, opening at Splendid Palace with a lineup spanning war, peace, identity and spiritual quests, including “The Eternal One” and “Evening on Ivan Kupala.” Latvian Arts & Culture: Venice competition buzz grows for May el-Toukhy’s “Woman Unknown,” a Danish-Swedish-Latvian co-production with major Riga production work. Documentary Spotlight: Baltic Sea Docs returns to Riga Sept. 6–11 for its 30th edition, with 26 selected documentary projects focused on borders, war and memory. Music & Radio: After 70 years, Latvian Radio’s Maestro Raimonds Pauls retires from Latvian Public Media. Weekend Picks: LSM shares what to do in the stormy forecast—concerts and festivals including Cēsis’ Shipsea & Sinfonietta Riga and Rīga’s street art event Row Baltics. Streaming Watch: Paramount+’s supernatural horror “Passenger” is topping charts in the U.S. and climbing in Latvia. Local Weather Impact: A powerful storm hit Latvia with over 160,000 customers without power, with red warnings and possible flooding. Sports Note: Crystal Lake confirms PK as its permanent vocalist after a turbulent period.
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Storm Watch: A powerful cyclone hit Latvia on Saturday evening, with red warnings for heavy rain and orange warnings for strong winds; by 9 p.m. more than 160,000 customers were without power as fallen trees damaged the grid, and repairs could take over 24 hours. City Alert: Riga’s municipality urged residents to avoid parks, playgrounds and cemeteries, and to stay off the roads as heavy rain and possible flooding threaten transport and public services. Ukrainian Cinema: Riga will host “Ukrainian Film Days in Latvia” from August 28–30 at Splendid Palace, opening with “The Eternal One,” alongside “Evening on Ivan Kupala” and the war anthology “War Through the Eyes of Animals.” Music & Culture: Latvian Radio’s Maestro Raimonds Pauls retires after 70 years, marking a major moment for the country’s broadcasting and musical heritage. Weekend Arts: LSM highlights live events like Cēsis’ “Shipsea: Symphony Light,” the Baltic jazz festival “Škiuņa džezs,” and Riga’s street art festival “Row Baltics 2026.”
Severe Weather Alert: Latvia has issued a red warning for heavy rain in parts of central Latvia, including around Riga and Jelgava, from Saturday 8 a.m. to Sunday 1 a.m., with flooding, power outages, and transport disruption possible; the State Fire and Rescue Service urged people to avoid unnecessary trips and secure loose items, and several outdoor events were cancelled. Riga Storm Prep: The Riga municipality also warned residents to stay away from parks, playgrounds, and cemeteries, avoid using private vehicles, and follow emergency instructions as services prepare to clear fallen trees and repair damage. Film & Culture: Latvian crews and Riga Film Studio played a major role in the Danish-Swedish-Latvian co-production “Woman Unknown,” heading to the Venice Film Festival, while Baltic Sea Docs is gearing up for its 30th edition in Riga (6–11 September) with 26 selected documentary projects. Music & Media: After 70 years, Latvian Radio’s Maestro Raimonds Pauls is retiring; LSM also continues its fundraising for Ukrainian soldiers’ rehabilitation. Weekend Picks: Cēsis hosts “Shipsea: Symphony Light,” Rēzekne’s Lūžnava Manor runs the Baltic jazz festival “Škiuņa džezs,” and Riga’s Sarkandaugava welcomes street art festival “Row Baltics 2026.”
Latvian Film & Festivals: May el-Toukhy’s Woman Unknown lands in Venice as a Danish-Swedish-Latvian co-production, with Riga serving as the main production base and dozens of Latvian professionals on set. Documentary Spotlight: Riga hosts the 30th Baltic Sea Docs forum (6–11 Sept), with 26 selected documentary projects tackling borders, war, memory and family. Music & Culture: Latvian Radio marks a major farewell as Maestro Raimonds Pauls retires after 70 years; meanwhile, the Sacred Music Festival’s opening concert in Riga is streamed online. Local Arts Calendar: This weekend’s picks include Cēsis’ “Shipsea: Symphony Light,” the “Škiuņa džezs” jazz festival in Rēzekne, and Riga’s street art event “Row Baltics 2026.” International Screen News: Scandinavian comedy Adult Supervision (Arkipelag) has secured multiple sales ahead of Fantastic Fest, including distribution in Latvia. Weather & City Life: Riga braces for a storm Saturday into Sunday, with residents urged to avoid parks, playgrounds and cemeteries and to stay off the roads unless necessary.
Latvia in the spotlight: Latvia confirmed a drone shot down after entering its airspace on Aug. 14 was of Ukrainian origin, with debris analysis pointing to an aircraft that likely came in from Belarus. Arts & culture: Latvian Radio bids farewell to Maestro Raimonds Pauls, ending a 70-year career at Latvian Public Media. Film industry: Sweden’s dramedy “Adult Supervision” (Heretic) has landed multiple international sales ahead of Fantastic Fest, including broadcast/streaming rights for HBO Europe and HBO Max in parts of Central and Eastern Europe; Latvia is among the territories. Music in Riga: The Sacred Music Festival’s opening concert in Riga is available online via Latvian Radio 3, featuring six new choral works. Local travel: Old Riga gets a new stay option as Carillon Aparthotel opens inside a 19th-century building on Pils Street. Sports (Latvia-linked): Latvia selected Viesturs Kairišs’ “Ulya” for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Community support: LSM’s fundraising drive with ziedot.lv continues for Ukrainian soldiers’ medical and psychological rehabilitation.
Latvia in the spotlight: Latvia has selected Viesturs Kairišs’ “Ulya” as its submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, after the Cannes premiere and further festival momentum. Old Riga stays in the spotlight: Carillon Aparthotel opens in a restored 19th-century building on Pils Street, blending Old Town charm with apartment-style stays for short trips or longer work and study visits. Music in Riga: The Sacred Music Festival’s opening concert in Rīga is now available online, featuring six new choral works premiered by the State Academic Choir “Latvija.” Sports & local pride: 17-year-old Edgar Papoyan became the absolute world champion at the World Workout Championship in Rīga, with Latvian and regional attention on the growing street-workout scene. Football night plans: Rangers face Jablonec in the Conference League play-off first leg at Ibrox tonight, with Latvian club FC RFS already having beaten Rangers’ opponents in earlier qualifying. Tech & trust: Latvia’s road traffic agency (CSDD) confirmed hackers stole data tied to about 1.2 million people, prompting political pressure and a prosecutor review request.
NATO Drills & Baltics Readiness: NATO ran “Baltic Trust 2026” in Latvia and followed it with air exercises near Kaliningrad, testing counter-drone coordination across multiple countries. Sacred Music Festival: Riga’s St. Peter’s Church hosted the Sacred Music Festival opening concert, featuring six new works by Latvian composers and the State Academic Choir “Latvija,” with the full performance streamed online. Latvian Film on the Oscar Trail: Viesturs Kairišs’ biographical drama “Ulya / Uļa” was picked as Latvia’s candidate for the 99th Oscars’ Best International Feature Film category. Local Culture & Heritage: The former Balvi railway station in Kubulu Parish is being revived by new owners, restoring old signage and rooms to bring back its station-era atmosphere. Sports (Latvia in the Mix): Rangers face Jablonec in the Conference League play-off first leg, while Latvia’s Mickevics Dmitrijs is noted among qualifiers at the European gymnastics championships. Tech & Public Trust: Latvia’s road traffic agency CSDD confirmed a major cyberattack exposed data tied to about 1.2 million people, prompting political pressure and resignations. Music & Pop Culture: BRAT released the video for “Trophy Hunting,” ahead of their album “Manslayer.”
Cybersecurity & Accountability: Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics asked the prosecutor general to review officials at the Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) after a major cyberattack exposed data tied to about 1.2 million people; CSDD management and its supervisory council stepped down, and an expedited probe will also look at the agency’s cybersecurity contract with tech firm Tet. Music & Culture in Latvia: The National Guard Orchestra and the Canadian Forces Central Orchestra will tour Latvia with a celebratory concert in Rīga on Aug. 23, plus free regional performances in Jēkabpils, Ventspils, Alūksne and Dobele. Film & Awards: Viesturs Kairišs’ biographical drama “Ulya / Uļa” has been selected as Latvia’s candidate for the 99th Oscars’ Best International Feature Film category. Language Policy Debate: Broadcasters, LSM and film producers urged the Saeima to halt amendments to the Electronic Mass Media Law that would require dubbing into Latvian. Fashion & Retail: Gap is expanding across the Nordic and Baltic region via Iconic Brands Nordic, with Stockmann rollouts including Latvia and an Estonia store/e-commerce launch planned for September. International Arts Production in Latvia: Chulpan Khamatova is set to star in Alexander Molochnikov’s “The Extremists,” with filming underway in Latvia.
Latvian Film Spotlight: Viesturs Kairišs’ biographical drama Ulya / Uļa has been chosen as Latvia’s candidate for the 99th Oscars in the Best International Feature Film category, with a mid-September cinema release promised. Arts & Language Policy: Latvia’s broadcasters, public media and film producers are urging the Saeima to halt amendments to the Electronic Mass Media Law that would require dubbing or voicing TV content into Latvian. Fashion & Retail: Gap is expanding across the Nordic and Baltic region via Iconic Brands Nordic, with launches on Boozt and Stockmann, and a first standalone Gap store and e-commerce site planned for Estonia in September. Music & Culture: A Ukrainian gratitude initiative is set to grow into a three-month campaign, inspired by a massive 2023 choir moment where thousands sang the Ukrainian national anthem in Latvia. Local Arts Events: ArtVilnius’ 17th edition is announced for 1–4 October 2026, bringing 70 galleries and a focus on contemporary scenes across Vilnius, Warsaw and Vienna.
Latvia in the Oscars spotlight: Viesturs Kairišs’ biographical drama “Ulya / Uļa” has been chosen as Latvia’s candidate for the 99th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category, a Latvia–Estonia–Poland–Lithuania co-production about basketball star Ulyana Semyonova. Language policy debate: Latvia’s broadcasters, LSM and the Latvian Film Producers’ Association are urging the Saeima to halt amendments to the Electronic Mass Media Law that would require dubbing in Latvian for TV content in other EU languages. Film culture: The National Film Centre says “Ulya” premiered at Cannes and will hit Latvian cinemas in mid-September. Community & music: Ukrainians in Latvia are set to stage a “Day of Gratitude for Latvia,” expanding into a three-month “From Heart to Heart” campaign inspired by a massive Ukrainian anthem singalong at the Song and Dance Festival. Art fair news: ArtVilnius’ 17th edition (Oct 1–4) has announced its gallery lineup, with 70 galleries and a focus on contemporary scenes across Vilnius, Warsaw and Vienna. Eurovision update: Burgas has been picked as host city for Eurovision 2027. Sports: Latvia’s basketball qualifiers for FIBA World Cup 2027 are underway, with Latvia among the teams in the European qualification race.
Film & Festivals: San Sebastián’s Perlak sidebar for fall favorites adds Jordan Firstman’s “Club Kid” and Ira Sachs’ “The Man I Love,” plus Cristian Mungiu’s “Fjord,” with José Luis Rebordinos stepping down and Maialen Beloki taking over. Language Policy in Media: Latvia’s broadcasters, LSM and the Latvian Film Producers’ Association urge Saeima to halt amendments to the Electronic Mass Media Law that would require dubbing/voicing in Latvian for EU-language TV content. Public Culture & Fundraising: LSM and “Ziedot.lv” launch a “Together with Ukraine in Thought and Deed!” drive for Ukrainian soldiers’ rehabilitation ahead of Ukraine’s Independence Day. Art & Exhibitions: “The Language of Power – Agitation, Propaganda, Art” opens at the National Library, tracing political poster design from 1918 to 2006. Riga 825 Celebrations: LTV1 and LSM.lv stream the anniversary concert “My Musical Score Rīga” on Aug 15. Sports Spotlight: Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko exits Cincinnati, while Maja Chwalinska earns her first win since Roland Garros. Local Sports Exchange: FK Cēsis media director Victoria Murasko visits Northern Ireland’s Wellington Recreation FC ahead of the Oct 10 Four Castles Invitational in Cēsis.
Arts & Culture: ArtVilnius’26 has revealed its participant list, with 70 galleries set to gather in Vilnius/Warsaw/Vienna-focused programming at Litexpo (Oct 1–4), plus new names like Tur (Riga) and first-timers from Stockholm and Düsseldorf. Exhibitions: A new political poster show opens at the Latvian National Library—“The Language of Power – Agitation, Propaganda, Art”—tracing slogans and symbols from 1918 to 2006 (free, running to end of October). Music in Riga: Riga’s 825th birthday concert “My Musical Score Rīga” aired live on LTV1 and online, blending city stories through voices, music and dance. Sports (Local & Regional): FK Cēsis media director Victoria Murasko visited Northern Ireland’s Wellington Recreation FC ahead of the Four Castles International Invitational in Cēsis on Oct 10, 2026. Film: BFI London Film Festival unveiled its 70th edition competition lineup, including Hirokazu Kore-eda and Carol Morley’s 7 Miles Out. Community Support: LSM and Ziedot.lv launched a fundraising drive for Ukrainian soldiers’ rehabilitation ahead of Ukraine’s Independence Day.
Latvian Arts & Culture: A free exhibition of political posters, “The Language of Power – Agitation, Propaganda, Art,” opens Aug. 17 at the National Library of Latvia, tracing how slogans, symbols and colours have shifted from 1918 to 2006. Riga 825 Celebrations: LTV1 and LSM.lv stream the big anniversary concert “My Musical Score Riga” on Aug. 15 at 22:00, mixing music, dance and city stories across eras. Music Spotlight: Adelaide Chamber Singers’ “Stellar” review highlights a standout program heading to Macau for the World Symposium on Choral Music, with Latvian audiences getting a taste of the ensemble’s international momentum. Charity & Community: LSM and Ziedot.lv launch a fundraising drive (Aug. 17–Sept. 13) for Ukrainian soldiers’ rehabilitation ahead of Ukraine’s Independence Day. Aviation & Security (Local Impact): Latvia continues to deal with drone incursions linked to Russian electronic warfare, including a recent NATO interception over Balvi with debris searches underway. Sports (Latvia in the Mix): FK Cēsis media director Victoria Murasko visits Northern Ireland’s Wellington Recreation FC as both clubs prep for the Four Castles International Invitational in Cēsis on Oct. 10, 2026.
Riga 825th Birthday Concert (Watch Live): LTV1 and LSM.lv will stream “My Musical Score Rīga” on Aug 15 at 22:00, using music, dance and city stories to trace Riga’s past, present and future. Latvia Air-Defence in Focus: NATO and Latvian forces shot down a foreign drone over Balvi/Rugāji parish after it entered Latvian airspace, with air alerts issued and Finland temporarily restricting nearby airspace as a precaution. Belarus-to-EU Migrant Tunnel Claim: Border authorities say a tunnel exit near Latvia’s fence with Belarus was found after migrants were spotted moving through forests, while Minsk reportedly denies tunnel construction despite intelligence alerts. Ukraine-Russia Drone Strikes: Overnight attacks killed civilians in both countries, including a Kyiv book market hit that burned stalls, as Russia said it intercepted hundreds of drones. Local Art Spotlight: TUR announces Anda Lāce’s installation “Making Love is Forbidden in the Psychiatric Hospital” opening Aug 19, exploring intimacy, consent and stigma in institutional care. Exhibition Opening: The Latvian National Museum of Art presents “Raimonds Staprāns. The Architecture of Silence” (Aug 14–Jan 17), marking the artist’s centenary with works never seen in Latvia. Music & Sports Notes: Bonnie Tyler’s funeral procession drew fans in Wales; and Jelena Ostapenko fell in Cincinnati while Maja Chwalinska notched her first win since Roland Garros.
Latvian Arts & Exhibitions: A major retrospective opens at the Latvian National Museum of Art on Aug 14 for the centenary of Raimonds Staprāns, running to Jan 17, 2027, with works never seen in Latvia and a look at his decades-long evolution. Art & Intimacy: TUR presents Anda Lāce’s installation “Making Love is Forbidden in the Psychiatric Hospital,” exploring touch, consent and stigma in closed institutions, opening Aug 19–Sept 19. Music: Wisp (Natalie Lu) teases her second album, promising a surprise direction beyond her ethereal, goth-leaning alt sound. Local Culture Picks: Rīga’s 825th birthday festivities, Cēsis’ Potato Palm Festival (Aug 15) and the free Estonian Market “Tere” (Aug 16) round up weekend plans. Sports (Latvia in focus): Jelena Ostapenko’s Cincinnati run ends early, while Maja Chwalinska wins her first match since Roland Garros. Latvia in the news (non-entertainment): NATO jets shot down a drone over Balvi; Latvia also reported a migrant tunnel near the Belarus border.
Latvia Arts & Culture: A major retrospective opens at the Latvian National Museum of Art in Riga on Aug. 14, marking the centenary of Raimonds Staprāns, running to Jan. 17, 2027, with works never seen in Latvia. Latvian Exhibitions: Anda Lāce’s installation “Making Love is Forbidden in the Psychiatric Hospital” debuts Aug. 19 at TUR, exploring intimacy, consent, and stigma in institutional care. Riga Weekend Picks: Rīga’s 825th birthday festivities, the Potato Palm Festival in Cēsis, and the free Estonian Market “Tere” in Āgenskalns are set to keep the city buzzing. NATO & Drones (Latvia): NATO jets shot down a foreign drone over Balvi after it entered Latvian airspace, with alerts briefly issued and Finland also restricting traffic in the eastern Gulf of Finland as a precaution. Border Security (Latvia): Authorities say a migrant tunnel near the Belarus border was discovered after migrants were spotted near Latvia’s fence, adding to concerns about “hybrid threat” routes. Tech/Business (Latvia): AS Watson expands its tech partnership with NCR Voyix, bringing Voyix POS, self-checkout and loyalty to Drogas in Latvia.
Latvia Airspace Alert: NATO jets shot down a foreign drone over Rugāji/Balvi region after it entered Latvian airspace, with Latvia saying it was likely diverted by Russian electronic warfare; air-raid warnings were issued and Finland briefly restricted parts of the Gulf of Finland. Latvian Art Spotlight: The Latvian National Museum of Art opens “Raimonds Staprāns. The architecture of silence” (Aug 14–Jan 17), a centenary retrospective featuring works never seen in Latvia. New Exhibition on Intimacy & Care: TUR announces Anda Lāce’s installation “Making Love is Forbidden in the Psychiatric Hospital” opening Aug 19 and running to Sept 19. Local Culture Calendar: Rīga’s 825th birthday festivities run through August, with weekend highlights plus Cēsis’ Potato Palm Fest (Aug 15) and the Estonian Market “Tere” in Āgenskalns (Aug 16). Music Release Buzz: Wisp teases her second album, promising a new direction beyond her goth-tinged alt sound. Tech & Retail (Latvia): AS Watson expands its tech partnership with NCR Voyix, bringing Voyix POS, self-checkout and loyalty to Drogas in Latvia.
Latvia & NATO Air Defence: NATO jets shot down a foreign drone after it entered Latvian airspace over the Balvi region, with Latvian authorities saying it was likely diverted by Russian electronic warfare; air alerts were issued and later lifted, while Finland temporarily restricted parts of its airspace and maritime traffic as a precaution. Border Tunnels: Border guards say a migrant tunnel exit was found just 10 meters from Latvia’s fence with Belarus after 15 migrants were spotted near the border, adding to a wider pattern of tunnel digging reported across the EU. Art in Riga: The Latvian National Museum of Art opens a centenary retrospective, “Raimonds Staprāns. The Architecture of Silence,” running 14 August 2026 to 17 January 2027. Exhibition Focus: Anda Lāce’s TUR installation “Making Love is Forbidden in the Psychiatric Hospital” opens August 19 and runs until September 19, exploring intimacy, consent and stigma in closed institutions. Riga Summer Events: Riga’s 825th birthday festivities, Cēsis’ Potato Palm Fest (Aug 15) and the Estonian Market “Tere” (Aug 16) bring music, food and culture to the weekend calendar. Music Spotlight: Wisp teases her second album, promising a new twist while keeping her signature airy, goth-tinged alt sound. Tech & Retail: AS Watson expands its tech partnership with NCR Voyix, bringing Voyix POS, self-checkout and loyalty tools to Drogas in Latvia.
Art Opening in Riga: A major centenary retrospective of émigré artist Raimonds Staprāns opens at the Latvian National Museum of Art on Aug 14, running to Jan 17, 2027, with works never shown in Latvia and a career sweep from the 1950s to his latest paintings. Weekend Culture Picks: Rīga’s 825th birthday celebrations fill August with concerts, parades and events; plus Cēsis’ Potato Palm alternative music fest (Aug 15) and Āgenskalns’ free Estonian Market “Tere” (Aug 16) with crafts, bikes, food and films. Riga Street Life: Alberta and Antonijas streets go pedestrian-only on weekends (Aug 14–20), turning Art Nouveau lanes into café terraces and stroll zones. Exhibition in Helsinki: Latvieshi International lands in Helsinki (Aug 21–28) with six Latvian artists exploring “background noise” through audiovisual works and a free public program. Sports & Local Spotlight: Georgian 17-year-old Anastasia Chkhartishvili reaches the Latvian Open table tennis final after a standout run. Airspace Alert (News, not entertainment): NATO jets shot down a drone in Latvia’s Balvi region early Friday, briefly triggering regional alerts.
Europa League Night: Rangers host Jagiellonia Białystok in the second leg after a 2-1 first-leg deficit, with the tie shaping their European path toward either the Europa League play-off or a Conference League drop. Rīga Pedestrian Push: Alberta Street and parts of Antonijas Street go car-free on weekends (Aug 14–Sep 20), turning Art Nouveau streets into pedestrian zones with café terraces and late-night access rules. Latvian Arts Abroad: “Latvieshi International” lands in Helsinki (Aug 21–Sep 20) with six Latvian artists exploring “background noise” across audiovisual works and a free public program. Theatre & History Spotlight: A profile of Asja Lācis ties Riga roots to revolutionary theatre and Bolshevik-era ideas, spotlighting her artistic philosophy. Sports Spotlight: 17-year-old Georgian Anastasia Chkhartishvili reaches the Latvian Open table tennis final in Riga after four straight wins. airBaltic Update: The airline outlines a restructuring plan after engine trouble, aiming for long-term sustainability and a major Aug 17 vote on emergency financing. Riga Culture Tech: A new audiovisual exhibition in Helsinki and a separate Riga street-art moment (“Atlantis” mural) keep the creative calendar busy. Motorsport Heritage: A rare Auto Union V16 parade drive returns to Riga, with the car displayed at the Freedom Monument and a city route planned for fans.
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