Autumn in Riga

Survival Kit 16

From August 30 to September 28, 2025, Riga will once again host the contemporary art festival Survival Kit, organized for the sixteenth time by the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art. This year, for the first time, the festival will not take place in abandoned buildings, but in the new creative quarter “Grīziņdārzs” – the revitalized former factory site of Rīgas adītājs in the Grīziņkalns neighbourhood.

The exhibition, curated by the art collective Slavs and Tatars together with Polish curator Michał Grzegorzek, is titled “House of See-More”. Its concept is inspired by the mythical bird Simurgh, which in many Eurasian cultures symbolizes rebirth and liberation. If the eagle embodies power, empires, and domination, then the Simurgh blazes with fire, is non-binary, and does not belong to just one world – it invites us to reflect on borders, identity, and belonging at a time when divisions are increasingly palpable.

The exhibition brings together 23 artists and thinkers from different countries. Their works explore ideas of community, freedom, and collective strength, drawing on winged creatures in literature and folklore – from Aristophanes’ The Birds to the Latvian folk cycle The Birds’ Wedding.

Highlights include:

Filipka Rutkowska uses textiles and theatricality to revive the history of the space.

Ola Vasiljeva explores themes of abundance and scarcity in both 1980s Baltics and today.

Oksana Shachko’s icons confront society’s fear of the female body.

Bekhbaatar Enkhtur creates a feathered creature from wax, Sufi elixir remnants, and honey, evoking fleeting but alluring pleasures.

Luīze Nežberte’s columns embody the woman as an institution – a symbol of resilience and stability in a world where the ground beneath our feet feels ever less secure.

Overall, “House of See-More” invites visitors into a space where diverse voices and cultures meet, searching for a healing balance between division and unity, between the personal and the collective.

EXHIBITION OPENING HOURS
August 30 – September 28, 2025
Zemitāna Street 9, Creative City “Grīziņdārzs”, Riga

Mon–Wed: closed
Thu–Sun: 12:00–20:00

TICKETS

General admission: €8

Students (with ID) and seniors: €5

Families (with “3+ Family Card”): €5

Free entry for preschool children, school pupils (with ID), art academy students (with ID), people with disabilities and their companions.

Tickets available on site at Zemitāna Street 9, Grīziņdārzs, at the information centre. Payment by cash or via the Mobilly app.

MEDIATOR TOURS
Art mediators are available in the exhibition on Thursday and Friday evenings (from 16:00), as well as on Saturdays and Sundays.

For guided tours, please register on site, call +371 26352653, or email: info@lcca.lv

Riga IFF

The Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF) will transform the capital into a true celebration of cinema from October 16 to 26. Over the course of ten days and more than 100 screenings, audiences will experience bold and fresh films from Europe and around the world, each revealing the unique vision of its author. The festival is not only a showcase of outstanding works, but also a meeting place with filmmakers themselves – through special talks, masterclasses, and public events that invite a wider audience to take part.

This year’s theme, “SEE. SHIFT. BECOME.”, calls on viewers to embrace cinema as a journey – from the very first frame to the moment when what we’ve seen has already changed and transformed us.

Riga Restaurant week

From October 27, the capital will host Riga Restaurant Week – Autumn edition, a two-week celebration of food and flavor. Restaurants across the city will open their doors to all gourmets and food lovers ready to embark on a delicious culinary adventure. These are festive days both for refined connoisseurs and for those who simply enjoy the pleasures of life. During this time, everyone is invited to experiment, discover, and savor three-course menus at Riga’s restaurants for especially friendly prices.

More information coming soon.

A visit to the galleries and museums

When the October rain is raging outside the window, the warm interiors of galleries and museums encourage you to come inside and experience art at your leisure. Learn about or revisit the most fascinating art venues and galleries in Riga, for example, Zuzeum, Kim? Or you can set aside some time to explore the fascinating and instructive museums here - Latvian National Museum of Art, Riga Art Nouveau Centre, RSU Anatomy Museum and many more!.

Opera and ballet

Rain, wind, and sudden bursts of golden sunshine – if autumn in Riga had a soundtrack, it would be as dramatic as Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. It’s no wonder, then, that Riga’s cultural calendar is filled with dazzling opera and ballet performances. Casanova, Dracula, La Traviata, and Nabucco – these are just a few highlights from the rich programme of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet. To find out more about the upcoming performances, visit our events section.

See the city from above

The red roofs of Old Riga, the luxurious Art Nouveau houses of the Quiet Center and autumn-colored parks in the middle of everything - in autumn, Riga's splendor is best appreciated from above. Fortunately, there is no shortage of viewpoints in Riga - go to the terrace of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, the tower of St. Peter's Basilica or the Skyline bar on the top floor of the Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija.

Take a walk in the city parks

Enjoy how the colorful leaves rustle under your feet while taking a walk in Riga's parks. Catch postcard-worthy views at Vērmanes garden park, where the fountain has been recently restored, Bastejkalns and the nearby Kronvalda Park, and little further into Viesturdārzs, whose entrance is adorned by the grandiose Alexander Gate. Likewise, there is no lack of green spots on the left side of the Daugava - in Pārdaugava. Cast a romantic circle around the Māra pond and along the winding paths of Arkādijas Park.