Things to do in Riga this autumn

Old Town festival

On 19 September, Riga Old Town will turn into a lively festival district as Old Riga Festival “Atvasara” and the Aldaru Street Festival take over Dome Square and the surrounding streets. From 10:00 until late at night, visitors can enjoy free concerts, family activities, dancing, local food and entertainment. More than 20 artists and DJs will perform across two festival stages, including Bermudu Divstūris, Olga Rajecka, BŪŪ, Apvedceļš, MUUD and many more. Admission to both festivals is free.

The celebrations at Dome Square begin at 10:00 with a special morning programme for families, featuring games, creative workshops, interactive activities and entertainment for children. The daytime stage programme includes performances by children’s ensemble Dzeguzīte, Bitīt’ Matos together with folk dance group Dzīpars, contemporary dance performance LE++, DJ Gucu and a traditional group dance.

From the afternoon onwards, the festival shifts into full concert mode. Apvedceļš will take the stage at 15:00, followed by Olga Rajecka at 16:30, BŪŪ at 17:45, ODS at 19:00 and MUUD at 20:30. At 22:00, Bermudu Divstūris will headline the evening with an energetic live show, followed by DJs continuing the party into the night.

Just a short walk away, the Aldaru Street Festival will transform one of Riga Old Town’s most atmospheric streets into another hub of music, food and entertainment. The stage by the Swedish Gate will feature performances by Kārlis Rudra, Leo Milo, Room Collective, Tikai Mēs, Xantikvariāts, Aģentūra x Zvīņas x Revolūcija, Bukte* and Athodi Brīnumzemē, alongside DJ sets and a salsa session. From 14:00 until 02:00, Mazā Trokšņu Street will also host the Truly Unique Silent Disco, a 12-hour dance marathon.

Throughout the day, visitors can explore a wide selection of street food and drinks at Dome Square, as well as a market featuring local artisans, producers and other vendors along Smilšu and Pils streets. The programme also extends into Riga Old Town’s museums, with activities by the Latvian War Museum and the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation, including demonstrations, guided tours and a special 50% museum admission discount.

From 14:00 to 16:00, RYE RIGA on Torņa Street will add another distinctly Latvian flavour to the festival, inviting visitors to discover rye bread, get creative and embrace the autumn mood with a touch of humour.

When? 19 September, from 10:00 until late at night
Where? Dome Square, Aldaru Street and other locations across Riga Old Town
Admission: Free

Survival Kit 17

Until 27 September, Riga hosts the contemporary art festival Survival Kit 17. Curated by Elena Sorokina and Simona Markel Dvorák, together with the Initiative for Practices and Visions of Radical Care, this year’s festival explores the shared ground between art and healing. The annual international contemporary art event is organised by the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art (LCCA).

Titled “The Arrow of the Wind: On Art and Healing,” the Survival Kit 17 exhibition explores therapy, incantations and rituals, physical and mental healthcare, and spiritual renewal. It brings together artists who approach art and healing as mutually supportive forces and integral practices of everyday life.

The curatorial concept draws inspiration from Latvian folklore, ancient healing knowledge and ritual traditions closely connected to the natural landscape – forests, lakes, the Baltic Sea and peat bogs. It also reflects on the resilience of these practices and their ability to survive despite historical attempts to suppress them.

Riga IFF

From 15 to 25 October, the Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF) returns for its 13th edition, bringing nearly 100 films and 11 days of contemporary cinema to audiences in Riga and beyond. The programme combines some of the year’s most talked-about films with bold discoveries, major festival favourites and films rarely seen on Latvian cinema screens.

This year’s programme features new works by acclaimed filmmakers including Quentin Dupieux, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Martin McDonagh, Cristian Mungiu and Paweł Pawlikowski, alongside films starring internationally recognised actors such as Gillian Anderson, Juliette Binoche, Léa Seydoux, Renate Reinsve, Sebastian Stan, Sandra Hüller, Woody Harrelson, Kristen Stewart, John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell. Audiences will also have the chance to see award-winning titles from major international film festivals and several films selected by their countries for consideration in the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature Film category.

The festival offers plenty of different routes through contemporary cinema – from Nordic films and German-language cinema to European family films, Latvian premieres, thrillers, short films and the latest cinema from the Baltic Sea region. RIGA IFF’s competition programmes will introduce emerging filmmakers and new cinematic voices, while a selection of hidden gems offers the chance to discover films that may be screened in Latvia only once.

Whether you are looking for an acclaimed festival hit, a new Latvian film, an unexpected cinematic discovery or simply a memorable autumn evening at the cinema, RIGA IFF is one of the highlights of Riga’s cultural calendar this October.

Riga Fashion Week

This October Riga once again becomes the Baltic capital of style as Riga Fashion Week returns for its autumn edition. Expect bold looks, rising stars of the modeling world, and fresh creativity from top Latvian and international designers. 

Follow the latest updates and events at www.rfw.lv or on social media — and don’t miss the chance to experience the city’s fashion heartbeat this autumn.

The event will take place from October 20 to 23. More info coming soon.

Address:

Hanzas Perons, Hanzas iela 16a

Riga Restaurant week

From November 2 - 15 the capital city 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.

Riga Music Week

From 4 to 6 November, Riga Music Week returns to Tallinas Street Quarter for its second edition, bringing together a city music festival and an international music industry conference with artists and industry professionals from Latvia and across Europe.

Over two evenings, more than 50 bands and artists will perform across seven stages. The festival programme is curated by leading Latvian and Baltic music organisations, including Summer Sound, I Love You, Bobe, Sofar Sounds, Still Figure and Every Little Thing. On 6 November, Riga Music Week will expand beyond Tallinas Street Quarter with a series of satellite events taking place at other venues across Riga.

Alongside the live music programme, an international music industry conference will explore current trends shaping the sector, from music discovery in the digital age and the influence of streaming platforms and social media to the development of emerging artists and their path to international stages. The conference will also feature an exhibition showcasing Latvian music technology companies.

Riga Music Week combines live concerts, emerging talent and the latest developments in the music industry, offering visitors an opportunity to discover the contemporary Latvian and Baltic music scene alongside international artists and industry professionals.

Address:

Tallinas ielas kvartāls

Staro Rīga

From 15 to 18 November, Riga will host the Staro Rīga 2026 Light Festival, traditionally one of the highlights of Latvia’s Independence Day celebrations in the capital.

This year’s festival theme is “unum momentum – that one moment”, with the Daugava River forming the main axis of the festival route and light installations illuminating both sides of the river. On the left bank, the route will stretch from the National Library of Latvia along the Mūkusalas Promenade. On the right bank, it will extend from the Riga Central Market and Spīķeri Quarter to Viesturdārzs, also encompassing Riga Old Town and the city centre up to Kronvalda Park.

More information about the festival programme, light installations and route will be announced soon.

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.

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 autumn sunshine – if Riga in autumn had a soundtrack, it would be something as dramatic as Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. So it comes as no surprise that Riga’s cultural calendar is filled with spectacular opera and ballet performances.

Don Quixote, Aida, Dracula, The Sound of Music and The Nutcracker are just a few highlights from the packed programme at the Latvian National Opera and Ballet. Discover upcoming performances and plan your next cultural evening in Riga by visiting our events section.

Take a walk in the city parks

Experience autumn in Riga as the city’s parks turn shades of gold, red and orange, with fallen leaves crunching beneath your feet. Take a leisurely walk through Riga’s parks and discover picture-perfect autumn views in Vērmanes Garden, Bastejkalns Park and Kronvalda Park. A little further away, Viesturdārzs is also well worth a visit, with the impressive Alexander Gate marking its entrance.

There is plenty of autumn colour to discover in Pārdaugava, too. Take a romantic walk around Māras Pond, wander along the winding paths of Arkādija Park, and discover a quieter side of Riga, where colourful foliage, ponds and small bridges make it easy to forget that you are still in the city.

The goodies of nature

When pumpkins, lingonberries and mushrooms appear in the market assortment, it is time to discover the cook in you. For the freshest local products, go to Riga's Central market or its little brother on the left - Āgenskalns market. On Saturdays, you can also buy goods from farmers and home producers in the Kalnciema quarter. Just be warned that you will most likely leave here with a full stomach.

Zen out

Hotels with SPA areas are worth considering while selecting a place to stay. Pamper yourself with luxury treatments at the Hedonic SPA in the Grand Poet Hotel, the relaxation area of the Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga, or the five-star ESPA Riga located in the Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija. You can also familiarize yourself with the relaxing Rigas SPA offers here.

Share a slice of cake

If the weather outside the window is not pleasing, it's time to look for joy elsewhere, for example, on the plate. There are many places in Riga where you can leisurely enjoy a piece (or two) of delicious cake – “Parunāsim. Kafe'teeka'' in the very heart of Old Riga, the paradise of freshly baked confectionery delicacies "Mīkla bakery" on Dzirnavu Street and, of course, "Mulberry" with its heavenly cakes. More tasty places you'll find at our Coffee and bakeries guide!