January
Post-festive quiet, lowest prices of the year
The Christmas markets are packed away and the city empties out. This and February are the cheapest months to visit — worth it if value matters more than weather.
8 min read · Planning
Riga Events Calendar 2026
What's actually on, month by month — the festivals worth planning a trip around, and the months where the city itself is the reason to come.
Quick Answer
Riga's three big fixtures are Rīgas Svētki (the city's birthday festival, all August), Staro Rīga (November's light festival), and the Christmas markets (late November to early January). Jāņi on June 23–24 is the biggest traditional holiday, though the city empties for it. Everything else is seasonal character rather than a fixed event.
Booking window
Booking Riga for Christmas or New Year? This Is the Window
December is the one month of Riga's winter when accommodation actually tightens, and rates climb into it rather than falling. Our flight guidance puts Christmas at two to three months ahead against the usual four to six weeks — which is roughly now. New Year's Eve is the sharper deadline: the rooftop bars and Old Town restaurants that sell fixed-price NYE packages take bookings months out.
We can't see live availability — this is a note about the calendar, not a countdown. Prices and availability are whatever the booking site shows you.
The Once-Every-Five-Years Exception
One event doesn't fit a monthly calendar: the Latvian Song and Dance Celebration, a UNESCO-recognised gathering of some 40,000 amateur performers held only every five years. The last was 2023; the next is 2028. If your trip could flex to those dates, it is the single most extraordinary thing on this list — and the one that requires booking a year out rather than months.
Month by Month
February
Deep winter, still the value window
Average temperatures around -4°C to -5°C and short days, but every major indoor sight runs normal hours and you'll queue for nothing.
March
Winter loosening its grip — and Restaurant Week
Still cold and not yet spring, but prices stay low and the city is quiet. The spring Riga Restaurant Week typically starts at the end of the month, putting fixed-price menus on across dozens of kitchens.
April
Spring arrives, crowds haven't — plus Lieldienas
Parks come back to life and terrace season starts tentatively. Easter (Lieldienas) usually falls in this window, with traditional egg rolling and giant swings at the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum. One of the better value-to-weather trade-offs before summer pricing kicks in.
May
Major eventBest all-round month — and Museum Night
Warm enough for proper sightseeing, long daylight, and still ahead of peak-season prices. Museum Night (23 May in 2026) opens close to 250 venues nationwide free of charge until midnight.
June
Jāņi (Midsummer), long days & the Opera Festival
Latvia's biggest traditional holiday falls on June 23–24, and Riga genuinely empties as people head to the countryside for it. Daylight runs to around 18 hours. The Riga Opera Festival runs at the National Opera across the first three weeks.
July
Peak summer, beach weather — and Rīgas Ritmi
The warmest stretch of the year and prime Jūrmala season, plus the Rīgas Ritmi jazz festival in the Cathedral Garden in early July. Also peak pricing and peak crowds — book accommodation well ahead.
August
Major eventRīgas Svētki — Riga's birthday festival
The city's month-long birthday celebration. In 2026 it runs August 1–29 for Riga's 825th anniversary, with the main day on August 15 — free outdoor events across Old Town, the embankment and central parks.
September
Miķeļdiena, Baltā Nakts & golden light
The harvest festival brings a produce market to Dome Square, the Baltā Nakts culture night opens 50+ free events across the city for one night, and the autumn light is the best of the year. Crowds thin sharply after August while the weather often holds.
October
Major eventRiga IFF & peak autumn colour
The Riga International Film Festival runs 11 days (15–25 October in 2026), and this is also when the Sigulda and Gauja Valley foliage peaks — the best month of the year for a countryside day trip.
November
Major eventStaro Rīga light festival & national holidays
Light installations appear across Old Town, Riga Castle and the City Canal, timed around Lāčplēsis Day (Nov 11) and Latvia's Independence Day (Nov 18).
December
Major eventChristmas markets & New Year's Eve
Markets run at Dome Square and Līvu Square from late November into early January, and the year closes with New Year's Eve fireworks along the Daugava riverfront.
Booking Around Events
The three flagship periods — August, late November/December, and Jāņi in June — are when accommodation tightens up. For those dates, book 2–3 months out rather than the usual 4–6 weeks. Outside them, Riga rarely sells out and you can book close in.
Booking the Winter Events
The winter run — Staro Rīga in November, the Christmas markets from late November, New Year's Eve, then the quiet January–March value window — is when accommodation is cheapest and the activities you can only do in the cold are running.
For weather, crowd levels and pricing rather than events specifically, see our best time to visit Riga guide. Already in the city and looking for something to book today? Our tours page and nightlife tours guide cover what runs year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest festival in Riga?
Rīgas Svētki, the city's birthday festival, is the largest — a month-long August programme of free outdoor events. In 2026 it runs August 1–29 for Riga's 825th anniversary, with the main celebration day on August 15.
What events happen in Riga in winter?
The Christmas markets at Dome Square and Līvu Square run from late November into early January, followed by New Year's Eve fireworks along the Daugava. In November, the Staro Rīga light festival lights up Old Town and Riga Castle.
What is Jāņi in Latvia?
Jāņi is Latvia's Midsummer celebration on June 23–24 and the country's most important traditional holiday. Riga noticeably empties out as people head to the countryside for it, and daylight runs to around 18 hours.
When is the best time to visit Riga for events?
August for Rīgas Svētki (the biggest festival), December for the Christmas markets, and June if you want to experience Jāņi. September's Miķeļdiena harvest festival and November's Staro Rīga light festival are quieter alternatives with lower prices.
Last updated: August 2026. Exact dates for city-run events are confirmed by Riga's municipality (riga.lv) closer to the time — check current listings before booking around a specific date.