Riga Opera Festival

First held in 1998, the annual Riga Opera Festival is a popular event hosted by the prestigious Latvian National Opera. Marking the end of the opera season, audiences can relive some of the highlights of the year and enjoy a sneak preview of what’s to come in the 12 months ahead. There are also performances of works by legendary composers such as Tchaikovsky, Bach, Mozart and Wagner.

Riga Salsa Festival

The Baltics might not seem like an obvious place for the hottest names in salsa to get together, but that’s exactly what they do every June for the Riga Salsa Festival. Expect a booty-shaking programme of live performances and salsa DJs, plus the opportunity to and your feet with a series of workshops led by some of the most talented teachers around.

Autumn Chamber Music Festival

Another must for classical music lovers, this annual festival offers a smorgasbord of performances that are held in some of the nest concert halls the city has to offer. The festival’s patron is Latvian composer Peteris Vasks. The festival prides itself on a “tête-à-tête” or “eye to eye” experience because of its intimate environment and close proximity between performers and observers.

Porta World Music Festival

This international music festival is going from strength to strength each year. A celebration of world music, it plays host to a broad spectrum of performers from the far corners of the world and everywhere in between. The announce the line-up on an annual basis, and the tourist information centre should be able to give you all the information you need as the date approaches.

WinterFest

This festival of classical music rst ran in 1999 and since then its popularity has snowballed. Taking place between November and February, it features a series of concerts that celebrate Christmas, New Year and the legacy of Latvian pianist, Herman Braun, who died in 1979.