The public vote on the values that characterize Liepāja has concluded. These values will become part of the opening programme for “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” (Liepāja 2027). Liepāja residents and friends of the city have chosen basketball player Kristaps Porziņģis as the most significant person, Liepāja Beach as the most special place, the “Summer Sound” festival as the most memorable event, and the wind as the city’s symbol. These four elements will come to the spotlight on January 23, 2027, during the artistic event “Human Forest”, when Liepāja’s trams will be transformed into extraordinary stages for the city’s stories.
From September 7 to October 12, 2026, residents of Liepāja and friends of the city were invited to vote by nominating the persons, places, events, and symbols that best characterize the city. A total of 320 people took part in the vote, of whom 184 cast their votes electronically via the Liepāja E-services portal, while 136 completed the voting form published in the local newspaper “Kurzemes Vārds.”
The results of the vote reveal a diverse vision of Liepāja’s identity, in which the city’s history, cultural heritage, and nature treasures play a significant role alongside internationally renowned figures and contemporary cultural events.
“This vote once again confirms that Liepāja means something different to each of us. For some, it’s the sea and the wind; for others, it’s music, colorful personalities, or events associated with special memories. Yet all these choices have something in common – pride in our city, a sense of belonging, and an emotional connection to the place where we live or to which we always want to return. Interestingly, alongside Liepāja’s traditional symbols, there are also unexpected choices that remind us that the city’s identity is not static. It lives, changes, and evolves together with its people. This is exactly what “Human Forest” aims to do – present Liepāja not as a single, finished story, but as a collection of people’s experiences, memories, and values,” says Maija Kalniņa, co-creator of the “Human Forest” event and initiator of the public voting campaign.
In the “Person” category, Liepāja-born, internationally known NBA basketball player Kristaps Porziņģis, received the most votes, with 34 people choosing him. Composer Imants Kalniņš came second with 23 votes, followed by architect Paul Max Bertschi with 20 votes. Voters also frequently highlighted race car driver Mārtiņš Sesks, musicians Ivo Fomins and Mārtiņš Freimanis, as well as the legendary rock band “Līvi”.
In the “Place” category, Liepāja Beach emerged as the winner, receiving 43 votes. Close behind was Rose Square (Rožu laukums), one of the city’s central gathering sports, with 40 votes. Among the city’s most significant locations, voters also frequently highlighted the concert hall “Lielais Dzintars”, the Liepāja Theater, the local public market, Pētertirgus, the promenade and the port, as well as the concert venue “Pūt, vējiņi!”.
In the “Event” category, the music festival “Summer Sound” won by a convincing margin, receiving 41 votes. It was followed by the legendary “Liepājas dzintars” festival, which received 25 votes. Milestones in the city’s history also featured prominently in the voting. The year 1919, when Liepāja served as the capital of Latvia, received 20 votes, while Liepāja’s designation as the European Capital of Culture received 19 votes. Voters also frequently highlighted the opening of the concert hall “Lielais Dzintars” and Liepāja’s birthday, celebrated on March 18.
In the “Symbols” category, the wind received the most votes, with 70, confirming its special place in Liepāja’s identity. For decades, the wind has been one of the city’s most recognizable symbols, reflected in Liepāja’s widely known branding motto: “the city where the wind is born.”
However, the voting in this category also brought a surprise. The badger took second place with 67 votes, just three fewer than the wind. Perhaps the badger’s unexpected popularity may have been fueled by a story about an encounter between a badger and a hedgehog in Aizpute, in the South Kurzeme region, which attracted widespread public attention.
Among the other symbols representing the city, voters frequently highlighted the sea (32 votes), the concert hall “Lielais Dzintars”, the environmental design object “The Tree of Ghosts” (Spoku koks), the musical note and the linden tree.
The four values selected through the vote will form the basis of “Human Forest”, one of the opening events of the European Capital of Culture year, which will take place in the centre of Liepāja on January 23, 2027. Each of the four values will give its name to a Liepāja tram, and on the opening day, these trams will be transformed into unique artistic stages. In this way, the city’s familiar public transport will take on new meaning, becoming a place where Liepāja’s stories, people, and their shared values come together.
“Human Forest” is a community-driven event created as part of the Liepāja 2027 opening programme. Its artistic content is shaped by the choices of Liepāja residents and friends of the city, reflecting a core principle of the European Capital of Culture programme: empowering communities not only to experience culture, but also to actively shape and create it.
The opening events for “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” will take place on January 22, 23 and 24, 2027, in Liepāja, Kuldīga region, and the South Kurzeme region, inviting everyone to be part of the opening of the year of culture in the “Land of (un)rest”.
The project “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” is implemented by the foundation “Nodibinājums Liepāja 2027”, the Liepāja City Municipality, and official partners – the South Kurzeme Municipality and the Kuldīga Municipality. Co-financed by the Ministry of Culture. The Liepāja 2027 program is supported by its main partner in environmental education and sustainability, AS “CleanR Grupa”, main partner in air mobility and international communications, AS “Air Baltic Corporation”, partner in legal matters SIA “Sorainen ZAB”, land mobility partner, SIA “Lux Express Latvia”, maritime mobility and international communication partner SIA “Stena Line”. Media partners – VSIA “Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs”, SIA “Žurnāls Santa”, SIA “Tvnet grupa”, AS “Kurzemes Radio”.
Foundation “Nodibinājums Liepāja 2027”
Public Relations Specialist
Anita Smilkts
Phone No.: + 371 25 408 337
E-mail: anita.smilkts@liepaja2027.lv
The residency will take place in Kuldīga in August 2027. Applications open until November 15, 2026.
From February 1 to June 13, 2027, as well as from July 1 to 31, 2027, wide range initiatives will take place across Liepāja and the Kuldīga and South Kurzeme Municipalities, aimed at strengthening communities, promoting resident participation, and building cooperation.
During the residency, the artists met with local residents and explored the history, traditions and everyday life of the towns and villages, transforming their experiences into a variety of artworks – from illustrations and photography to a composition of wooden objects and a piece of jewellery.