Registration opens on 26 October 2026 for EUROPA CANTAT 2027, one of Europe’s major choral music events, which will take place in Liepāja, Latvia, from 9 to 15 August 2027. Choirs, vocal ensembles, individual singers and choral music enthusiasts are invited to take part in the festival. Festival will be part of the Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 programme.
EUROPA CANTAT is an international choral music festival that brings together singers, conductors and choral music enthusiasts from different countries to make music together, discover new repertoire, explore other cultures and build international connections. Registration is scheduled to remain open until 15 January 2027. However, it may close earlier if the maximum number of participants is reached.
During the festival, Liepāja will come alive with plenty concerts, everyday open singing sessions, opening and closing events, and performances by invited guest ensembles. Approximately 3000 participants will take part in 40 ateliers throughout the festival week. Led by internationally renowned conductors, they will explore repertoire from a wide range of musical genres, discover different cultures and broaden their musical horizons.
The atelier programme has been designed to accommodate choirs and singers with different levels of experience and musical ability, ensuring that every participant can find an atelier option suited to their interests and skills. Under the guidance of experienced conductors, participants will explore a diverse repertoire, ranging from Renaissance, Classical and Romantic music to contemporary choral works, opera and symphonic repertoire, as well as pop, rock and jazz arrangements and performances featuring choreography. The atelier programme will offer participants a musical journey around the world. The repertoire studied during the ateliers will be presented in special atelier concerts at the end of the festival.
Further information about the atelier programme, registration and practical arrangements is available on the official festival website: www.europacantat2027.com. The full programme for festival audiences and visitors will be announced in spring 2027.
EUROPA CANTAT 2027 is organised by the European Choral Association, the Liepāja 2027 Foundation and the Latvian Song Celebration Society.
EUROPA CANTAT 2027 is implemented as part of the Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 programme, with funding provided by Liepāja State City Municipality, South Kurzeme Municipality, Kuldīga Municipality, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, Investment and Development Agency of Latvia and State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia. The Liepāja 2027 programme is supported by its main partner in environmental education and sustainability, AS CleanR Grupa, Jsc; its main partner in air mobility and international communication, AS Air Baltic Corporation, Jsc; its promoting financial literacy and business growth partner AS SEB banka, Jsc; its land mobility partner, SIA Lux Express Latvia, Ltd.; its legal partner, SIA Sorainen ZAB, Ltd; its water transport mobility and international communication partner, SIA Stena Line, Ltd. and car rental partner SIXT. Media partners: VSIA Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs, Ltd., SIA Žurnāls Santa, Ltd., SIA TVNET GRUPA, Ltd. and AS Kurzemes Radio, Jsc.
Liepāja, the third largest city in Latvia and the tenth largest in the Baltic States, is home to approximately 70,000 residents who call it their workplace and place of study. Liepāja owns a rich cultural and artistic heritage, offering a diverse range of events throughout the year. From exhibitions by local artists to performances by world-renowned talents, from classical concerts to lively beach festivals, the city is alive with creativity. At the heart of this cultural scene is the architectural gem, the Great Amber Concert Hall, known for its exceptional acoustics that capture the finest nuances of sound, making it a haven for music lovers. Located on Latvia’s southwest coast near the Lithuanian border, the city can be easily reached via Riga and Palanga Airport, or even by ferry.
EUROPA CANTAT is one of Europe’s oldest and largest choral music festivals. From 1961 to 2021, it was organised every three years, each time in a different country. The festival brings together singers and choirs from across Europe and around the world to share their passion for singing, discover one another’s cultures through atelier perform in final concerts, and experience life together beyond the stage. The last full edition was held in Tallinn, Estonia, in 2018, while the most recent edition took place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in 2021, organised on a smaller scale due to the pandemic.
Festival’s Facebook account – www.facebook.com/europacantatfestival
Linda Ertmane
EUROPA CANTAT 2027 public relations manager
Phone: +371 29 181 396
E-mail: linda.ertmane@europacantat2027.com
As part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” program, world-renowned Canadian-American singer and composer Rufus Wainwright will perform at Liepāja Concert Hall “Great Amber” on January 30, 2027, at 6:00 PM.
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