News

On 14–15 May 2026, representatives of the Liepāja 2027 Foundation took part in the ECoC Family Meeting in the Portuguese city of Évora, which will hold the title of European Capital of Culture alongside Liepāja in 2027. The meeting brought together representatives of former, current and future European Capitals of Culture, creating a space for the exchange of ideas and the development of new collaborations.

Particular attention among festival visitors this year was drawn to the launch of the Liepāja 2027 kite. Symbolically, it represented Liepāja’s journey towards its year as a European Capital of Culture, while also increasing the visibility of Liepāja 2027 in an international context.

Johanna is working on a feature about the Baltic Riviera – a story portraying the Baltic Sea coast as a unique destination, in which Liepāja is presented not only as a place with a distinctive seaside rhythm, bold architecture, and a unique identity, but also as the future European Capital of Culture 2027.

The Liepāja 2027 Foundation has concluded its co-financing competition for the organisation of cultural events as part of the Liepāja 2027 opening celebration programme. A total of 30,000 euros has been allocated to eleven selected events, all of which will take place on 23 January 2027, beginning at 20:00.

The second open project competition “Rock the Rock”, organised by the Liepāja 2027 Foundation, has concluded, with seven interdisciplinary music and art projects receiving a total of €50,000 in funding.

During the session, participants will receive guidance on application eligibility and evaluation criteria. The process of preparing project documentation will be explained in full, and practical advice will be shared on how to carry out projects successfully and prepare the required post-project reports.

This year’s programme in Liepāja featured educational activities in the square by the concert hall “Lielais dzintars” and performances by artists from the “Art Bus 75” project across various cultural venues in the city. In Dienvidkurzeme Municipality, celebrations took place in Durbe and Virga, while in Kuldīga Municipality they were held in Vārme and Alsunga.

On 7 May, within the framework of the Latvian Culture Month in Germany, Liepāja 2027 had the opportunity to present the European Capital of Culture programme at the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in Berlin to representatives of the cultural sector, cooperation partners and the Latvian diaspora in Germany.

The community-building and cultural projects will be implemented at various locations across Kurzeme between June and August 2026. These will include the “Pļava” festival, the community celebration “Together at the Bread Table”, the “Ventspils Street Creative Courtyard”, the “Ezerkrasts Neighbourhood Picnic” and the contemporary Midsummer celebration “(un)rest Midsummer in OTAS”.

On Friday, 29 May, at 17:00, the contemporary art exhibition “At Ease!” will open at the storefronts of 36/38 Graudu Street in Liepāja, where it will remain on view until 29 June. Organised by the Liepāja 2027 Foundation, the exhibition brings together artworks that explore creative practices of peacebuilding.