On 10 June, a meeting of the supervisory board for Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 was held at the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia.
As the programme is gradually being unveiled, preparations for 2027 are also gathering pace. During the meeting, representatives of national institutions, local authorities and other partner organisations discussed the key priorities to ensure that Liepāja, the South Kurzeme Municipality and Kuldīga Municipality are ready to welcome thousands of visitors from Latvia and abroad in 2027.
The meeting provided an update on projected visitor numbers and the region’s capacity, including accommodation, catering services, transport and other hospitality-related matters. Logistics and connectivity solutions, the latest developments in project implementation, as well as the critical risk management plan and preparedness for various development scenarios were also discussed.
It is encouraging to see growing engagement and cooperation among national institutions as the programme develops, creating a strong foundation for a successful European Capital of Culture year.
While the full programme is still being developed, its outlines are already gradually emerging. On 10 June, the concert by world-renowned Maestro Andris Nelsons and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra in Liepāja was announced. Previously announced events include the opera-performance Sun & Sea, a solo exhibition by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota, the choral music festival Europa Cantat 2027, and other internationally significant cultural events.
The full European Capital of Culture programme, (un)rest, will be unveiled on 9 October this year.
The “(un)rest” programme of “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” is implemented by the Liepāja 2027 Foundation, with funding allocated by the City of Liepāja, the South Kurzeme and Kuldīga municipalities, and the Ministry of Culture. 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 communications, AS “airBaltic Corporation”, Jsc; its partner in legal matters SIA “Sorainen ZAB”, Ltd; its land mobility partner, SIA “Lux Express Latvia”, Ltd; alongside its maritime mobility and international communication partner SIA “Stena Line”, Ltd; The Foundation’s media partners are: VSIA “Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs”, Ltd; SIA “Tvnet grupa”, Ltd; and AS “Kurzemes Radio”, Jsc.
Photo: Oskars Artūrs Upenieks / Ministry of Culture
9 September 2026 – Liepāja, Latvia, has been named in Intrepid Travel’s annual Not Hot List, recognising ten of the world’s most exciting, under-the-radar destinations to watch in 2027.
In August 2027, as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme, the international “Zenta Mauriņa Summer School” will take place in Southern Kurzeme, conceived as a space for dialogue and collaborative artistic activity.
The Liepāja 2027 Foundation is inviting everyone regardless of age or place of residence to take part in the creation of “Fabrics of Reality”, a new work by the internationally acclaimed Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota (塩田千春), by writing a personal letter that will become part of the finished installation. Letters will be accepted until 30 November 2026.
