Support the Liepāja 2027 events in the audience choice vote of the Liepāja Cultural Award 2025

The opening of new cultural spaces, festivals, concerts, a cultural conference, exhibitions, works of art dedicated to Liepāja, as well as the publication of books and a music album… In total, 33 outstanding, diverse, and significant cultural events that enriched the city’s cultural life in 2025 have been nominated for the Liepāja Cultural Award.

From 22 January to 29 January, cultural enthusiasts are invited to choose their favourite and vote for the Cultural Event of the Year 2025.

The year 2025 in Liepāja passed in a festive atmosphere, marked by colourful and diverse cultural events dedicated to the city’s 400th anniversary. The jubilee year was distinguished by special concerts and performances, thematic exhibitions, festivals, as well as book and music publications telling the story of Liepāja. These events enriched the city’s cultural life and attracted both local residents and visitors from other cities. This year, a total of 33 applications have been submitted for the Liepāja Cultural Award 2025, which have been evaluated by the jury and put forward for public voting by cultural event audiences.

From 22 to 29 January, every resident of Liepāja is invited to participate in the “Liepājnieki’s Choice Award” voting on the platform epakalpojumi.liepaja.lv. Voting is possible once per day, casting a vote for what is considered the most significant cultural event of 2025 in Liepāja.

This year, the Liepāja Cultural Award will be presented for the fifteenth time, honouring nine events and personalities highly evaluated by the jury—figures shaping Liepāja’s cultural life. In addition, the “Liepājnieki’s Choice Award” and the Chairman of the Liepāja City Council’s Choice Award will be presented. The laureates will be announced at a ceremonial award ceremony.

Events, initiatives, and personalities submitted for the Audience Choice vote and jury evaluation:

1. The creative team of “Liepāja – Youth Capital of Latvia 2025” for a city-wide cultural and participation process, uniting 38 events aimed at youth engagement, the promotion of youth policy, and representation of youth interests.
2. Ltd. “Lielais Dzintars” for the artistic excellence of the tenth anniversary festival of the Liepāja Concert Hall “Lielais Dzintars.”
3. The mixed choir “Laiks” of the Liepāja Folk Art and Culture Centre for high artistic performance, marking the choir’s 20th anniversary with the concert cycle “The Seasons of Time” and the jubilee concert “LAIK(s)METS,” creating a contemporary choral music experience in Liepāja’s cultural life.
4. Ltd. “Liepaja Music,” Ltd. “Šarmants,” Ltd. “Bang!,” Maija Kalniņa, Uldis Marhilevičs, and Jānis Strazds for the creative team’s concert performance “Personal Code: Liepāja,” dedicated to Liepāja’s 400th anniversary, creating an emotionally powerful story of the city’s identity.
5. Liepāja Theatre and the organizing team of the international festival “Theatre Close-Up” for a new initiative—organising the first international theatre festival “Theatre Close-Up” in Liepāja.
6. Monta Krafte for creative growth and inspiring art that allows viewers to rediscover Liepāja’s everyday life and experience the city as a special place where moments turn into paintings.
7. Liepāja Secondary School of Music, Art and Design (structural unit – Liepāja Children’s Art School) for organising events dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Liepāja Children’s Art School.
8. Liepāja Secondary School of Music, Art and Design for the implementation of the design and craftsmanship collaboration project “DIŽAINA.”
9. Ltd. “Tipogrāfijas Creative Quarter” for the collective’s achievements in culture in 2025, implementing a diverse programme of concerts, art events, and community activities in Liepāja.
10. Liepāja Symphony Orchestra for the synthesis of academic, jazz, and popular music in the orchestra’s repertoire.
11. Liepāja Museum for the implementation of the exhibition “Vibrant Liepāja,” dedicated to the city’s 400th anniversary.
12. Liepāja Museum for the creation of a new interactive permanent exhibition at the “Liepāja Occupation Museum.”
13. Ernests Vilsons and the Cultural Development Association “Tapala lapa” for the implementation of the contemporary chamber music concert series “Ūdenstornī san.”
14. Daiga and Aldis Straupenieki for the creation of the traditional cultural venue Sventāja, strengthening Latvian identity, promoting traditional culture, and fostering cooperation across Liepāja, South Kurzeme, and the historical region of Kurzeme beyond national borders.
15. Liepāja Children and Youth Centre for organising the international contemporary dance festival “Dance Rhythms in Liepāja.”
16. The collective of Liepāja and Klaipėda poets for the publication of the poetry almanac “Liepāja. Klaipėda. Poetry / Klaipėda. Liepoja. Poezija” in Latvian and Lithuanian.
17. Liepāja Education Department for the implementation of the cultural programme and initiative “400 Works for Liepāja,” the grand concert “The Big Story of Little Liepāja,” and students’ tribute to Liepāja on its 400th anniversary.
18. Liepāja Children and Youth Centre for the event “Family Celebration in Liepāja 2025,” including a joint choir evening of Liepāja educational institutions and the 2nd International Wind Orchestra Festival “Liepāja Wind.”
19. Ltd. “Lielais Dzintars” for creating a nationally unique concert programme in Liepāja and fostering prestigious, unprecedented international collaboration.
20. Liepāja Latvian Society House for the exhibition “The Story of One Photograph,” a cultural-historical event dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Liepāja Latvian Society House.
21. Foundation “Liepāja 2027” for the exhibition “Unspoken Sandy Encounter II” at the “Romas dārzs” gallery.
22. Liepāja Secondary School of Music, Art and Design for organising the event “Music, Art and Design Days 2025.”
23. Liepāja Theatre and director Mārtiņš Eihe for the witty, energetic, and slightly provocative production “Three Funerals and Two Weddings,” demonstrating the vitality of classical works in contemporary theatre.
24. Foundation “Liepāja 2027” for the implementation of the Liepāja 400th anniversary celebration programme, including the concert at the Holy Trinity Church “Through Light It Comes and Turns to Silver,” the concert performance “Personal Code: Liepāja,” and a citywide planting initiative.
25. Ltd. “Šarmants” for promoting the name of Liepāja and its cultural image internationally, winning a gold award at the Eventex Awards, developing the cultural venue “Bankhaus,” and creating innovative cultural events.
26. Foundation “Liepāja 2027” for organising the conference “Cultural Renovation.”
27. Association “Baringtons K2” for establishing and managing the Baltic Flute Quartet, organising international concert activities, and presenting the concert “Rock and Organ for Liepāja” at Luther Church in cooperation with Okoncerts.
28. Association “ASTE. Art, Science, Technology Education” for organising the international festival “Sound Days 2025.”
29. Ethno group “OGAS” and guitarist Armands Alksnis for the release of the music album “ROKAM!,” featuring 11 traditional melodies from Rucava arranged in rock music style.
30. Association “Liepāja Independent Theatre” for a creative breakthrough, the production “The Ghost of Karosta Prison,” the opening of its chamber hall, and high recognition of acting performance at an amateur theatre showcase.
31. Karīna Tatarinova, Mārtiņš Jansons, Roberts Dinters, and Mārtiņš Feldmanis for the creation of the contemporary original performance “RAINIS IN COCONUTS / a musical-literary picnic.”
32. Liepāja Puppet Theatre for the productions “Hansel and Gretel” and “Metamorphosis,” creating a contemporary puppet theatre experience for different generations and expanding perceptions of the role of puppet theatre today.
33. Cultural Association “Spektrs” for the completion of the restoration of the Hammond organ at Liepāja Luther Church and the establishment of the Hammond Organ Festival in Liepāja.

Information prepared by

Evija Timbra
Liepāja Culture Department
Head of Public Relations and Marketing Projects
Phone: +371 63 483 941
E-mail: Evija.Timbra@liepaja.lv