Everyone is welcome to join the efforts in preparations for Liepāja as the European Capital of Culture 2027 and shape what this moment will become.
Those who feel a particular affection for the life of their own neighbourhood and community may join the “Neighbourliness” programme. Others may choose to lend their time and energy as volunteers, contributing to the many projects and events that will bring the programme to life. A special youth programme – limited in size and guided by clear selection criteria – invites young people to collaborate in the creation of events crafted for their peers.
We warmly encourage you to explore the ways in which you may take part, and to follow our updates.
On Wednesday, 18 February, the Kuldīga Youth House hosted the traditional Cultural Breakfasts organised by the foundation Liepāja 2027, bringing together representatives of the cultural sector, young people, and active members of the community from Kuldīga and the surrounding area.
On Friday, 23 January, participants in the “Neighbourliness” community programme, organised by the Liepāja 2027 Foundation (Liepāja 2027), took part in the workshop “A Sense of Community Through Movement”, led by movement artist Kristīne Brīniņa.
The Liepāja 2027 Foundation (Liepāja 2027) has announced an open co-financing competition for projects that would add a spark to the core Liepāja 2027 programme series “Rock the Rock” in 2027. Applications must be submitted by 7 April 2026.
In the final week of January, Justīne, public participation project manager at the Liepāja 2027 Foundation (Liepāja 2027), took part in the “Leadership for Green Transition” training in Zadar, Croatia, together with 29 other youth workers from across Europe.
Karas Gallery, a contemporary art centre in Zagreb, Croatia, is launching the Karas+Kvart collaboration programme, bringing together local and international artists to create artworks inspired by the surrounding environment. Ap.plication deadline: 28 February 2026
On Friday, 23 January, participants in the “Neighbourliness” community programme, organised by the Liepāja 2027 Foundation (Liepāja 2027), took part in the workshop “A Sense of Community Through Movement”, led by movement artist Kristīne Brīniņa.
On Friday, 12 December, members of the Liepāja 2027 community programme “Neighbourliness” gathered at the Kuldīga Art House for a workshop titled “Forum Theatre for Community Solutions”, facilitated by forum theatre expert Agnese Lapiņa.
To nurture a stronger sense of belonging across the entire Land of (Un)rest, the second round of the community strengthening and support programme “Neighbourliness”, organised by the Liepāja 2027 Foundation, will begin this November.
The agreement confirms a shared commitment to strengthen culture and education, foster professional growth, build international exchange, and deepen civic engagement in the run-up to Liepāja’s year as European Capital of Culture.
On Saturday, 25 October, from 11.00 to 13.00, the Baatas Market (Klaipēdas iela 104B) will host “Ražas ritmi” (Harvest Rhythms) – a community gathering and harvest festival designed to bring residents of Liepāja’s Dienvidrietumi neighbourhood closer together.
On Monday, 6 October at 16:00, a memorandum of cooperation will be formally signed at the Liepāja Museum (Kūrmājas prospekts 16/18) between the Liepāja 2027 Foundation, the British Embassy in Latvia and the British Council in Latvia. The agreement will strengthen collaboration in the fields of culture, community engagement and civic activity.
One of the programme’s key goals is to encourage the creation of high-quality, imaginative projects that may later be submitted to Liepāja 2027 competitions or secure support from other funding streams. Participation is free of charge. Applications are open until 8 October 2025 via the online form.
On Wednesday, 18 February, the Kuldīga Youth House hosted the traditional Cultural Breakfasts organised by the foundation Liepāja 2027, bringing together representatives of the cultural sector, young people, and active members of the community from Kuldīga and the surrounding area.
In the final week of January, Justīne, public participation project manager at the Liepāja 2027 Foundation (Liepāja 2027), took part in the “Leadership for Green Transition” training in Zadar, Croatia, together with 29 other youth workers from across Europe.
On Saturday, January 24, the fifth meeting of the Liepāja 2027 youth programme took place. This time, the participants gathered at Pegaza Courtyard to learn the fundamental principles of strong team building and to strengthen their collaboration skills.
From 4 to 6 December, the first activities of the “Youth Connect” project, funded by Interreg Estonia–Latvia, took place in Liepāja, where participants of the Liepāja 2027 youth programme collaborated with 24 young people from Tartu.
On Saturday, 22 November, the second meeting of the Liepāja 2027 youth programme took place. During the visit, participants explored the Kuldīga Museum and the cultural space “Brīvības Osta” in Aizpute to learn about the stories, daily life, and challenges of these places.
On Saturday, 8 November, the Liepāja 2027 Foundation launched the second season of its international youth training and mentoring programme for the 2025/2026 academic year. This year, 24 young people from Aizpute, Grobiņa, Krote, Kuldīga, Nīca, Priekule, and Liepāja have joined the programme.
The Liepāja 2027 Foundation is opening applications for an international youth training and mentoring programme for the 2025/2026 academic year, aimed at young people aged 14 to 24 from Liepāja, South Kurzeme and Kuldīga.
As a result of the Liepāja 2027 Youth Pilot Project idea competition, a unique solstice night event called Ravegrieži will take place on June 20, the eve of the Līgo festival, in the heart of Kuldīga – at the hangar on Piltenes Street 25a. The event will run from 21:00 to 02:00, offering a one-of-a-kind experience in the spirit of the summer solstice.
The aim of the initiative is to revive the tradition of handwritten letters and to build friendships with volunteers, their coordinators, and communities from other European Capitals of Culture.
The award was presented in recognition of the development of a high-quality volunteer programme in preparation for Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027, supporting cultural events in Liepāja and across the South Kurzeme and Kuldīga municipalities.
On Friday, 5 December, participants of the Liepāja 2027 volunteer programme “Mission (un)rest” were invited to the International Volunteer Day celebration “Light Within You” at the “Great Amber” concert hall.
On Saturday, November 15, accessibility training took place at the Liepāja 2027 office for participants of the Liepāja 2027 volunteer programme “Mission (un)rest”. It was led by representatives from SUSTENTO, Latvia’s umbrella organisation for people with special needs.
To support the personal growth and skill development of Liepāja 2027 volunteers, a training session for volunteer team leaders was held on October 18, focusing on information-gathering techniques and team-building methods. The training was led by non-formal education trainer Staņislavs Babins.
Officially launching the Volunteer Programme, more than 40 participants of Liepāja 2027’s “Mission (un)rest” gathered on 14 June at the Liepāja Latvian Society House to learn about the significance of the European Capital of Culture title, its vision, and the upcoming journey ahead.
At the end of March, Liepāja 2027’s amazing volunteers are taking part in an unprecedented and widely resonant event in Liepāja—warmly welcoming visitors to the Great Amber Concert Hall, where the Academy Award (“Oscar”) and other prestigious accolades won by the film Straume are on display for everyone to see up close.
The Liepāja 2027 Foundation (Liepāja 2027) has announced an open co-financing competition for projects that would add a spark to the core Liepāja 2027 programme series “Rock the Rock” in 2027. Applications must be submitted by 7 April 2026.
Karas Gallery, a contemporary art centre in Zagreb, Croatia, is launching the Karas+Kvart collaboration programme, bringing together local and international artists to create artworks inspired by the surrounding environment. Ap.plication deadline: 28 February 2026
“CreArt Kaunas” (Lithuania) in collaboration with the Kaunas Artists’ House announces an open call for environmental artists to create art installations to be placed in public spaces along the Nemunas River in Kaunas. Application deadline: 25 February 2026.
The 2028 European Capital of Culture, České Budějovice (Czech Republic), invites artists to apply for the “South Specific” festival – a unique theatre festival that combines live art with unusual venues across the South Bohemia region. Application deadline: 26 February 2026.
The Liepāja 2027 Foundation has concluded its cultural tourism co-financing competition “Land of (un)rest, Tell Us Stories!”, announced in October 2025 and aimed at developing innovative and sustainable cultural tourism offers. Following the evaluation, nine projects have been awarded a total of EUR 87,012 in co-financing.
Representatives from different cultural and artistic fields, including interdisciplinary and creative industry projects, are invited to participate. Submissions for the competition, in order to be considered for financial support, will be accepted from 12 January 2026.
From December 3 to 12, the CreArt Contemporary Art in Schools project continued at Liepāja Piemares Primary School. During the workshops led by artist Maija Demitere, students gained hands-on experience in photography, digital image editing, and printing techniques.
To help applicants prepare their project proposals for the cultural tourism competition “Land of (Un)rest, Tell Us Stories!”, the Liepāja 2027 Foundation (Liepāja 2027) invites interested parties to an informative seminar on Monday, 10 November, at 16:00 in the Great Hall of the South Kurzeme Regional Council (Lielā iela 54, Grobiņa).
On 9 September 2025 at 14:00, the Liepāja 2027 Foundation opens its doors at Dārza Street 4/8 and welcomes all to the masterclass “Eco-design in Events” led by researcher Kitija Balcare, Ph.D. (c.), who will guide us through the art of designing with responsibility.
The forum will bring together creators of cultural life in Kurzeme – state and municipal employees working in the cultural sector, representatives of the private and NGO sectors, artists and art process organizers, culture students and other interested parties, as well as anyone who values the development of culture.
The foundation “Liepāja 2027” invites cultural professionals, event organisers, institution managers, producers, and everyone interested to participate in the international conference “Cultural Renovation”, which will take place on 22 October 2025, at Liepāja Concert Hall “Lielais dzintars”.
On 12 July, the Liepāja 2027 Foundation will shine a spotlight on how to live with nature rather than against it by hosting an international forum titled “Nature Trouble”. This ecological brainstorming marks the opening act of the programme cycle “Agora of Values”, part of the Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 initiative.
On May 6 at 11:00, the results of the baseline study on the impact of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” project on various societal and economic processes will be presented in the Chamber Hall of the Great Amber Concert Hall in Liepāja.
This seminar is designed for municipalities, cultural organizations, and civil society representatives interested in learning about EU programs “Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values” (CERV) and “Creative Europe” (RE) and their funding opportunities for social and cultural projects.
Share your idea or initiative to help achieve the goals of the Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 project.
The European Capital of Culture is an initiative by the European Union designed to emphasize the role of culture in the development of cities. Its aim is to foster a shared European cultural identity, celebrate Europe’s diverse heritage, and promote cities internationally through a rich programme of cultural events. This initiative also strengthens the sense of belonging to a common cultural space, while highlighting the shared values that unite Europeans.
Since its inception in 1985, the title of European Capital of Culture has been awarded to over 60 cities across Europe and beyond, leaving a lasting impact on their cultural, social, and economic landscapes.
Liepāja 2027 will feature a wide range of cultural events, including international and local festivals, exhibitions, concerts, and performances. These events will involve collaborations with prominent European and global artists and cultural institutions. Some events will focus on Liepāja’s history and offer interdisciplinary and unique cultural experiences.
The most anticipated highlights of the programme will be revealed in early 2026.
Local residents will be actively involved as both volunteers and participants in various cultural and community projects. The programme will support community-driven initiatives and offer educational programmes, as well as open project competitions, ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to contribute and participate.
Volunteers will be required for various activities, from event organisation to guest hospitality and providing information.
For more details regarding the volunteering part, please contact the Liepāja 2027 Volunteer Coordinator, Izabella Džeriņa, at +371 25603866 or via email at izabella.dzerina@liepaja2027.lv.