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.
At the end of May, the first international working visit of the Erasmus+ project “ECoC Youth Clubs” took place in the Czech city of Budweis, bringing together young people and project managers from three future European Capitals of Culture – Liepāja 2027, Évora 2027, and České Budějovice 2028.
On 23 May, as part of the International Museum Night celebrations, the youth-organised adventure walk “Night Mission –Secrets of Kuldīga” took place in Kuldīga.
Liepāja 2027 is inviting two visual artists for a summer residency taking place from July 22 to August 19, 2026. The works created during the residency will become part of the programme of the project “Lāčplēša Garden Festival,” a partner of Liepāja 2027. Applications accepted until: June 14, 2026
On Saturday, June 6, as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme, the event “Together at the Bread Table” will take place in Rucava – a creative, hands-on, and heartfelt gathering for residents of all ages.
The Center of Excellence in Arts Education (MIKC) Liepāja Music, Art and Design Secondary School (LMMDV), as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme, continues to implement the “Craft + Design” project and invites interested participants to attend two public guest lectures.
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.
A further four initiatives each received 400 euros in support: the associations “Sventāja”, “Kuldīga Senior School” and “Liepāja Residency and Cultural Centre”, as well as community activist Aija Birzniece with her project “(un)rest Midsummer in OTAS”.
The Liepāja 2027 Foundation is announcing an open co-financing call for the implementation of events within the Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 programme. The call is designed to inspirit the (un)rest programme with contemporary, high-quality cultural events created in partnership with independent organisations from across Latvia. Please submit your applications no later than by 16 June 2026 at 23:59.
On Saturday, June 6, as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme, the event “Together at the Bread Table” will take place in Rucava – a creative, hands-on, and heartfelt gathering for residents of all ages.
A further four initiatives each received 400 euros in support: the associations “Sventāja”, “Kuldīga Senior School” and “Liepāja Residency and Cultural Centre”, as well as community activist Aija Birzniece with her project “(un)rest Midsummer in OTAS”.
On 9 May, Liepāja 2027 will mark Europe Day with a programme of activities across Liepāja, South Kurzeme and Kuldīga, designed to strengthen civic awareness and foster a shared sense of belonging to the European community.
On Friday, 20 March, the final workshop of the Liepāja 2027 community programme “Neighbourliness”, titled “A Community Story for the World”, took place in Aizpute.
The Liepāja 2027 Foundation has announced the launch of an open microgrant competition “The European Dream in Our Community!” fostering a community spirit and European identity. This initiative will engage local communities through interactive activities and creative workshops. Activities are restricted to a specific timeframe on 9 May, running from 12:00 to 16:00. These local … Continued
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.
On Friday, 28 November, the workshop “Values as a Community Force” kicked off the second cycle of activities within the Liepāja 2027 community programme “Neighbourliness”.
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.
On October 25, the Baatas Market came alive as neighbours gathered for the “Harvest Rhythms” festival — a joyful celebration of music, creativity, and togetherness.
At the end of May, the first international working visit of the Erasmus+ project “ECoC Youth Clubs” took place in the Czech city of Budweis, bringing together young people and project managers from three future European Capitals of Culture – Liepāja 2027, Évora 2027, and České Budějovice 2028.
On 23 May, as part of the International Museum Night celebrations, the youth-organised adventure walk “Night Mission –Secrets of Kuldīga” took place in Kuldīga.
On Saturday, 25 April, presentations for the second season of the Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 Youth Programme took place, with 24 young participants from Liepāja, South Kurzeme and Kuldīga introducing to their six creative event proposals.
On Wednesday, 1 April, a formal agreement was signed with the German Embassy in Latvia to support the project “Fact, Fiction, and Democracy”. The initiative aims to strengthen young people’s understanding of media literacy, democracy, and European values across Liepāja, South Kurzeme, Kuldīga, and Chemnitz (Germany).
From 27 February to 1 March, participants from the youth programmes of Liepāja and Tartu came together for the mid-term activity of the “Youth Connect” project, funded by the Interreg Estonia–Latvia programme, in the border towns of Valga–Valka.
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.
From 19 to 23 April, Izabella Džeriņa, Volunteer Coordinator at the foundation “Nodibinājums Liepāja 2027” (Liepāja 2027), took part in the international training course “Mental Health in Long-term Volunteering – Healthy Volunteers & Healthy Coordinators” in Leipzig, Germany.
The purpose of the training was to familiarise the public more broadly with volunteer work and to provide a shared understanding of Liepaja 2027 vision, values, planned events, the role of volunteers, their benefits, and the available opportunities to engage in initiatives.
The event was organised at the initiative of Timofejs Garkušs, a participant in the Liepāja 2027 volunteer programme “Mission (un)rest”, and featured young people with experience in the European Solidarity Corps and other international projects.
Currently supported by 93 volunteers, the initiative seeks to strengthen community participation in cultural life whilst fostering international cooperation and skills development through to the end of 2027.
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.
Liepāja 2027 is inviting two visual artists for a summer residency taking place from July 22 to August 19, 2026. The works created during the residency will become part of the programme of the project “Lāčplēša Garden Festival,” a partner of Liepāja 2027. Applications accepted until: June 14, 2026
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.
The Liepāja 2027 Foundation is announcing an open co-financing call for the implementation of events within the Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 programme. The call is designed to inspirit the (un)rest programme with contemporary, high-quality cultural events created in partnership with independent organisations from across Latvia. Please submit your applications no later than by 16 June 2026 at 23:59.
The Liepāja 2027 Foundation invites professionals who shape the culture horizon in Liepāja, South Kurzeme and Kuldīga to submit their cultural and artistic initiatives to the Liepāja 2027 side programme, offering the opportunity to integrate existing events into the Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 programme.
The foundation “Liepāja 2027” has announced an open, co-financed artistic competition, “Creation of Environmental Art Installations in Kuldīga and Aizpute”, welcoming artists and creative teams to join the creation of contemporary, sustainable environmental artworks in Kurzeme. Applications must be submitted by 1 June 2026 at 23:59.
With this open call for artists to participate in the exhibition and symposium, the association “ASTE. Art, Science, Technology, Education” launches the project “ElektrON – The Future of Amber”, interpreting the heritage of amber—along with the future potential of other fossil materials—through a symbiosis of art and science, within the programme “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027”. Applications to participate in the project can be submitted 23:59 on 19 April.
The residency “Notes on the Margins” is now open for applications from creative practitioners, inviting them to engage in the exploration and development of the local cultural landscape.. Application period: 1 April to 13 May 2026.
The 2028 European Capital of Culture, České Budějovice in the Czech Republic, announces an international Open Call, inviting artists from around the world to become part of the České Budějovice 2028 artistic programme. Application deadline: 10 July 2026.
The Center of Excellence in Arts Education (MIKC) Liepāja Music, Art and Design Secondary School (LMMDV), as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme, continues to implement the “Craft + Design” project and invites interested participants to attend two public guest lectures.
During this workshop, participants learned how to prepare a traditional bonfire, make festive decorations, create flower crowns, and prepare traditional Midsummer dishes.
Launching the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme initiative “Salmon Song”, a public discussion titled “Spawning is not a buffet” took place on Saturday, 25 April, in Kuldīga. The event brought together members of the public and industry representatives to draw attention to the critical state of salmon populations and related environmental issues.
The Liepāja 2027 Foundation (Liepāja 2027), in collaboration with RTU Liepāja Academy, has launched a new lifelong learning course titled “5 Steps to a Good Event”.
The workshops will take place at the Liepāja Folk Applied Arts Studios “Zītars” and “Liepava” (Dārza iela 4/8, Liepāja) and will be led by experienced master craftsmen.
The Liepāja 2027 Foundation has launched an open invitation for farms and households within the Liepāja, South Kurzeme, and Kuldīga municipalities to participate in a specialised masterclass cycle titled “Midsummer on the Farm”.
The Liepāja 2027 Foundation (Liepāja 2027), in collaboration with RTU Liepāja Academy, has launched a new lifelong learning course titled “5 Steps to a Good Event”.
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.
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.