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.
The Liepāja Culture Department has announced the second cultural project competition of 2026, inviting applications for financial support for the implementation of significant, unique and traditional cultural projects in Liepāja. Applications can be submitted until 24 August.
The project “Atmospheric Waves” is looking for original concepts and ideas for sound artworks that would respond to wind and climate conditions in Liepaja, on the West Coast of Latvia. The competition is open for applications until September 4, 2026.
The competition aimed to encourage artists to explore both the shared heritage and distinct character of Aizpute and Kuldīga, resulting in two permanent environmental art installations forming part of the Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 programme. Installations “Cloud Collector” (“Mākoņu kolektors”, Kuldīga) and “Passage” (“Virze”, Aizpute) were named the winning designs.
On Wednesday, July 29, at the newly opened hotel “Brīvības osta” Aizpute, the 2025/2026 cycle of the Liepāja 2027 Community Strengthening and Support Programme came to a close, bringing together community representatives and cultural organizers from Liepāja, Kuldīga, and the South Kurzeme region
On Tuesday, 28 July, the first meeting took place in Karosta with the international artists participating in the CreArt 3.0 project, Patrīcija Giļīte and Cédric Cano, who have begun their creative residency in Liepāja
The City of Lublin (Poland) invites two visual artists to participate in an international artists’ residency taking place 13–21 September 2026 as part of the “Festiwal na Złotej” (Festival on Złota Street). The residency is organized within the framework of the CreArt 3.0 project, co-funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe Programme. Application deadline: 27 July 2026.
PE Artkomas, in collaboration with the Kaunas Accordion Society, J. Gruodis Conservatory, and Kaunas 1st Music School, invites young accordionists to participate in the XVII International Accordion Competition “Ascoltate 2026”, taking place on 27–28 November 2026 in Kaunas, Lithuania. Application deadline: 24 October 2026
The f|x|r Art Gallery, in collaboration with the House of Arts Veszprém, is pleased to announce the open call for the LOOP² 2026 Video Art Festival, taking place in Veszprém, one of Hungary’s most historic and picturesque cities. Application deadline: 15 September 2026.
On 20 June, the Ventspils Street Community Festival took place in Kuldīga as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme. The event brought together residents of Ventspils Street, local community members, neighbours, friends, and visitors for a day dedicated to connection, shared experiences, and community spirit.
On Saturday, June 20, as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme, a community work event took place in Polīšu gravas, in Vārme Parish, Kuldīga Municipality.
On Wednesday, July 29, at the newly opened hotel “Brīvības osta” Aizpute, the 2025/2026 cycle of the Liepāja 2027 Community Strengthening and Support Programme came to a close, bringing together community representatives and cultural organizers from Liepāja, Kuldīga, and the South Kurzeme region
On Tuesday, 28 July, the first meeting took place in Karosta with the international artists participating in the CreArt 3.0 project, Patrīcija Giļīte and Cédric Cano, who have begun their creative residency in Liepāja
On 20 June, the Ventspils Street Community Festival took place in Kuldīga as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme. The event brought together residents of Ventspils Street, local community members, neighbours, friends, and visitors for a day dedicated to connection, shared experiences, and community spirit.
On Saturday, June 20, as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme, a community work event took place in Polīšu gravas, in Vārme Parish, Kuldīga Municipality.
On Saturday, June 21, as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme, a special and heartfelt “(un)rest Midsummer at “Otas”” was held in Kurmāle Parish, Kuldīga Municipality, bringing together participants of different generations to create a shared celebration, explore Latvian traditions, and strengthen community bonds.
Saturday, June 20, from 12:00 to 16:00, the “Ventspils Street Creative Courtyard” event will take place in Kuldīga, in the courtyard of the Community House, at Ventspils Street 16. The event is part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme.
On Saturday, June 13, the first Ezerkrasts Picnic was held in Liepāja as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme. The event brought local residents together to connect with their neighbours, exchange ideas, and discuss the future development of the Ezerkrasts neighbourhood.
On the summer solstice, Saturday, June 20, from 10:00 – 18:00 a community cleanup event will take place at Polīšu Ravine in Vārme Parish, Kuldīga Municipality, as a part of the public participation projects in the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme.
On Saturday, June 6, the event “Together at the Bread Table”, organized by the association “Kuršu Kopiena”, took place in Rucava as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme.
On Saturday, June 13, as part of the public engagement projects of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme, the first Ezerkrasts Picnic will take place – a community gathering aimed at helping neighbours get to know one another, share ideas, and jointly shape the future of the Ezerkrasts neighbourhood.
For the past two weeks, French director, choreographer and Artistic Director of Bourges 2028, Christophe Haleb, has been in Liepāja together with a film crew to develop a documentary film project.
On Wednesday, 17 June, the workshop “A Compass for Happy People and a Healthy Planet” took place, during which participants, guided by social innovator Paula Cukura, explored methods for setting personal goals and worked practically with their values, motivation, and other aspects of personal sustainability.
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 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.
The Liepāja Culture Department has announced the second cultural project competition of 2026, inviting applications for financial support for the implementation of significant, unique and traditional cultural projects in Liepāja. Applications can be submitted until 24 August.
The project “Atmospheric Waves” is looking for original concepts and ideas for sound artworks that would respond to wind and climate conditions in Liepaja, on the West Coast of Latvia. The competition is open for applications until September 4, 2026.
The competition aimed to encourage artists to explore both the shared heritage and distinct character of Aizpute and Kuldīga, resulting in two permanent environmental art installations forming part of the Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 programme. Installations “Cloud Collector” (“Mākoņu kolektors”, Kuldīga) and “Passage” (“Virze”, Aizpute) were named the winning designs.
The City of Lublin (Poland) invites two visual artists to participate in an international artists’ residency taking place 13–21 September 2026 as part of the “Festiwal na Złotej” (Festival on Złota Street). The residency is organized within the framework of the CreArt 3.0 project, co-funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe Programme. Application deadline: 27 July 2026.
PE Artkomas, in collaboration with the Kaunas Accordion Society, J. Gruodis Conservatory, and Kaunas 1st Music School, invites young accordionists to participate in the XVII International Accordion Competition “Ascoltate 2026”, taking place on 27–28 November 2026 in Kaunas, Lithuania. Application deadline: 24 October 2026
The f|x|r Art Gallery, in collaboration with the House of Arts Veszprém, is pleased to announce the open call for the LOOP² 2026 Video Art Festival, taking place in Veszprém, one of Hungary’s most historic and picturesque cities. Application deadline: 15 September 2026.
The 2026 European Capital of Culture Trenčín (Slovakia), in cooperation with the regional tourism organisation “OOCR Považie”, is announcing an open call for artists and artist collectives from around the world. Application deadline: 30 June 2026 at 15:00 (CET).
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 contemporary art foundation Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa invites young artists to apply for an open call for a five-week residency in Venice, Italy. Application deadline: 30 June 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 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.