I am starting to plan way ahead for the National Song Festival in Riga,Latvia in 2028. Has anyone visited Riga at that time? I am especially interested in whether or not this trip would be feasible for us: my husband is in his early 70s and has mobility issues. I am 62 and more active/fit. We would likely bring an ultralight wheelchair with us for him, even though he can stand and walk a little bit. So my questions are: 1) Is the National Song Festival feasible for non-Latvians to attend, especially given the need for wheelchair access? 2) What's a good information source for finding handicapped accessible lodging in Riga ? I am interested in anyone's experience with attending the National Song Festival.
Posted by
Vilnius, Lithuania
43 posts
I am from Lithuania and we, like Latvia, have the same tradition of Song and Dance festival. It just finished, actually, and also was held in Chicago this week. I will speak from near local knowledge.
1) Riga is in Latvia, you are posting in Estonia forum. I know only Estonia got a forum out of the three Baltic states, so no fault of yours, just a note in case you don’t want to book a flight to the wrong country.
2) Such an event lasts about lasts about a week. It takes place in multiple locations, some events are ticketed. If you want to guarantee access for a wheelchair, you must identify the location of the exact event you want to attend and then research if they are accessible for your needs. In general, I don’t find Riga wheelchair friendly in the older areas that are cobblestoned.
3) Accommodation costs in Riga will hit through the roof. The event is attended by large groups of dancers, schools bring their pupils to watch, etc. You must book a place that meets your needs in advance if you want to lock a reasonable price. Expect large crowds and qeues at landmarks, etc.
Hotel research: maybe this is a good place to start? https://wheelchairtravel.org/riga-latvia-hotels/
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you so much for that helpful reply. You have given me some important things to think about regarding crowds and raised prices for the big national festival. I know that the Baltic states are known for wonderful choral music, so are there perhaps smaller festivals that are worth experiencing?
Posted by
Vilnius, Lithuania
43 posts
I don’t mean to discourage you from visiting. On the plus side, you have time to plan. I suggest you talk to your husband and decide how committed you both are to the idea. Also, do you plan to see the whole week of events or just a couple events and then tour the country?
In July 2026, the XVI Latvian Song and Dance Festival held by the diaspora took place in Grand Rapids, Michigan (USA), drawing between 3,000 and 4,000 participants and guests from across the United States, Canada, and Latvia. The event featured a choir of over 400 singers and nearly 800 folk dancers. The next one is scheduled July 1–5, 2027, in Seattle, Washington (USA).
Maybe you can visit the one in Seattle next year? I cannot understand from your profile if you are an American, your location slot on the profile is empty. I just go by the general understanding as this is a Rick Steve forum.
“I know that the Baltic states are known for wonderful choral music, so are there perhaps smaller festivals that are worth experiencing?”
If you want the national level, these aforementioned events are the ones to go. On the international level, smaller events in Lithuania include St Christopher Festival https://kristupofestivalis.lt/en/main/.
I entered your question into Google and this is what I got:
“Upcoming International Choral Festivals (2027)
If you are looking for upcoming festival dates sooner than 2028, several massive regional and international choral events are taking place across the Baltics in 2027:
• Nordic-Baltic Choral Festival 2027 (Kaunas, Lithuania): Taking place in late June 2027, this major regional festival brings adult choirs together from all Nordic and Baltic nations for a multi-day event, including an extensive "Choral Marathon" street performance.
• The Baltics Choral Festival (Vilnius, Lithuania): Scheduled for July 7–13, 2027, this festival commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Singing Revolution. Under the artistic direction of legendary Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds, mixed-voice choirs from across North America will travel to perform alongside local Baltic groups, culminating in a grand finale at St. John's Church.
• EUROPA CANTAT 2027 (Liepāja, Latvia): One of Europe's largest international choral exchange festivals is set to be hosted in the Latvian coastal city of Liepāja in August 2027.”
Of course, this is Google, so it needs verifying. I am afraid we do not do it on the smaller scale :-)
Posted by
Freedonia
19293 posts
Riga is one of my favorite cities. It's compact and easy to get around. Plus it is very inexpensive. (Although during the festival I'm guessing prices will go up.)
One thing to note. The cobblestone streets of old town Riga seem, to me, to be some of the roughtest streets two walk on. The sidewalks are also narrow. Since you mentioned mobility issues keep that in mind. However, wandering the old town is great and you will run into some very interesting things.