2023: Time to start thinking about the XXVII Latvian Song and Dance Festival in Rīga

2023 marks the 150^th Anniversary of the Latvian Song Festival which was first held in Riga in 1873

(and it will be 70 years from Canada’s first Latvian Song Festival in 1953)

The 2023 Song and Dance Festival in Latvia is organized by the Latvian National Cultural Centre and will take place in Rīga from June 30 to July 9.

It is not too late to sign up to participate in the festival as a singer or dancer... but only as a member of an ensemble (you cannot sign up as an individual participant). Here is a list of ensembles in Canada, along with contact information: Canadian song and dance ensembles.

The theme of the mass choir concert is “Tīrums” (“Field”). Choristers can also choose to participate in the closing concert “Kopā augšup” (“Let’s Rise Together”). The concert will include dancing and wind ensembles. Dancers will have their own mass event “Mūžīgais dzinējs” (our attempt at translation: “Perpetual Motion”).

The festival parade will be on Sunday, July 2. July 3 will be dedicated to the diaspora with the “World Latvian Gathering” taking place in Ķīpsala from 18:00 until 2:00.

The Latvian National Cultural Centre expects that there will be up to 40,000 festival participants and that the audience will be over a half million. The festival will entail more than 60 events and concerts.

Of course, we encourage you to also think a bit further ahead, to 2024 – mark July 4 to 7 on your calendar for the XVI Latvian Song and Dance Festival in Canada.

Juris Ķeniņš
Latvian Song Festival Canada
Executive Committee President