Roots
Latvians are Latvians – which is a category unto itself.
Despite being fully integrated into the age of technological progress, they have maintained a deep connection to the land, traditions, and nature.
The Latvian character is introverted yet proud, poetic yet robust. Reserved in daily life, Latvians reveal remarkable strength as a nation when it truly matters – their resilience has carried them through centuries of transformation.
A modern Latvian seamlessly switches between international conferences and Midsummer Night celebrations, between digital solutions and mushroom picking in the forest, between innovation and ritual.
Latvians do not preserve traditions as museum exhibits – they live them. Ancient Latvian symbols and ornamental codes thrive in contemporary tattoo art and graffiti culture. Young people dance folk dances, tend their grandparents' gardens after working in the digital world.
This organic synthesis between ancient roots and modernity creates a unique cultural landscape where innovation strengthens rather than erases identity.
In Latvia, progress does not mean forgetting where you came from – it means carrying it forward.
NEXT GENERATION AMBASSADOR
MEET TĪNA
My name is Tīna and I would say that Latvia is a reflection of international dialogue shaped by deep local roots and living traditions. Latvian culture is not kept in museums; it is danced in, sung in, and worn through inherited national costumes and handmade crowns. As our ancient symbols meet contemporary art and tattoos, we loudly modernize and integrate our heritage for the world stage. Additionally, unique festivals like Ezera Skaņas show how we blend our love for nature with modern, folk music. Therefore, Latvia is a place where ancient roots and international ambition meet. Experience it firsthand at EBRD 2026 in Riga, Latvia.
NEXT GENERATION AMBASSADOR
MEET KATRĪNA
My name is Katrīna and I would say that Riga is a reflection of Latvian culture through food, shaped by deep agricultural roots and seasonal traditions. Latvian cuisine is clean and nature-driven. As Riga is a rising food capital, we have our own local Michelin-recognized restaurants. Additionally, Riga Central Market is a center of everyday flavors and daily life of Latvians. Therefore, Riga is a place where traditions and modern gastronomy meet. Experience it firsthand at EBRD 2026 in Riga, Latvia.
LATVIA UNCOVERED
ROOTS
THE IDENTITY PARADOX
Latvia leads in digital government services while simultaneously maintaining on of the Europe's highest percentage of population involved in seasonal foraging. We're not torn between worlds – we inhabit both seamlessly. The same person deploying blockchain solutions on Monday gathers mushrooms on Saturday and heats the sauna on Sunday.
SYMBOLS THAT BREATHE
Ancient Latvian symbols – aren't museum pieces. They're living visual language. Walk through Riga's and you'll find them in graffiti. Enter any contemporary design studio and they're reimagined in logos. Visit tattoo parlors and young professionals wear millennia-old protection symbols. The ornamental code updates itself without permission.
NATURE AS INNOVATION
Birch sap – tapped each spring for millennia – is now crafted into sparkling "birch champagne" by innovative producers like BIRZĪ. This naturally fermented beverage transforms an ancient seasonal ritual into contemporary wellness culture. Latvians drink birch sap in spring – but now it's also exported, bottled, and elevated into artisanal wines and spirits, proving tradition can be profitable without being performative.
MIDSUMMER MATHEMATICS
June 23-24 – Jāņi (Midsummer) – sees 90% of Latvia's population leave cities for countryside celebrations. Not "a festival" – a national migration. This isn't folklore tourism. These are software engineers sleeping in hayfields, bankers jumping over bonfires, consultants weaving flower crowns at 3 AM. The country literally stops functioning because everyone's performing rituals older than Christianity.
MIDSUMMER MATHEMATICS
June 23-24 – Jāņi (Midsummer) – sees 90% of Latvia's population leave cities for countryside celebrations. Not "a festival" – a national migration. This is not folklore tourism. These are software engineers sleeping in hayfields, bankers jumping over bonfires, consultants weaving flower crowns at 3 AM. The country literally stops functioning because everyone's performing rituals older than Christianity.
DEEP DIVE
OFFICIAL EVENTS AND LISTINGS
MAJOR VENUES
FESTIVALS. MUSIC, FILM, CULTURE
MARKETS & FOOD HUBS
GASTRONOMY GUIDES
Local Food Producers & Culinary Tourism
Latvian Chocolate Producer "Pure"
(Handmade candy & workshops)
(Rye bread, pastries, and local dairy)
(Home of Riga Black Balsam)
RIGA & LATVIA —
WHERE TO EAT: CATEGORY GUIDE
Modern Baltic / New Nordic Cuisine
Max Cekot Kitchen (MICHELIN Star)
JOHN Chef’s Hall (MICHELIN Star)
Ferma (MICHELIN Recommended)
Entresol (MICHELIN Recommended)
3 Chefs (MICHELIN Recommended)
B7 (MICHELIN Recommended)
MĀSA (MICHELIN Recommended)
Casual Baltic Comfort Food / Latvian Classics
Lido Atputa Centre (Traditional Buffet)
Seafood & Baltic Coastal Cuisine
Dome (Seafood Fine Dining)
Bakeries, Pastry, & Coffee Culture
Vegetarian, Vegan & Health-Forward Dining
AVAILABLE SOON!
TASTE AND EXPERIENCE RIGA
Tour MICHELIN-starred kitchens where chefs forage from forests, explore Riga Central Market's UNESCO Zeppelin hangars, and discover venues hosting 1,500+ cultural events annually. Meet the culinary innovators and event organizers making Latvia a rising Baltic destination. Book a seat at the table where tradition meets innovation.