Xiaomi Arēna, the main venue
Most of the big events happen at Xiaomi Arēna, the former Arena Rīga, a short tram ride from the centre. It hosts ice hockey, basketball and the biggest touring concerts and shows through the autumn and winter. Check what is on and book on the Latvian ticket sites Biļešu Serviss (bilesuserviss.lv) and Biļešu Paradīze (bilesuparadize.lv).
What's on in Riga
| Date | Event | Venue | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Oct 2026 | Placebo | Xiaomi Arēna | Concert |
| 15–25 Oct 2026 | Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF) | Riga | Festival |
| 18 Oct 2026 | Mashina Vremeni | Xiaomi Arēna | Concert |
| 23 Oct 2026 | Boris Brejcha (Reflections Tour, only Baltic show) | Xiaomi Arēna | Concert |
| 7 Nov 2026 | Thomas Anders (Modern Talking) | Xiaomi Arēna | Concert |
| 15–18 Nov 2026 | Staro Rīga (light festival) | Old Town & Daugava | Festival |
| 27 Nov 2026 – 4 Jan 2027 | Christmas market & New Year celebrations | Cathedral Square & Old Town | Seasonal |
| 11 Dec 2026 | Chris Norman (only solo concert in Riga) | Xiaomi Arēna | Concert |
| 12 Feb 2027 | The Greatest Film Music Show | Xiaomi Arēna | Concert |
| 14 Mar 2027 | Bi-2 | Xiaomi Arēna | Concert |
| 9 May 2027 | Bryan Adams | Xiaomi Arēna | Concert |
| 15–16 May 2027 | Rimi Riga Marathon | Citywide | Sport |
| 3 Jun 2027 | André Rieu | Xiaomi Arēna | Concert |
| 11 Jun 2027 | José Carreras | Xiaomi Arēna | Concert |
| 12 Jun 2027 | Westlife (25th Anniversary) | Xiaomi Arēna | Concert |
| 23–24 Jun 2027 | Jāņi / Līgo (Midsummer) | Nationwide | Public holiday |
| 4 Jul 2027 | Nickelback | Xiaomi Arēna | Concert |
| Late Jul – early Aug 2027 | Positivus Festival | Lucavsala | Festival |
| Mid-Aug 2027 | Riga City Festival | Citywide | Festival |
| 6 Oct 2027 | Il Volo (only Baltic concert) | Xiaomi Arēna | Concert |
Ice hockey and basketball run through the winter at Xiaomi Arēna, but exact fixtures are published closer to each game, so check the arena and the ticket sites for the latest. The 2027 Ice Hockey World Championship is co-hosted in Germany, so there is no home world championship in Riga that year.
Ice hockey, the national sport
Ice hockey is Latvia's passion, and the atmosphere at a game is worth it even if you do not follow the sport. Team Latvia plays home games at Xiaomi Arēna, there is a league season through the winter, and tournaments like the Riga Hockey Cup. Tickets are cheap, often from around 5 to 40 euros, so it is an easy, memorable winter evening.
Basketball
Basketball is the other big one. Riga's clubs, Rīgas Zeļļi and VEF Rīga, play in the Latvian-Estonian league (LBL) from autumn to spring, and games are loud, fast and inexpensive. A good, low-key way to spend a winter evening among locals.
Concerts, opera and the classics
Beyond sport, the arena hosts touring concerts, and the city has a rich classical scene at a fraction of Western prices: the Latvian National Opera and Ballet for opera and ballet in a beautiful 19th-century house, and halls like the Great Guild (Lielā ģilde) for the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra. A night at the opera in Riga can cost less than a cinema ticket back home.
Tickets and getting there
Buy tickets online at Biļešu Serviss (bilesuserviss.lv) or Biļešu Paradīze (bilesuparadize.lv), or at kiosks around town. The arena and the main halls are central or a short tram ride away; see our getting around guide. For a bite before or after, see our food and drinks guide.
Our picks on the map
These are some of our favourite spots in Riga. Open our full curated Google Maps list to see every pin on the map and navigate straight there from your phone.
- Xiaomi Arēna — hockey, basketball and big concerts
- Latvian National Opera — opera and ballet in the centre
- Lielā ģilde — the Great Guild concert hall