Mission Latvia

29/05/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀’ 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺! ☀️

😍 This remarkable collection features blooms from three continents, including many stunning varieties bred right here in Latvia. Five of them — Gundega, Zanda, Mana Madona, Kalsnavas arborētums, and Ingmārs — were registered just last year!

The full collection is spread across two locations: Latvijas Universitātes Botāniskais dārzs and LU Rododendru selekcijas un izmēģinājumu audzētava "Babīte". The latter is the only specialized rhododendron nursery in the Baltics, founded in the 1980s by Professor Rihards Kondratovičs, a legend in rhododendron breeding. 🙌

To make the most of the flowering display, the gardens invite visitors to enjoy their annual event series. New this summer are two wine evenings in June, with gates open until 10 pm, and guests encouraged to bring picnic blankets, slow down, and soak up the atmosphere among the blossoms or join a guided tour, glass in hand.

📷 Photos: Gunita Riekstiņa

28/05/2026

𝗦𝗼𝗼𝗻, 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲-𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝘃𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀, 𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲, 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁. 🌍

👉 Scientists from Latvijas Biomedicīnas pētījumu un studiju centrs - LV BMC, RTU - Rīgas Tehniskā universitāte and Valsts zinātniskais institūts BIOR, together with colleagues from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and University of Dundee, have secured a €15 million Horizon Europe grant to bring the Excellence Centre in an Integrated One Health Ecosystem (IntegroHEALTH) project to life. 🇱🇻 Latvia will match this funding contribution.

A key element of the project is a digital twin that will enable real-time data monitoring, model potential future scenarios, support earlier warnings, and improve decision-making. 👍

💻 With the introduction of this platform, Latvia could become one of the first countries in Europe to establish such a comprehensive environmental and health data integration system.

By collaborating between the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (BMC), Riga Technical University (RTU), the Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment «BIOR», the European Molec...

27/05/2026

Latvian sports fans have been described as “𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲”. 💛 Have you been lucky enough to participate in or witness this endearing fandom? 🙌

Tune into Latvia’s next IIHF Men's Worlds game and read our latest story to get a glimpse of the magic that our fans are capable of! 🇱🇻

Latvian sports fans are loud, loyal, and respectful supporters who make athletes feel at home and stand by them anywhere in the world.

25/05/2026

𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲’𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱? 📸 That title now belongs to Latvian photographer Inta Lankovska.

The four-time Latvian Wedding Photographer of the Year 👰 earned her latest accolade at the Way Up North Awards, where she also took home the title of Wedding Story of the Year. 🏆

Lankovska is known for her playful yet authentic style and her skillful blend of digital and analogue photography.

Way Up North is Europe’s leading conference dedicated to wedding photography. Its jury awards the title of Best Wedding Photographer to the nominee whose work demonstrates exceptional professionalism, originality, and a remarkable ability to capture genuine emotion.

Congratulations, Inta! 👏

Photos: Inta Lankovska

23/05/2026

𝗟𝗮𝘁𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗰𝗲. 🏒🥅

In a crucial Ice Hockey World Championship group-stage match, Team Latvia defeated the USA 4:2, holding off intense American pressure and turning key chances into a victory that keeps Latvia firmly in the fight for the quarter-finals.

🌟 Kristers Gudļevskis was outstanding in goal, stopping 45 of 47 shots and earning Latvia’s player of the match recognition. Haralds Egle opened the scoring, Deniss Smirnovs restored Latvia’s lead in the third period, and Sandis Vilmanis sealed the win with two late goals into an empty net.

With this victory, Latvia moves up to fourth place in Group A, pushing the USA out of the quarter-final zone.

A powerful reminder of Latvian resilience, belief and fighting spirit.

Congratulations, Team Latvia! 👏

Latvijas Hokeja federācija with a BIG WIN‼️💪

Game Recap 🔗 https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2026/wm/news/73519/lat-usa

22/05/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗺 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁. 🎞️

As 𝙐𝙡𝙮𝙖 arrives at the Cannes Film Festival, The Hollywood Reporter has turned its spotlight to Kārlis Arnolds Avots - the Latvian actor who not only stars in the film, but also had the original idea for it and co-wrote the story. ✍️

In the film, Avots portrays Latvian basketball legend Uļjana Semjonova, exploring not only her sporting greatness ⛹️‍♀️, but also the deeply human story behind it - identity, difference, resilience, and the courage to grow into one’s own strength.

👉 Following international recognition for Soviet Jeans, January, and now Ulya, Avots represents a new generation of Latvian talent reaching global audiences.

The up-and-coming Latvian actor had the idea for and co-wrote the Un Certain Regard film and stars as female basketball legend Uļjana Semjonova. He couldn't sleep until 4 a.m. the night the film got selected.

21/05/2026

𝗟𝗮𝘁𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀. 📽️🤩✨

Viesturs Kairišs’ feature film 𝙐𝙡𝙮𝙖 has premiered at the Cannes Film Festival as part of the prestigious 𝗨𝗻 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱 programme, bringing a Latvian story to one of the world's most important cinema stages. 👏

The film tells the story of legendary Latvian basketball player Ulyana Semjonova 🏀 - from a young girl struggling with her height and identity to someone who must decide whether to hide from the world or become the best basketball player in it.

A proud moment for Latvian cinema, Latvian storytelling, and the creative talent bringing our stories to international audiences.

Congratulations to Viesturs Kairišs, Kārlis Arnolds Avots and the whole Ulya team. 🥳

21/05/2026

𝗝𝗲𝗹𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟭𝟱 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭𝟬 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹. 👋

This year’s 🦖 Jurassic-era theme will take visitors on a journey millions of years back in time, with spectacular sculptures featuring dinosaurs, volcanoes, and prehistoric landscapes. 🌋

There will be plenty to explore beyond the sculptures, too. Taking place on 23 May, the festival will feature foam parties, creative workshops, plays, games, and live music for visitors of all ages. 👐

Photos: Jelgava City Municipal Institution "Culture"

Visit Jelgava, International Sand Sculpture Festival "Summer Signs"

20/05/2026

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸? 🖼️ 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆! 🌟 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲-𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁.

Here’s just a short taster of what you can expect:

📌 The SCHWENK Latvija Museum of the History of Cement Production will be exhibiting and demonstrating the company’s heavy machinery and hosting tours of the production facility.
📌 Balvi Museum / Balvu Novada muzejs will hold historical combat demonstrations
📌 Dobele Museum / Dobeles novada muzejs will host a painting workshop, acoustic concert, and children’s play.
Latvia is proud to be part of the European Night of Museums initiative.

📷 Photos: Valters Lācis / Latvijas Kara muzejs/Latvian War Museum, Poļina Koroļova / Latvijas Nacionālais Vēstures Muzejs, Zane Grundule / Memoriālo muzeju apvienība, Ivars Puķe / Andreja Upīša memoriālais muzejs

19/05/2026

𝗘𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗔𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 – 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲’𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀. 💡

📍 Last week, the conference marked its 8th edition in Riga, welcoming more than 2,300 participants from 69 countries and further strengthening Latvia’s role as a regional hub for science-based innovation in the Baltics and Northern Europe.

Across two days, 150 international experts, investors, researchers, and industry leaders explored the future of AI, defence innovations, autonomous systems, medtech, robotics, space technologies, and secure digital systems 💻 – fields that are increasingly shaping Europe’s competitiveness, security, and economic growth.

The pitch competition once again showcased the strength of the region’s innovation ecosystem, featuring 77 startups from 15 countries across medtech, biotech, defence tech, AI, robotics, and sustainable industry solutions. 🙌

By connecting science, entrepreneurship, investment, and global ambition, 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗔𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 continues to position Latvia as an international meeting point for the deep tech community.

Save the date for next year’s free-to-attend event: 15–16 April 2027.

Photos: Latvijas Investīciju un attīstības aģentūra - LIAA, Jānis Sprundziņš, Lauris Vīksne