Poetry Days in Liepāja 2025

This year, the Poetry Days in Liepāja will be celebrated from September 9 to 20.

Rainis's poetry and plays have marked significant turning points in Latvian literature, revealing both the vastness of the human inner world and society’s journey through the changes of the era. His works have become a value that does not disappear but gains new resonance with each generation. This year, the Poetry Days in Liepāja will be celebrated in the spirit of Rainis – honoring his intellectual force and unchanging presence in our culture.

This year's Poetry Days in Liepāja will invite you to experience poetry in various forms – from a musical picnic in the park to author evenings in libraries and an international poetry concert. The program includes meetings with poets, creative reading workshops for students, literary discussions, as well as events dedicated to the memory of Rainis, Aspazija, and Olafs Gūtmanis.

Traditionally, also this year within the framework of the Poetry Days, on September 18, the Egons Līvs Memorial Award “People of the Coast” ceremony will take place, where awards will be presented in the categories “Best Original Literary Prose Work 2024/2025” and “Best New Authors’ Literary Work 2025”.

September 9

RAINIS IN THE TREES./musical literary picnic
Actress Karīna Tatarinova, musicians Mārtiņš Jansons, Roberts Dinters, and lighting artist Mārtiņš Feldmanis
19:00 | Rainis Park near the Liepāja Lutheran (Stone) Church

September 10

Meeting with poet Krišjānis Zeļģis and creative reading promotion workshops with primary school students
10:00 | “Valters Library”, Krūmu Street 29
12:00 | “Varavīksne Library”, Brīvības Street 39

Meeting with poet Robert Wilson / author evening
Meeting led by literary journalist Liega Piešiņa
17:00 | “Libris Library”, M. Ķempes Street 11

September 11

Meeting with poet Krišjānis Zeļģis and creative reading promotion workshops with primary/elementary school students
10:00 | Children's Library “Vecliepājas Rūķis”, Malkas Street 4

“Conversations about Literature”
Journalist and literary expert Liega Piešiņa will introduce interested parties and librarians to the latest, artistically high-quality fiction published in Latvian.
14:00 | Children's Library “Vecliepājas Rūķis”, Malkas Street 4

Poet Krišjānis Zeļģis's author evening
Author evening led by literary journalist Liega Piešiņa.
17:00 | Children's Library “Vecliepājas Rūķis”, Malkas Street 4

Poetry concert "Contradiction or Completeness?"
Featuring poets Sabīne Vina (France), Gjokčenur Ç. (Turkey), Gunta Šnipke (Liepāja), and Robert Wilson (Liepāja), musicians Henrijs Leijs, Elza Marija Buša, Raimonds Leja-Andersons.
19:00 | Cultural Center “Wiktorija”, Graudu Street 36/38

September 12

Event dedicated to the 160th birthday of Rainis and Aspazija “Two Lakes”
Poetry readings, conversations about emigration in life and poetry, interaction with silence in nature, industrial environments, and the human inner world. Featuring authors present in Liepāja.
17:00 | Café "KUBS", Zirgu Island

September 13

Olafs Gūtmanis readings: Liepāja in Olafs Gūtmanis's poetry
Featuring Latvian (Gundega Rezevska, Gunita Boka, Gunita Lagzdiņa, Ineta Stadgale) and Lithuanian poets (Ļūtaurs Degesis, Dainis Sobeckis, Daļa Tamošauskaite). The event is dedicated to the 400th anniversary of Liepāja, reading texts by Olafs Gūtmanis and other poets. Music by Klinta Ivika Erdmane and Egons Kronbergs.
13:00 | Pegaza Courtyard

September 18

The Egons Līvs Memorial Award “People of the Coast” ceremony

September 20

Launch event for the latest issue of the magazine “Helikons”
Featuring poets from Liepāja, Riga, Ventspils, Jūrmala, and other cities in Latvia, as well as youth from Liepāja schools.

12:00 | Children's Library “Vecliepājas Rūķis”, Malkas Street 4

Also visit:
Reading and reading enjoyment promotion events for children, families, and librarians together with playwright Lauris Gundars:

October 10

Discussion with primary school students and Lauris Gundars about his latest books for children: "Piga in the Pocket", "No!!!", "Grandpa's Hat", etc.
11:00 | Children's Library “Vecliepājas Rūķis”, Malkas Street 4

Discussion between librarians (public and school) and Lauris Gundars about observations, recommendations, and experiences on how to promote children's and youth's interest in reading
14:00 | Children's Library “Vecliepājas Rūķis”, Malkas Street 4

October 11

Family meeting with Lauris Gundars.
The library invites families who regularly visit libraries to the event. Conversation between the playwright and the host of the radio show “We Read and Chat” with parents about reading and the role of parental example in increasing reading enjoyment.
Morning | Children's Library “Vecliepājas Rūķis”, Malkas Street 4

The Poetry Days program, which includes various events such as poetry readings, meetings with creative personalities, and musical events, is organized in cooperation with the Liepāja Cultural Administration, the foundation “Foundation Liepāja 2027”, and the Liepāja branch of the Latvian Writers' Union.

All Poetry Days events are free of charge for anyone interested.

Evija Lene
Liepāja Cultural Administration