Festival 'Count of May 2626' Program Announced — Less Than One Month Until the Event

The official program for Riga’s annual intercultural festival “Count of May 2626” has been released. The event will take place on May 23 in Ziedoņdārzs Park. 

With less than one month remaining until the start, visitors still have time to apply for participation or volunteer to get involved in preparations.

The “Count of May” festival has been mentioned in Riga’s chronicles since the 15th century and is now considered one of the oldest living cultural traditions in the Latvian capital. It combines historical heritage, medieval atmosphere, and the dynamic spirit of a modern city carnival.

The festival holds special significance as a non-commercial project fully organized by volunteers from various European countries, including participants of the European Solidarity Corps. All festival activities, competitions, and events remain completely free for visitors.

Festival Program

Throughout the day, the main stage of “Count of May 2626” will feature an extensive cultural program, including:

folk dances;

opera performances;

ethnic music;

circus shows.

Across Ziedoņdārzs Park, visitors will be able to immerse themselves in a medieval atmosphere by:

watching knight battles and tournaments;

visiting a Latvian artisans’ fair;

participating in themed workshops;

exploring the traditional fortune-telling tent.

The carnival procession remains one of the festival’s key traditions, welcoming all costumed participants with a strong emphasis on creativity and self-expression.

For active visitors, the festival will also offer:

a knight tournament for the title of Count of May;

an interactive quest game;

archery zones;

multiple entertainment and activity areas.

A dedicated youth program for participants aged 7–17 will include the “Roland’s Sword” tournament, where young attendees can test their agility and endurance.

Costume Contest and Evening Program

For the sixteenth consecutive year, the festival’s popular costume competition will take place, featuring four categories:

Best Children’s Costume;

Best Historical Costume Interpretation;

Best Fantasy Costume;

Special category: Best Dog Costume.

The evening program will include:

9:30 PM — a fire show inspired by Egyptian mythology by Altreal Fire;

10:30 PM — an 80s and 90s themed party.

About the Festival

“Count of May” is an important part of Latvia’s cultural heritage, dedicated to preserving historical traditions, promoting intercultural dialogue, and uniting people from different countries and communities.

The project is organized entirely by volunteers from across Europe and remains fully non-commercial.

More information: maijagrafs.lv

 

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, European Commission or National Agency (Agency for International Programs for Youth) neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.