Skaņu mežs 2026 Festival – Riga, Hanzas perons, October 9, 2026

Skaņu mežs 2026 Festival – Riga, Hanzas perons, October 9, 2026

The experimental music festival “Skaņu mežs 2026” will begin in Riga on October 9, 2026. The festival will take place at the cultural venue “Hanzas perons”. The first evening’s programme is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM. “Skaņu mežs” will continue on October 10, 2026. Over two days, the festival will present avant-garde music concerts, sound art installations and other special events. It is one of the most significant experimental music events in Riga. The programme brings together hip-hop, metal, hyperpop aesthetics, noise, free improvisation and contemporary composition. The first evening will feature the American avant-garde metal band “Krallice”. Audiences can also look forward to aya, a British post-club music producer and vocalist. KMRU, a Kenya-born sound artist based in Berlin, will take the stage. The first evening’s programme includes a free improvisation performance by Michael Foster, Leila Bordreuil and Chris Corsano. Augustė Vickunaitė will use tape recorders in a performative sound art work. Ship Sket will present experimental electronic music with elements of danceability. “Skaņu mežs” is a place for listeners who want to discover a bold and diverse world of contemporary sound. A two-day ticket costs 60 EUR. When purchasing two two-day tickets together with the code “PĀRU BIĻETE”, the price per ticket is 50 EUR. Admission is free for children under 7. There is no age restriction for the event. A designated space and discount are available for wheelchair users. The broad spectrum of international artists and genres is the main reason to attend the festival.

What to Expect at the Event

The programme for both evenings will also feature the Norwegian avant-pop duo “Smerz”, Joe McPhee, Gudrun Gut, Infinity Knives and Brian Ennals, Oren Ambarchi and Daniel O’Sullivan, as well as the experimental rapper “Cities Aviv”. The festival offers the opportunity to hear intense avant-garde metal, ambient music, sound art, alternative hip-hop and free jazz in one place.

Venue and Time

The festival will take place on October 9 and 10, 2026, at the cultural venue “Hanzas perons”, Hanzas Street 16A, Riga. On October 9, 2026, the event begins at 7:00 PM, while entry is available from 6:00 PM. Each day’s programme lasts approximately six hours.

Tickets

A two-day ticket costs 60 EUR. When purchasing two two-day tickets together and using the code “PĀRU BIĻETE”, the price per ticket is 50 EUR. Admission is free for children under 7.

Important Information for Visitors

• There is no age restriction for the festival.
• The venue is “Hanzas perons”, Hanzas Street 16A, Riga.
• Each festival evening lasts approximately six hours.
• A designated space and discount are available for wheelchair users.

Why Attend

“Skaņu mežs 2026” offers a concentrated insight into the international experimental music scene. It is an opportunity to hear different artists and musical approaches in one programme, discovering the diversity of sound art, improvisation and avant-garde concerts.