Latvian Independence day 18th November 2025
- Riga Free Tour
- 17 hours ago
- 4 min read
What is happening in Riga this Independence day 2025 and where can you find out about these events?
Latvian Independence Day, celebrated on November 18, is a significant national holiday marking the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia in 1918. The 2025 celebrations in Riga are planned with numerous solemn and festive activities highlighting Latvian heritage and patriotism.
This November 18th, 2025 Latvian Independence Day celebrations in Riga are marked by a rich program of events and concerts as detailed exclusively on eng.lsm.lv.
The day openswith morning ecumenical church service at Riga Dome cathedral at 09:00 followed by the laying of flowers at the Freedom Monument.
At 13:30, the National Armed Forces parade takes place on the November 11 embankment.
Concerts emphasize Latvian culture throughout the day:
At 17:00, At the Culture and Folk Art Center “Mazā ģilde” the concert “You are my land. You are my Latvia”
Starting at 19:00, Brīvības Square holds a solemn event with musicians including Ginta Krievkalna and Raimonds Celms.
At 20:00, Latvian State President Edgars Rinkēvičs delivers his independence day speech, followed by the national anthem and a laser light show on the Freedom Monument. This show repeats several times each hour until 23:00.
Additionally, the "Staro Rīga" light festival takes place over four days (November 15–18) from 17:00 to 23:00, featuring a special 3 km route from the Freedom Monument to Arkādija Park with numerous light installations enhancing the city ambiance.
These events showcase Latvia's heritage, military tradition, and artistic culture, creating a festive and meaningful day of national pride in Riga.
For official details and updates, the source is here: https://eng.lsm.lv/article/culture/culture/17.11.2025-november-18th-events-and-concerts-in-riga.a622566/.
A little about the Latvian path to Indpendence can be read here -
Latvia’s independence, proclaimed on November 18, 1918, was the culmination of a complex historical process shaped by centuries of foreign domination, rising national consciousness, and the geopolitical upheavals associated with World War I and the Russian Revolution. This detailed account explores the origins and main factors that led to the birth of the Latvian state on that landmark date.
Historical Context and Foreign Rule
Latvian territory had been subject to multiple foreign powers over the centuries. From the 16th century onward, parts of Latvia were successively controlled by Poland, Sweden, the German Livonian Order, and ultimately Russia by the end of the 18th century. Despite these changes, Latvian society was largely agrarian and dominated politically and economically by Baltic German nobility, maintaining a social hierarchy that limited Latvian autonomy and cultural development for many years.
During the 19th century, Latvia experienced the First Latvian National Awakening beginning in the 1850s, when Latvian intellectuals and cultural leaders began promoting Latvian language, folklore, and national identity. This period laid the groundwork for broader political assertiveness in the early 20th century.
Rising Nationalism and Early Political Movements
By the early 20th century, Latvian nationalism intensified, fueled by social changes and the influence of European ideas of self-determination and democracy. The Russian Empire’s 1905 Revolution also had an impact, awakening political activism among Latvians. Following the Russian February and October revolutions in 1917, the Latvian political landscape rapidly evolved with the establishment of the Latvian Provisional National Council representing a political bloc of peasants, bourgeois, and socialists.
In September 1917, despite ongoing World War I hostilities and German occupation of Riga, the Latvian National Political Conference demanded full political autonomy. The chaos and shifting control during the war created an opportunity for Latvians to assert a national government.
Geopolitical Factors and World War I
World War I drastically altered the map of Eastern Europe. The collapse of the Russian and German empires created a power vacuum. Latvia found itself occupied largely by German forces after 1917, yet the Latvian political leadership understood they could not align with either Russia, now under Bolshevik control, or Germany if they wanted true independence.
Key Baltic politicians, like Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics, traveled diplomatically to gain Western support. For example, in late 1918, Latvian representatives actively campaigned in Germany, Sweden, and Britain to gain recognition and support for an independent Latvia. The British government’s Balfour memorandum on October 23, 1918, recognized Latvia’s provisional government as the de facto government, a critical diplomatic step for legitimacy.
The Proclamation of Latvian Independence
On November 17, 1918, the People's Council (Tautas Padome) convened in Riga to form a provisional government, with Kārlis Ulmanis as prime minister. One day later, on November 18, the Council proclaimed the independence of the Republic of Latvia. This formal declaration was made at the Latvian National Theatre, symbolizing a key moment of national self-determination and political sovereignty for the Latvian people.
Immediate Challenges Post-Proclamation
Independence did not come without immediate challenges. Shortly after the declaration, Latvia was invaded on December 1, 1918, by Soviet Russia, which sought to establish a Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic as a communist puppet state. The Latvian War of Independence ensued, lasting until 1920, during which Latvians, alongside German and other allied forces, fought to secure the territory and sovereignty of the fledgling Latvian state. Find out about the Latvian War of Indepence in this link.
The first battles, such as the Battle of Lielauce in mid-January 1919, were crucial in boosting Latvian morale and halting Soviet advances. Ultimately, Latvian forces prevailed, and the new republic was recognized internationally by Soviet Russia in 1920 and by other countries shortly thereafter.
Key Points Leading to November 18, 1918
National Awakening and Cultural Identity: The 19th-century first awakening fostered Latvian language and identity.
Collapse of Empires: The Russian and German empires’ collapse during WWI created a political opening.
Political Organization: Formation of the Latvian Provisional National Council and later the People's Council united diverse political groups.
International Diplomacy: Active lobbying by Latvians among Western allies, securing the Balfour memorandum and recognition.
Strategic Timing: Declaring independence immediately after the September-October 1918 armistice at war’s end.
Military Defense: Initial Latvian military efforts alongside German units to resist the Soviet invasion post-declaration.
These elements combined to make November 18, 1918, the date of Latvia’s historical proclamation as an independent republic, a date still celebrated today as Latvian Independence Day.