Jauniešu Etnodienas 2026

Youth Ethnodays (Jauniešu Etnodienas)

From September 18 to 20, young people aged 15–25 from across Latvia will gather in Ulbroka for the annual Youth Ethnodays — an event dedicated to the preservation, exploration, and popularization of intangible cultural heritage. This year’s event is organized in cooperation with the cultural center “Ulbrokas pērle”.

Since 2010, Youth Ethnodays have brought together young people from different Latvian folklore groups, creating a space where traditional culture can be experienced, shared, and explored through the perspective of the younger generation.

During the three-day event, participants will have the opportunity to learn traditional singing with Asnate Rancāne, leader of the group “Tautumeitas”, and Edgars Zilberts, leader of the folklore group “Vilkaci”. For the first time, the programme will also feature international guest teachers — the American traditional music group “Interstate Express”, led by Craig Judelman, and Croatian singer Lidija Dokuzovic.

Together with the international guests, participants will learn and perform traditional American dances, make music together, and explore the fascinating journey of traditional music from “old Europe” to America. This exchange will offer an opportunity to discover how traditions change, travel, and find new meanings in different cultural environments.

Youth Ethnodays are created specifically with young people in mind. Traditional cultural heritage is explored in a contemporary and accessible way, using forms of expression and communication that speak to today’s generation. Over the years, the event has grown into a unique tradition in Latvia, connecting young people from different regions who share an interest in traditional culture and creating a living network between them.

By discovering the musical traditions and skills of different regions, participants can find new connections between their own experiences, the traditions they represent, and the music they perform.

The Youth Ethnodays programme will end on September 20 at 15:00, when the participants will join the third European Folklore Day concert “Upes pērles” at the cultural center “Ulbrokas pērle”, organized by the association “Skaņumāja”.