Zeitgeist Festival took place in the heart of Riga during a time when connection felt both distant and deeply needed. In September 2020, amid the uncertainty of the first pandemic year, the festival offered a gentle yet powerful space to come together through music, art, and shared experience.

The two-day programme featured fourteen international bands and DJs spanning a wide spectrum of experimental sound—funk, punk blues, jazz, indie, electronic, tribal, and more. As the sun set, the music was joined by immersive light projections, transforming the night into a vivid sensory experience.

Visitors explored a conceptual art fair with works by local designers, artists, and brands, while five restaurants offered a taste of multicultural cuisines, including a variety of vegetarian options.

Inspired by the idea of ‘Zeitgeist’—the spirit of the time—the festival reflected the diversity of our inner and outer worlds. In a year marked by isolation, political unrest, and collective anxiety, Zeitgeist invited people to reconnect through the immediacy of sound, the presence of art, and the joy of community. It was a celebration of being in the now—of finding unity, expression, and light even in uncertain times.