The Hops Rīga Beer Festival at Esplanade Park in central Riga is one of those summer events you simply shouldn’t miss. It brings together 20 to 30 Latvian and international brewers, a wide mix of street‑food vendors, and plenty of entertainment, from live music and DJ sets to games like beer pong.
The festival also operates a reusable cup system. When you buy your first beer, you’ll receive a plastic cup for a €2 deposit, which you can use at any tent throughout the event. Return it to the designated black tent before leaving to get your deposit back.
My last beer festival was the COEX Beer Festival in Seoul, back when we still lived in South Korea. I vividly remember the delicious food and lively atmosphere.
That experience made me curious to see how a Riga beer festival would compare, so when we first heard about Hops Rīga during our first year here, we didn’t hesitate to check it out. We’ve been going back ever since, and we plan to visit every year for as long as we live in Riga.
2024
Our first visit was in 2024, when the festival ran from Thursday 6 June to Sunday 9 June. It opened from 11:00 until midnight, except on Sunday, when it wrapped up earlier at 20:00.
Betty joined us that year, and we shared grilled meats and sides while soaking up the atmosphere. The vibe was wonderful, everyone enjoying the food, the sunshine, and the music. Later in the evening, though, the rain started pouring down, so we called it a day.
Hops Rīga 2024 featured an impressive range of beverages, including beers from Bauska, Brūzis Manufaktūra, Bursh Brewery, Cesvaines, Craft Beer Station, Genys, Kokmuiža, Labietis, Leffe, Lido, Lielvārde, Madona, Mežpils, Mourbūdu cider, Paulaner, Stargorod, Tālavas, Teikas, Uzhava, and Valmiermuiža.
2025
Our second visit was in 2025, again held in June from 5 to 8 June. I didn’t keep track of all the breweries that participated, but the lineup felt more or less the same. This time, we enjoyed paella with our beer, along with some sweet potatoes and a burger — though without Betty, as she had already moved back to the UK and was no longer living in Latvia.
Just like the previous year, the weather played its tricks. Heavy rain and wind swept through the festival once again, thankfully only after we’d had a few drinks and were ready to head home. I can’t help wondering whether this rainy tradition will repeat itself next year.
2026
This year, the festival was held in September, from 3 to 6 September. However, out of the four days, Sunday turned out to be the best. The sky was super bright, and the whole park felt fresh and open, the kind of weather that makes you think you’re in for a perfect festival day.
The only downside was the wind. It was a bit of a nuisance, especially if you wanted to sit down and enjoy your food and drink. In the end, I didn’t have anything to eat or drink at all. I popped by just to check out the final day, wandering around the grounds and taking in the atmosphere.
It was around midday; the place was still fairly quiet; not many people had arrived yet, probably because the festival was just getting started for the day.
Did you attend the event too?
Updated: August 2026