Frequently Asked Questions
We are officially less than one year from hosting all of you wonderful Latvians and friends of Latvians at the Latvian Song and Dance Festival in Grand Rapids in 2026.
Of course, we are starting to receive many questions about the program, tickets, and hotel rooms. This page will currently serve as the most up-to-date information for the festival. We will also send emails, and share posts on Instagram and Facebook, when, for example, the hotel room blocks go live. More information will be published as it is ready! Thank you for your patience.
Art Exhibit Application
Artists! The application for the XVI Latvian Song and Dance Celebration Art exhibition from July 1-5, 2026 in Grand Rapids, Michigan is open.
We invite artists to exhibit their recent work in various media - painting, graphics, photographic arts, textile arts, sculpture, and other contemporary art forms.
Exhibit details:
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Application deadline is May 1, 2026.
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Artists can submit 2 artworks created in the past three years.
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Artwork must be delivered on July 1, 2026 starting at 1:00pm at the main Song Festival hotel the Amway Plaza Grand Hotel.
The exhibit opening is July 2, 2026 at the Amway Plaza Grand Hotel starting at 12:30. Jury will present monetary awards to artists at the opening.
Questions about the exhibit, please contact: makslasizstade2026@gmail.com
“Zvaigžņu sēta” marketplace application
Calling all those interested in participating in the Marketplace!
Our Marketplace organizers, Laura Šmidchens and Ilze Antons, are excited to announce that applications for the Marketplace, themed "Zvaigžņu sēta", is now open. As availability is limited, we take care to consider each applicant individually. The deadline for applications is December 1st! Signups will not be accepted by email, only via the form below. You will be notified at the beginning of the New Year if you have been selected.
Marketplace details:
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Participants will be able to set up on July 1st, beginning at 1pm.
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The Marketplace will run from July 2nd through the 5th.
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Laura can be reached at laura@dziesmusvetki.us with questions.
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Pricing is available on the second page of the signup form.
Hotel Rooms
As we have filled our room black at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, we have been working hard behind the scenes to arrange more rooming options at several hotels in the immediate area at several price points.
They will be available starting on August 25th at 12 PM ET, 9 AM PT, 7 PM in Latvia, for two weeks.
To help us visualize the locations of our hotels and event venues, our friends at ExperienceGR have helped us put together this interactive map. Take a look!
All prices are festival rates, and they are available 7/1-7/6 unless noted otherwise:
JW Marriott - $229/night
Embassy Suites - $159/night. Breakfast is included.
AC Hotel, Courtyard Grand Rapids Downtown - $139/night
Hyatt Place - $139/night. Rooms are available 7/2-7/6. Breakfast is included.
JW Marriott
AC Hotel
Song
Rehearsals will be: Thursday and Friday 8:00-11:00 and Saturday 8:30-13:30.
If you are interested in performing in the Grand Choir Concert, signups are available:
Dance
Registration for the Grand Folk Dance Concert and New Choreography Showcase is now closed.
The rehearsal for the New Choreography Showcase will be on Friday, July 3, 2026 before the show. The rehearsal for the Grand Folk Dance Concert will be on Sunday, July 5, 2026 in the morning.
Program
We are excited to announce the following events and guests:
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Rīgas Doma kora skolas jauktais koris
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Apvedceļš and Bermudu Divstūris will be performing on Friday night for our ”‘Rokvakars”!
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Theater performance that will be an original work written specifically for the Festival by Andra St. Ivanyi Berkolds.
