Rēzekne hosts Latvia Youth Opportunities Festival KOPUMS 2026

Rēzekne is preparing to host Latvia’s Youth Opportunities Festival “KOPUMS” on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, bringing young people, youth workers, public institutions and non-governmental organisations together for a day focused on practical opportunities and participation. The event is part of Rēzekne’s year as Latvia’s Youth Capital and is scheduled to begin at 13:00. ([researchlatvia.gov.lv](https://www.researchlatvia.gov.lv/lv/events/jauniesu-iespeju-festivals-kopums?utm_source=openai))

The festival is designed as an open meeting point rather than a single-stage cultural event. According to the Rēzekne tourism centre’s programme, more than 60 organisations from across Latvia are expected to take part in an information and activity area at the city’s Olympic Centre. Visitors will be able to learn about youth initiatives, education, employment, volunteering and other forms of involvement while taking part in workshops, competitions and creative activities. ([visit.rezekne.lv](https://visit.rezekne.lv/event/jauniesu-iespeju-festivals-kopums/?utm_source=openai))

A nationwide meeting in Latgale

Rēzekne’s selection as Latvia’s Youth Capital gives the festival a broader role in the country’s youth policy calendar. The city has been presenting itself throughout 2026 as a place for youth development, community involvement and exchange between young people and organisations working with them. The “KOPUMS” programme is intended to make those connections visible in a public, informal setting.

The Ministry of Welfare’s National Employment Agency, or NVA, is among the institutions taking part. Its specialists plan to provide information about career planning, skills sought by employers, labour-market opportunities and available support services. The agency also says that young visitors will be able to complete professional suitability tests and discuss questions about their next education or employment steps with advisers. ([nva.gov.lv](https://www.nva.gov.lv/lv/notikums/nva-piedalisies-jauniesu-iespeju-festivala-kopums-rezekne?utm_source=openai))

That practical emphasis is one of the festival’s most useful features. For young people from smaller towns and rural areas, a single day bringing together employment advisers, education-related organisations, civic groups and creative initiatives can offer a concentrated introduction to options that may otherwise be scattered across different websites and institutions. This is an editorial inference based on the published participant list and programme, rather than a claim about measured outcomes.

Workshops, movement and the city

The programme combines information with activities intended to make participation social and accessible. At the ARPC “Zeimuļs” creative centre, visitors can join guided tours of the distinctive green-roofed building, with tours planned at 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00. The same venue is scheduled to host the “Freestyle Summer 2026” breakdance competition from 13:30 to 17:00. ([visit.rezekne.lv](https://visit.rezekne.lv/event/jauniesu-iespeju-festivals-kopums/?utm_source=openai))

At the Olympic Centre, a large dance concert is planned for 16:30. The published programme says that more than 300 dancers from Rēzekne will perform. The evening programme is due to continue with a concert by the Latgalian hip-hop group “Latgalīšu Reps” at 20:00. ([visit.rezekne.lv](https://visit.rezekne.lv/event/jauniesu-iespeju-festivals-kopums/?utm_source=openai))

Outdoor activities will also connect the festival with the city’s public spaces. Organisers have announced canoe trips along the Rēzekne River promenade, running from the city sign towards “Zeimuļs”, with departures listed for 14:00 and 15:30. Participation requires advance registration because places are limited. ([visit.rezekne.lv](https://visit.rezekne.lv/event/jauniesu-iespeju-festivals-kopums/?utm_source=openai))

Part of a continuing youth programme

“KOPUMS” is linked to International Youth Day, observed on 12 August, and is intended not only for young people looking for new opportunities but also for youth workers seeking professional exchange and new contacts. Earlier announcements invited organisations, municipalities and state institutions to contribute activities, discussions and workshops. The organisers also said the festival would be used to announce the next Latvian Youth Capital for 2027. ([jaunatneslietas.gov.lv](https://jaunatneslietas.gov.lv/current-events/organizacijas-un-valsts-parvalde-aicinatas-pieteik-aktivitates-jauniesu-iespeju?utm_source=openai))

Rēzekne’s municipal information archive has separately reported preparations involving volunteers from several Latvian municipalities, including Mārupe, Kārsava, Valmiera, Preiļi and Riga. That cross-regional preparation underlines the event’s national rather than purely local character. ([rezekne.lv](https://rezekne.lv/visas-zinas/?utm_source=openai))

For Rēzekne, the festival offers a constructive way to use the Youth Capital title: not simply as a year-long label, but as a platform where young people can compare experiences, discover services and meet organisations in person. For visitors, “KOPUMS” presents a full day of civic, educational and cultural activity in the centre of Latgale.