I am very happy to share that the World Saxophone Congress 2029 will take place in Riga and Jūrmala, Latvia, from 31 July to 4 August 2029.
This is a truly historic moment for the Latvian saxophone community. The World Saxophone Congress is one of the most important international events in the saxophone world, bringing together performers, teachers, composers, students, researchers, instrument makers, publishers and saxophone enthusiasts from all over the world. In 2029, Latvia will become the meeting point for this global community.
For me personally, this project is especially meaningful, as I have the honour of serving as the Artistic Director of the Congress. Together with our team, we are working to create an event that reflects both the international scale of the Congress and the unique cultural identity of Latvia.
Our team brings together experienced musicians, organisers and cultural professionals:
Dāvis Jurka – Executive Director
Aigars Raumanis – Artistic Director
Philippe Geiss – Artistic Advisor
Artis Sīmanis – Honorary Professor
Ance Jirgena – Project Manager
Baiba Tilhena – Communication Manager
The 2029 Congress will be built around concerts, masterclasses, lectures, exhibitions, presentations, educational activities and opportunities for exchange between artists from different generations, countries and musical backgrounds. We want the Congress to be not only a celebration of the saxophone, but also a platform for new ideas, artistic dialogue and future collaborations.
Riga and Jūrmala offer an inspiring setting for this event. The programme is planned across several important cultural spaces, including the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, Dzintari Concert Hall, Riga Cathedral, and other concert venues in Riga. These places will allow us to present the saxophone in many different contexts — from solo and chamber music to jazz, contemporary music, large ensembles, experimental projects and interdisciplinary formats.
The year 2029 will also carry a symbolic meaning: it will mark 60 years since the first World Saxophone Congress, held in Chicago in 1969. For Latvia, it will also connect beautifully with the history of our own saxophone traditions, including the long-standing festival Saxophonia, which has played an important role in developing saxophone culture in Latvia.
Our aim is to create a Congress that is open, diverse and artistically ambitious — a place where tradition meets innovation, where Latvian music is heard alongside international voices, and where the saxophone is presented in its full richness: classical, contemporary, jazz, experimental, educational and beyond.
I am grateful to everyone who has already supported this idea and helped bring the Congress to Latvia. The preparation process has only begun, but we are already looking forward to welcoming the international saxophone community to Riga and Jūrmala in 2029.