The Results of the Baltijas Balva / Baltic Awards 2026 Have Been Announced 0 11

On May 13, a solemn award ceremony for the prestigious international award Baltijas Balva / Baltic Awards 2026 took place at the Rīgas Birža Art Museum. On this day, Riga became a meeting place for outstanding representatives of science, culture, art, and public thought from the Baltic countries. The project, which is rapidly strengthening its status as one of the most significant intellectual and cultural events in the region, brought together leading figures whose achievements shape the modern European space, contribute to societal development, and become symbols of professional and creative leadership.

Established to emphasize the role of the Baltic countries in the modern European and global context, the award annually unites outstanding figures from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, recognizing their contributions to the development of science, culture, art, and architecture. In 2026, awards were presented to representatives from Estonia for achievements in science, Lithuania for contributions to art and music, and Latvia for achievements in architecture.

Also at the ceremony, Grand Prix awards were given for outstanding contributions to the industry, for contributions to societal development, and a special prize "Baltic Awards the Opera Rising Star" from the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet.

Nominations were put forward by leading state scientific and cultural institutions from the Baltic countries. In Estonia - the Estonian Academy of Sciences; in Latvia - the Latvian Union of Architects; in Lithuania - the Lithuanian Association of Related Rights AGATA, the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet, and the Vilnius Academy of Arts.

Winners were determined at a meeting of the selection committee of the Baltijas Balva / Baltic Awards, which includes prominent public and cultural figures from the Baltic countries and Europe: former President of Latvia Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, former President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers, former President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of the Latvian Academy of Sciences Ivars Kalviņš, former Prime Minister of Estonia Taavi Rõivas, composer Pēteris Vasks, leading partner of Rödl & Partner in the Baltic and Northern Europe Jens-Christian Pastille, Chairman of the Board of Radio SWH Jānis Šipkēvics, former advisor to former President of Latvia Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga on economic issues Sol Norman Bukingolts, former President of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences Jūras Banys, diplomat and entrepreneur Emmanuil Grinshpun, and director, screenwriter, and producer, Oscar, Golden Globe winner and Grand Prix Baltic Awards laureate Matīss Kaža. The committee chair is opera diva Inese Galante.

2026 Award Winners:

The Baltijas Balva / Baltic Awards in the category "For Significant Contribution to Science" was awarded to Maris Laan – Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Tartu. The award was presented by former President of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, Professor Jūras Banys.

Other nominees presented by the Estonian Academy of Sciences:

• Ülo Niinemets - Professor of Ecology and Agricultural Plant Biology

• Anne Kahru - Research Professor at the National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics (NICPB)

The Baltijas Balva / Baltic Awards in the category "For Significant Contribution to Architecture" was awarded to the architectural bureau LAUDER ARCHITECTS – Rita Laudere and Kārlis Lauders. The award was presented by the President of the Latvian Union of Architects Artūrs Lapiņš.

Other nominees presented by the Latvian Union of Architects:

• MADE ARCHITECTS – architects Miķelis Putrāms and Linda Krūmiņa

• ĒTER – architects Kārlis Bērziņš, Dagnija Smilga, Niklāvs Paegle.

The Baltijas Balva / Baltic Awards in the category "For Significant Contribution to Art" was awarded to the artist duo – brothers Algirdas and Remigijus Gataveckai. The award was presented by the Vice-Rector for Creative and Scientific Work of the Vilnius Academy of Arts Marius Iršėnas.

Other nominees presented by the Vilnius Academy of Arts:

• artist Severija Inčirauskaitė-Kriaunevičienė

• artist Julijonas Urbonas.

The Baltijas Balva / Baltic Awards in the category "For Significant Contribution to Music" was awarded to soprano Asmik Grigorian. The award was presented by the General Director of LaIPA Liena Edvardsa and the Ambassador of Lithuania to Latvia Audronė Markevičienė.

Other nominees presented by the Lithuanian Association of Related Rights AGATA:

• tenor Edgaras Montvidas;

• conductor Modestas Pitrėnas.

The special prize Baltic Awards The Opera Rising Star was awarded to ballet artist Edvinas Jakonis. The award was presented by the Artistic Director of the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Martynas Stakionis and Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks.

Other nominees presented by the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet:

• soprano Gabrielė Bukinė;

• composer Žibuoklė Martinaitytė.

The special prize for outstanding contribution to the development of the industry (Baltic Awards Lifetime Achievement Award) was awarded to Professor Anne Kahru. The award was presented by the Secretary General of the Latvian Academy of Sciences Professor Baiba Rivža.

A special event of the ceremony was the presentation of a special prize for contributions to societal development – GRAND PRIZE for Lifetime achievement award to Baltic Society to the presidents, whose leadership allowed Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia to join the European Union, forever changing the historical path of the Baltic countries – Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, Valdas Adamkus, and Toomas Hendrik Ilves. The awards were presented by director, screenwriter, and producer, Oscar, Golden Globe winner Matīss Kaža, former Prime Minister of Estonia Taavi Rõivas, and soprano Gabrielė Bukinė.

"Baltijas Balva / Baltic Awards is not only a recognition of professional achievements but also an opportunity to express respect for individuals whose decisions, leadership, and values have had a tremendous impact on the development of the Baltic countries and their place in modern Europe. It is a great honor for us to recognize Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, Valdas Adamkus, and Toomas Hendrik Ilves - leaders who enabled a new generation of the Baltic countries to develop freely, think European, realize themselves on an international level, and confidently declare themselves to the world. Their legacy continues to inspire new generations today," noted Inese Galante.

As part of the ceremony, a traditional drawing was held to determine the distribution of nominations among the Baltic countries for 2027:

• Lithuania – for contributions to science;

• Latvia – for contributions to architecture;

• Estonia – for contributions to art and music.

The musical atmosphere of the ceremony was created by musicians from the group Dagamba – Valters Pūce and Dainis Tenis, as well as young performers, winners of the "Inese Galante Talents" competition, violinist Sofia Polishchuk and pianist Gustavs Kalejs.

The solemn event was attended by ambassadors and representatives from the embassies of the United Arab Emirates, the USA, Israel, China, Lithuania, Estonia, Italy, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Numerous cultural figures and representatives from business and public circles were guests of the event.

As part of the Baltijas Balva / Baltic Awards project, a series of large-scale international cultural events will take place in Jurmala in the summer of 2026. On August 21, the Latvian premiere of the iconic performance Teatro Delusio by the world-renowned German troupe Familie Flöz will be held at the Dzintari concert hall. On August 22, a gala concert "GALA GALANTE. Viva La Musica!" dedicated to the award winners will take place featuring world-famous Latvian and foreign performers.

Additional information:

www.balticawards.com

https://www.facebook.com/baltijasbalva

https://www.instagram.com/baltic.awards/