On 20 June 2026, the French Garden of Rundāle Palace will host the annual Garden Festival. This year, the festival will be titled All Flowers Have Bloomed, celebrating the diversity of flowers and their peak blooming period around the summer solstice.
Throughout the day, visitors of the French garden will be entertained by thematic activities, a plant and craft fair, and the Solstice Alley where folklore groups will introduce Latvian summer solstice traditions, songs and rituals, creating a special ambience in anticipation of the shortest night of the year. Meanwhile, the Rundāle Palace exhibition rooms will host the exhibition The Allure of Flowers.
The event is implemented with financial support from the Bauskas novada pašvaldība [Municipality of Bauska Region].
Programme
| Time | Event | Location |
| 10.00 – 11.45 | Brass band performance | Staircase by the fountain |
| 10.30 | Guided tours of the garden | Gathering at the information marquees |
| 11.00 – 11.30 | Illusionist Edžus | Green Theatre |
| 11.45 | Orienteering raffle | Staircase by the fountain |
| 12.00 – 12.15 | "Horse ballet" | Gathering in the rose garden on the eastern side at the canal |
| 12.15 | Guided tours of the garden | Gathering at the information marquees |
| 12.15 – 13.00 | Brass band performance | Staircase by the fountain |
| 13.00 – 13.30 | Illusionist Edžus | Green Theatre |
| 13.45 – 14.00 | Orienteering raffle | Staircase by the fountain |
| 14.00 – 14.15 | Welcome speech by Laura Lūse, Director of the Rundāle Palace Museum | Staircase by the fountain |
| 14.15– 15.15 | Ethno-rock band Laimas muzykanti | Staircase by the fountain |
| 15.15 | Orienteering raffle | Staircase by the fountain |
| 15.30 | Guided tours of the garden | Gathering at the information marquees |
| 16.00 – 16.30 | Illusionist Edžus | Green Theatre |
| 17.00 | Orienteering raffle | Staircase by the fountain |
| 17.15 – 18.45 | Closing concert Lec, saulīte! [Rise, sun!] | Staircase by the fountain |
| THROUGHOUT THE DAY | ||
| 10.00 – 16.00 | Master classes of Riga Circus performers | Green Theatre |
| 10.00 – 17.00 | Orienteering in the garden | French garden |
| 10.00 – 16.00 | Merry-go-round | Central area of the garden |
| 10.00 – 19.00 | Plant and craft fair | French garden |
| 10.00 – 17.00 | Creative workshops: giant wooden games, workshop of graphic arts, educational and interactive activities for family fun | Playground Bosquet |
| 10.00 – 17.00 | Meeting with the participants of the campaign Path of Flowers. Exploratory and entertaining activities. | Playground Bosquet |
| 10.00 – 17.00 | Solstice Alley where folklore groups and keepers of Latvian folk traditions from Bauska will introduce the summer solstice traditions. An opportunity to make a flower crown and attend a herb market. | Alley by the Playground Bosquet |
| 10.00 – 19.00 | Produce and services of entrepreneurs, domestic producers and artisans from Bauska municipality | Green Theatre |
| 10.00 – 17.00 | Horseback rides and rides in horse-drawn carts* | Lawn on the eastern side of the palace |
| 10.00 – 18.00 | Exhibition The Allure of Flowers* | Exhibition room on the ground floor of the palace |
The event programme is subject to change.
*Activities for an additional fee
Tickets for admission to the Garden Festival
| For adults | 10,00 |
| For seniors | 5,00 |
| For pupils | 1,00 |
| For family with 3 or more children | 10,00 |
On the day of the event, tickets will be available for purchase at several points of sale in the palace grounds.
To save your time and avoid lengthy queuing, please, make use of the possibility to purchase e-ticket!
A 10% discount is applied to tickets if the service is purchased through the e-ticket system.
Guests of the Festival will be allowed to re-enter the territory of the French garden, however it will be mandatory to obtain a stamp in the Information tent or at the exit from the garden which will confirm that a ticket has been purchased.
GPS: 56.414819 24.026048
From Rīga through Bauska
From Rīga – 67 km along the road A7 to Bauska, from Bauska to Pilsrundāle – 12 km along the road P103.
From Rīga through Jelgava
From Rīga – 47 km along the road A8 to Jelgava, from Jelgava to Pilsrundāle – 43 km along the road A8 to Eleja and from Eleja by road P103 to Pilsrundāle.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: bus services “Riga–Rundāle Palace”, “Riga–Bauska”, “Bauska–Rundāle–Svitene”, “Bauska–Jelgava” (via Eleja or Jaunsvirlauka), “Bauska–Dobele”, “Bauska–Bērstele”.
Public transport timetables can be found here.
- Before visiting the Garden Festival, please examine the programme of events.
- On the day of the festival, tickets will be available at several sales points in the palace grounds. Still, to save time and avoid queuing at the cashier’s office, we kindly invite you to buy the tickets in advance online: E-biļešu pirkums – Rundāles pils
- Please check the weather forecast! If there is a rain forecast, raincoats will come in handy (umbrellas are not advisable at public events as they may be a nuisance to others); if hot weather is forecast, drinking water and a headdress will be of use.
- The events will take place in the French garden and the palace grounds. We recommend choosing footwear that is appropriate for gravel paths and lawn.
- Free-of-charge drinking water is available in the Spring Bosquet of the French garden. We invite you to refill your empty bottle with drinking water as necessary.
- During the festival, portable toilets will be available in the garden and in the parking lot. Their location will be marked in the garden plan, and there will be corresponding signs in the garden.
- Smoking is prohibited in public spaces and at public events. Smoking will be allowed in designated smoking areas (please follow the directions).
- A medical doctor will be on duty during the festival and necessary medical aid will be provided (please follow the directions!).
- Catering will be ensured by providers of catering services and local catering companies. Visitors are welcome to eat their own sandwiches in the Picnic Area of the garden.
- Payment cards will be accepted at the cashier’s office of the Museum and individual catering sites. However, there will be a fair of artisan and home-made products in the garden, and the small vendors will appreciate cash.
- Festival guests will be allowed to re-enter the French garden during the event. However, they will have to obtain a stamp in the Information tent or at the entrance to the garden which will confirm that a ticket has been purchased.
- We encourage everyone to be tolerant and kind towards each other, including when queuing for snacks or other goodies.
02.03.2026