Burns Night 2026 – A Memorable Celebration of Tradition, Charity and Community

On 24 January 2026, BritCham Latvia proudly hosted its traditional Burns Supper at the Radisson Blu Daugava Hotel, opening BritCham’s 30th anniversary season with an evening rich in Scottish heritage, elegance, and shared purpose.
Welcomed on the red carpet, guests arrived dressed in black tie, evening gowns, tartan, and Highland dress, creating a refined and festive atmosphere from the very first moments. Burns Night once again proved why it is regarded as one of Riga’s most distinguished and beloved annual social events.

The evening was expertly led by our Master of Ceremonies, Gordon Latimir, Chairman of the Board of BritCham Latvia, a proud Scot whose confident guidance, wit, and deep respect for tradition set the perfect tone throughout the programme.
One of the true highlights of the evening was the Tribute to the Haggis — a cornerstone of every Burns Supper. This year’s haggis was masterfully prepared by our beloved chef Andrejs Kilgisovs and ceremoniously piped into the ballroom by our piper Alan McGeachie, accompanied by whisky porter Aldis Celms. The moment captured the spirit of Burns Night in its purest form, blending theatre, tradition, and celebration.

We were honoured to welcome HMA Kathy Leach as Patroness of the celebration, marking her first Burns Night in this role during her posting. Her presence added special significance to the evening and underlined the strong ties between the British community and Latvia.

Guests were also treated to an unexpected and delightful musical surprise by Zemessardzes koris “Stars”, led by conductor Ārijs Šķepasts. Their performance, including a piece featuring lyrics by Robert Burns, added depth and emotion to the programme and was warmly received by all present.

Charity remains at the heart of Burns Night. Through raffle ticket purchases, a charity auction, and generous donations, guests supported the BritCham Charity Fund. We are proud to share that over EUR 13,000 was raised — a record-breaking result that will support the Charity Fund’s work throughout 2026. A special acknowledgement goes to Kully Singh’s table, recognised as the Most Generous Table of the evening.

We also thank Ieva Broka for presenting an overview of the BritCham Charity Fund projects delivered over the past year, clearly illustrating the real impact of the Fund’s work and the importance of continued support. Further appreciation goes to artist Ina Kantiķe, who generously donated her painting, which was auctioned during the evening in support of the charity cause.

The programme was enriched by thoughtful and engaging speeches from Irina Sennikova, Eric Lebreton, and Annie Sirois, adding reflection, humour, and insight to the celebration. The dance floor came alive thanks to our dance callers Helen Barker and James Cree-Hay, who guided guests through the Scottish dancing moves and steps with confidence, ensuring that everyone felt welcome to take part.

Burns Night 2026 was a powerful reminder of how tradition, community, and generosity can come together to create something truly special. BritCham Latvia extends its sincere thanks to all guests, partners, speakers, performers, donors, and supporters for helping keep this cherished tradition alive in Latvia.
We look forward to welcoming you at future BritCham events, and to celebrating Burns Night once again on 23 January next year. 🥂