School 2026 trade fair will kick off this Thursday with growth workshops, demonstrations and career guidance

Thousands of young people will flock to Ķīpsala for education trade fair School 2026 on 19-21 February to appreciate the diverse programme of events. Visitors will have access to individual career guidance, demonstrations from emergency services, exciting practical workshops, profession try-on and personal development tools. Don’t forget, this year trade fair will take place from Thursday to Saturday!

Meet star athletes
Trade fair visitors will have a unique opportunity to meet famous Latvian athletes and coaches, listen to their stories about discipline, commitment and teamwork, as well as enjoying the spirit of professional sports close up. Every day, from 12:15 to 12:45, State Border Guard College will offer a chance to meet sports stars at the college’s stand. On 19 February, you will have a chance to meet javelin throwers Līna Mūze-Sirmā, Gatis Čakša and Patriks Gailums. On 20 February, judo coach Oskars Brauhbārs, volleyball players Kaspars Kronbergs and Nils Daniels Prauls, volleyball coach Raimonds Vilde and Head of Sports Department of the Ministry of Interion Ainārs Cīrulis. On 21 February, there will be a chance to chat with beach volleyball players Mārtiņš Pļaviņš, Kristiāns Fokerots and Gustavs Auziņš.

Find future profession
State Education Development Agency (VIAA) stand will offer information about Erasmus+ mobility programmes for school children and students, self-assessment tests in NIID.lv platform and advice on how to choose future profession. General education methodology advisors, career guidance counsellors and teachers will be able to learn more about ESF Plus project that focuses on STEM and civic participation opportunities for children and youth.

Stunning demonstrations
School 2026 will specifically highlight emergency and rescue services that will demonstrate their professional skills and routines to all visitors. State Police College and State Border Guard canine units and service dogs, as well as State Police Counter-terrorism unit OMEGA will demonstrate their counter-attack and detention skills in Ķīpsala. On all three days, Fire Safety and Civil Protection College will demonstrate how to put out burning oil in the outdoor exhibition area next to the main entrance and road accident rescue operations that will be re-enacted inside the Expo Centre. Visitors will be able to see step-by-step how professionals respond to critical situations, learn more about tactical and rapid response skills.

Getting ready for exams
To help better prepare for final tests, State Education Development Agency will provide information and support on how to prepare for exams: Latvian exam on 19 February, Mathematics, Physics and Life Sciences on 20 February and Biology on 21 February. Open Stage of VIAA will offer visitors a chance to take part in “Exam challenge” and test how well they would perform in real Year 9 and upper secondary school exams. Moreover, visitors can also take part in exciting quiz “Explore the STEM universe”.

Dance flashmob
On 21 February, at 12:00-12:10, Dzelme Dance Studio dancers will participate in School 2026 flashmob. This intense and dynamic happening will promote active lifestyle and creative expression through dance to inspire young people to join the activity and feel the energy of dancing in person.

Guide to the world of IT and startups
On all three days, StartSchool and Datorium stages will host practical masterclasses, discussion and inspirational stories that will focus on specific hands-on approaches on how to launch career in technologies and startup scene. Well-known young IT professionals like Adriāns Piliksers, Marta Teivāne and Zlata Daškeviča will shed light on their professional experience, challenges and journey into the world of IT career. Visitors will have access to information on how to structure and convert viable startup ideas into reality in mere 60 minutes. Meanwhile, Riga TechGirls will demonstrate the enormously vast opportunities offered by tech industry, focusing specifically on the fact that industry is not limited to coding and anyone, irrespective of their background, can unleash their inherent talents in the field.

Young car mechanic competition
For the first time in trade fair’s history, School 2026 will host the national finals of the high-profile Young Car Mechanic 2026 competition. On 19th and 20th of February, at the Ķīpsala Expo Centre, the best future car mechanics from Latvia will show their skills, compete and fight for the right represent Latvia at the finals of the international competition that will take place in Riga this year. Competition is a reflection on sector’s evolution and show that car mechanics these days must also be good with car electronics and latest automotive technologies.

Student self-governments and agency
On 20 February, at 10:00, Time for the Young will hold a student self-government and informal advocacy group initiative day with events that will take place in Conference Hall 3. Students attending the event will find out hot to enable youth self-governance and agency through participatory platforms or places where young people can both express their opinions and work on ideas and leadership skills. There will also be workshops that will focus on volunteer work as a great way to grow personally. These events are aligned to International Volunteer Year initiative, which is rolled out across 2026.

Educational activities
School 2026 trade fair will offer visitors lots of different educational activities and practical experiments. Riga Technical University will present 3D virtual goggles and Walk around Ķīpsala, unmanned drone “Durbis”, air quality testing devices and tours of passive house. Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies will showcase food technology schemes, inform about water cycle, and augmented reality game Identify object. EF Education First will offer young people express career tests and coaching game Career carousel. There will also be free English test and additional information about IELTS.

Climb with the School campaign
For the first time in the history of School trade fair, at 11:00, on 19 February, in the lobby of the Expo Centre, during a special ceremony, rectors of universities will launch the campaign Climb with the School by placing symbolic items on the installation Life Ladder that best describe 2026 priorities, challenges and future ambitions of their universities. Each item will tell a story of growth, ambitions and vision of the future of education. Various celebrities and influencers have also been invited to make the event even more exciting. Come and experience the launch yourself to make your first step on the Life Ladder!

But that’s not all! Three-day School 2026 will offer numerous events organised by exhibitors themselves. Come to trade fair and engage in exciting activities, tests, competitions and conversations with students and teachers, professors from all over Latvia and abroad. It is a one-off chance to find necessary information about study programmes and future career all in one place. To choose the most ambitious path towards future education, this information is crucial for making well-informed decisions.

Detailed programme of events: ej.uz/skola26prog

School education trade fair is organised by BT 1 International Expo Company together with Atlants.lv online library.

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Venue:
Ķīpsala International Expo centre, Ķīpsalas iela 8, Riga

Opening hours:
19-21 February: 10:00–17:00

Entrance fees:
Adults: €6
Seniors and disabled: €4
Children under 7: free
Group ticket (10+): €4 per person

Parking (cars): €5
Parking (busses): €5