Riga, Latvia – The 2026 Rimi Riga Marathon will celebrate Latvian art and culture with a unique collaboration, featuring the operate of renowned 20th-century artist Boriss Bērziņš on the official Nike race shirts. This marks the beginning of a four-year art concept for the marathon, a partnership between the race organizers and the Latvian National Museum of Art.
The featured artwork, a drawing titled “Viļņos” (Waves), was selected for its dynamic quality and resonance with the theme of movement and the human spirit. Bērziņš (1930-2002) was a significant figure in Latvian art, and his extensive collection at the Latvian National Museum of Art includes over 10,000 pieces, encompassing paintings and numerous drawings. The choice of Bērziņš isn’t arbitrary; it signals a novel era for the Rimi Riga Marathon, one that intentionally blends athletic competition with artistic expression.
“Boriss Bērziņš’s work, in its essence, celebrates and highlights the human body,” explained Maija Rozenfelde, a designer at KID Design, the studio responsible for adapting the artwork for the Nike shirts. “Especially the drawing ‘Viļņos,’ it captivated us with its dynamism and relevance to the theme. It’s a story about the body in motion, interacting with the environment, overcoming obstacles, and the power of nature. Approaching the artist’s work with reverence, our goal was to preserve its nuances even as simultaneously bringing it into a modern execution. Authentically and truthfully revealing Boriss Bērziņš’s view of beauty in every body, giving runners the opportunity to appreciate their own wonderful strength.”
This isn’t the first time the Rimi Riga Marathon has incorporated Latvian art into its branding. Since 2008, when the tradition began with artist Elita Patmalniece, the marathon has featured the work of 18 different Latvian artists on its official shirts. This year’s selection of Bērziņš represents the nineteenth iteration of this initiative, aiming to share Latvian culture and values with a global audience.
Māra Lāce, Director of the Latvian National Museum of Art, emphasized the significance of this collaboration for the museum. “This partnership is particularly important for us because it brings a story about Latvian values and will,” Lāce stated. “Boriss Bērziņš entered art as a kind of purist who was able to perceive and depict the surrounding world with great truthfulness. Bērziņš loved the form he borrowed from the surrounding environment. Boriss Bērziņš was a true master of form, he liked complete, rounded and cozy outlines. This allows us to draw parallels with marathon participants, because in a popular sports event, people of very different kinds run, not only athletes, not only those who have trained themselves, their bodies, but all of us!”
The official Nike running shirts featuring Bērziņš’s “Viļņos” artwork became available for purchase on March 17th at the Sportland store in the Spice shopping center in Riga. They will soon be available at other Sportland locations throughout Latvia, as well as online at the Sportland website. Adding to the appeal, Sportland is offering the shirts in a wide range of colors, allowing runners to choose their preferred shade.
Runners who previously registered for the Rimi Riga Marathon and purchased a shirt will as well receive a shirt featuring Bērziņš’s artwork. The design will also be used for a special art series shirt, which remains available for purchase during registration. The design for the Rimi Riga Marathon art series shirt will be unveiled in early April.
The Rimi Riga Marathon’s commitment to integrating art into its event extends beyond the shirts. This collaboration with the Latvian National Museum of Art marks the beginning of a four-year art cycle, promising a continued celebration of Latvian creativity through 2029. The marathon organizers anticipate over 40,000 participants from more than 100 countries will capture part in the events on May 16th and 17th, 2026.
Beyond the artistic element, organizers are also focusing on increasing participation in the longer distances. They plan to offer both the marathon and half-marathon as relay races, allowing teams to share the challenge. This format aims to create the longer distances more accessible to a wider range of runners, including those who may not feel prepared for the full distance individually. Latvian long-distance running star Jeļena Prokopčuka plans to complete the marathon distance as part of a relay team with her family, while world champion beach volleyball players Tīna Graudiņa and Anastasija Samoilova will team up for the half-marathon.
The Rimi Riga Marathon is shaping up to be a significant event, blending athletic competition with a vibrant display of Latvian art, and culture. The inclusion of Boriss Bērziņš’s work adds a unique dimension to the race, offering runners and spectators alike an opportunity to appreciate the beauty and power of both sport and art.
The next confirmed checkpoint for the Rimi Riga Marathon is the unveiling of the art series shirt design in early April. Runners can continue to register for the marathon and explore the available race options on the official website.
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