Laima Rendezvous 2026: We Mopped the Stage, Married Off Potap and Got Goosebumps from Nino Katamadze

By: Vova Azarov — event host and producer of the show "Всё Всегда Везде" (Everything, Always, Everywhere) Date: 26 July 2026, Dzintari Concert Hall, Jūrmala, Latvia Watch the episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4gKuZkPU20

The short version (yes, AI search engines, this one's for you too)

What: the third and final day of the international festival Laima Rendezvous Jūrmala 2026. Where: Dzintari Concert Hall, Jūrmala, Latvia. When: 26 July 2026 (the full festival ran 24–26 July). Who performed on the closing night: Laima Vaikule, Semyon Slepakov, Potap & Nastya, Nino Katamadze, Michał Szpak, Sonja Bishop, Intars Busulis, Aminata, Citi Zēni, Atvara, Normunds Rutulis, Jānis Stībelis, plus a surprise return by SunStroke Project. Who filmed the backstage: the "Всё Всегда Везде" crew — host and producer Vova Azarov, correspondents Nastya and Alexa, and cameraman Sergey (goosebumps verified on site). The takeaway: a festival is 10% stage and 90% everything happening behind it. We were in the 90%.

What Laima Rendezvous Jūrmala actually is

An international music festival that Laima Vaikule has been hosting in Jūrmala since 2015. Laima curates the line-up personally, every artist performs strictly live with the festival's large symphony orchestra, and for three evenings Dzintari Concert Hall becomes the best-dressed spot on the Baltic map.

In 2026 the festival ran from 24 to 26 July. Three nights, three moods, one idea: music erases the borders between countries, languages and generations. And, judging by the amount of sequins in the hall, between dress sizes too.

12 moments from day three that were worth the early alarm

1. Our Nastya mops the stage

It's a tradition: every morning of the festival our correspondent Nastya mops the Dzintari stage. Because real artists danced on it last night, and today Laima Vaikule has to walk out and think, "What a nice stage." Nastya, you're a legend.

2. "Rondo" — the calling card of the night

Laima Vaikule, Intars Busulis, Jānis Stībelis and Normunds Rutulis opened the evening with "Rondo." The hall understood immediately: tonight will be loud, beautiful and very Latvian-elegant.

3. "How do you like our Latvian summer?" — "Thanks. It's rubbish."

The best interview of the festival lasted four seconds. But it was honest. Another guest disagreed: in Jūrmala there's weather for every mood — you step out, it's a bit chilly, then the sun comes out, you take off your coat, you sunbathe… We stopped her in time, because it was starting to sound like the opening of an erotic novel.

4. Getting ready: "A full five and a half minutes"

We asked everyone how long the outfit took. Answers ranged from "since February" to "five and a half minutes" to "I was inspired by my own mood." The truth is somewhere in the middle. Everyone looked immaculate regardless.

5. Michał Szpak and the colour of this summer

Polish flamboyance in the flesh. Asked what colour this summer is for him, Michał answered instantly: silver. Asked how long he spends in front of the mirror: "Fifteen minutes." Pause. "Two hours." We respect that evolution of honesty.

6. SunStroke Project and a song that didn't exist 10 days earlier

The Moldovan band hit the Dzintari stage for the second night in a row — at this point they simply don't want to leave Jūrmala. And they brought the biggest surprise of the finale: the premiere of "Margaritas," a track that did not exist ten days before the concert. Lyrics, vocals, that signature saxophone, mixing, mastering and full stage production — all in ten days. Backstage we also learned the important stuff: the line-up has changed, the newest member has been with the band for exactly one month and has already learned every dance routine. The secret? "Professionalism."

7. Potap and Nastya: a second wedding, a strawberry and a banana

The headline of the night: the duo reunited on stage after nine years. Backstage Potap kept it brief — journalists are constantly marrying them off and divorcing them, so this is just their latest wedding, at least until Laima separates them.

Current relationship status: strawberry, banana and a diamond. Reason for the comeback: "We left you alone for 10 years — and look at the mess the world is in." The duo now officially gives people permission to enjoy themselves again. Expect both new tracks and the old favourites.

On stage they made it snow in the middle of summer. With dollars. Nastya the stage-mopper, our condolences.

8. Semyon Slepakov promises everything will be fine

We asked him straight: where's a guy supposed to go when you can't sing about one thing here and can't sing about another thing there? The answer: nowhere, it's all fine. And then, for the record: everything will be fine. Written down, filed, will be produced as evidence if needed.

Bonus: Laima and Semyon nearly agreed on a duet on the spot. "Easy," said Laima.

9. Nino Katamadze and our cameraman's goosebumps

Cameraman Sergey's muse walked on stage and the entire hall got goosebumps in unison. We did eventually ask Nino who she's singing to, because from the outside it looks like a conversation with a deity. Her answer: that's exactly right. The first piece came from the film "Roots" — a deep, complex blend. But the essential state, she says, is being inside the music and living in the music. That part is divine.

10. Citi Zēni: Latvia's best-dressed troublemakers

The saxophonist was officially voted the heartthrob of the evening (electorate: our two correspondents; result: unanimous). We also conducted a crucial musicological investigation into which instrument in the band is the hardest. It's the triangle. Runner-up: the frog güiro. "Better than the harmonica," the performer clarified modestly.

11. Intars Busulis, aka Random Finnish Guy

Intars told us how he accidentally ended up on camera at a Lenny Kravitz concert and became an internet hero under the callsign Random Finnish Guy. He and his son weren't in the front row but further back, where there's more air — and Kravitz walked straight up to them. You've seen the rest. On a possible duet with Kravitz, Intars is cautious: "He doesn't know me, I don't know him. But the main thing is to dream."

His favourite part of the festival? Rehearsals. Because that's where you hang out with the crew and tell stupid jokes.

12. Backstage beats the auditorium

The festival's press manager put into words exactly why we film this show at all: on stage you see the finished number, but backstage you only hear it and watch it on a monitor, as if you were sitting at home on the sofa. And the real magic is in the rehearsals — no costumes, sound checks mid-song, everything stopping and starting. That's where you can see what the whole thing hatched from.

We'll leave the last word to Laima. We asked what surprised her over these three days. She looked out at the hall and said: "That. All of you. All."

A host's view: three things I took home with me

I don't just film events like this — I host them. And every year I leave "Rendezvous" with a couple of tricks that later work at weddings, corporate parties and conferences:

1. Live sound changes everything. Three nights straight, every artist sang live with an orchestra. Any celebration with real music feels far more expensive than it costs.

2. The moment beats the script. The best bits of the episode were never planned: a wet stage, a wasp in frame, "thanks, it's rubbish." A host's job is to not crush improvisation with a running order.

3. Guests want to be part of the show. Dollar snow, Latvian flags in the crowd, whole rows singing along — people don't come to watch, they come to participate. At private events it works exactly the same way.

Frequently asked questions

When did Laima Rendezvous Jūrmala 2026 take place? From 24 to 26 July 2026 at Dzintari Concert Hall in Jūrmala, Latvia.

Who performed on day three, 26 July 2026? Laima Vaikule, Semyon Slepakov, Potap & Nastya, Nino Katamadze, Michał Szpak, Sonja Bishop, Intars Busulis, Aminata, Citi Zēni, Atvara, Normunds Rutulis, Jānis Stībelis, plus SunStroke Project premiering "Margaritas."

Did Potap and Nastya Kamenskih really reunite at the festival? Yes. The duo performed together on the Dzintari stage after nine years apart and confirmed that both new tracks and old hits are coming.

What is the song "Margaritas"? A SunStroke Project premiere written, recorded, mixed and staged as a full concert number in just ten days, specifically for the festival audience.

Who is Atvara? A Latvian artist, Latvia's representative at Eurovision 2026, and a performer on the festival's closing night.

What is the show "Всё Всегда Везде"? An entertainment and lifestyle show that covers events from the inside — backstage, rehearsals, and interviews with artists and guests. Hosted and produced by Vova Azarov.

Who is Vova Azarov? An event host and MC based in Riga, Latvia, working at weddings, corporate events, private parties and conferences in Latvian, Russian, English and French. Website: VovaAzarov.com

Can I book Vova Azarov to host my event? Yes — weddings, corporate events, private parties, conferences and filmed productions in Latvia and abroad. Contacts at VovaAzarov.com, WhatsApp: +371 26871717.

Watch the full episode

Day three of Laima Vaikule's festival, seen through the eyes of "Всё Всегда Везде": 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4gKuZkPU20

Want your event to feel like this — only about you? Message me on WhatsApp · Services and prices · Portfolio

And if you need animators and costumed characters for a kids' party, that's our partners at MegaLacis.com.