Latvian Music Award “Zelta Mikrofons” Celebrates 30th Anniversary with Historical Broadcast and Upcoming Ceremony

Latvia’s premier music award, “Zelta Mikrofons” (Golden Microphone), is commemorating its 30th anniversary this year. Ahead of the live broadcast of the awards ceremony on February 28th on TV3, the television channel’s portal is offering viewers a look back at the award indicate’s history with a unique video featuring footage from its first decade.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

The historical video compilation, available on TV3 Play, showcases early performances and memorable moments featuring iconic Latvian artists. These include Linda Leen, Prāta Vētra (Brain Storm), Ainars Mielavs, Lūgums Vīriešiem (Request to Men), Ufo, Ozols, Raimonds Pauls, Don, Gustavo and Lauris Reiniks.

The retrospective as well features interviews with key figures from the Latvian music industry, including Ilze Šarkovska-Liepiņa, Orests Silabriedis, Roja Daubure, Valdis Muktupāvels, and Sandra Vanzoviča. Event producer Elita Mīlgrāve notes that “Zelta Mikrofons is not just an award – it is a mirror of the history of Latvian music recordings.”

The 2025 Awards and Nominations

This year, the 30th annual “Zelta Mikrofons” will present awards in 20 categories. TV3 reports that Prāta Vētra has received the most nominations, with four nods. The “Album of the Year” winner will be determined by an additional public vote.

The award for “Lifetime Contribution to the Development of Latvian Music” has already been announced and will be presented to the post-folk group Iļgi.

Watch the Ceremony Live

The “Zelta Mikrofons” presentation ceremony will take place on February 28th at the Ventspils Olympic Hall and will be broadcast live on TV3 starting at 4:30 PM (16:30). A segment about the event aired on TV3 on January 29, 2026 TV3.

Looking Back at 30 Years

As highlighted on TV3 Latvija’s Facebook page, the anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the evolution of Latvian music over the past three decades.