Procurement Forum 2026

Changes in public procurement regulation mark an important stage in the sector’s development, changing not only how procurement procedures are carried out, but also the requirements for contracting authorities, suppliers, and everyone involved in the procurement process on a daily basis. To discuss the implementation of the reform in practice and its impact on procurement results, on October 29 the "Procurement Forum 2026" and its conference "Procurement in the New Playing Field" will take place at the Mežaparks Kokaru Hall.

"Procurement Forum 2026" is the largest procurement industry event in Latvia, bringing together professionals from the sector, experts, policy makers, representatives of state and municipal institutions, as well as companies - both contracting authorities and suppliers. The forum is designed as a platform for professional discussion on current challenges and opportunities in the public procurement environment, bringing together more than 550 attendees in one place.

This year’s forum theme, "Procurement in the New Playing Field," invites participants to look at changes in the procurement sector through the prism of sport. With the regulatory changes, not only have the rules of the game changed, but also the playing field on which all parties involved in the procurement process operate. "Just like in sports, in procurement the result is determined not only by the decisive moment itself, but mainly by what has been done before it - preparation, strategy, teamwork, and the ability to play by clear rules," emphasizes Kaspars Rozenkopfs, head of the Iepirkumi.lv platform and organizer of the Procurement Forum.

The reform has changed the playing field. The most important question now is: how do we play on it?

At the center of the forum discussions will be the practical use of the opportunities offered by the new regulation, emphasizing the need to take responsibility for procurement outcomes together with greater flexibility. The discussions will highlight the shift from formal procedure to results, the promotion of fair competition, and the prerequisites for more high-quality competition. Significant attention will also be given to the use of data, technology, and artificial intelligence in improving procurement processes, as well as to the competencies and teamwork needed to achieve goals.

These issues will form three interconnected content directions of the forum - new rules of the game, fair competition, and resources for achieving a quality result. Thus, the forum will focus not only on regulatory changes, but also on a broader question - how to change thinking and everyday practice so that procurement becomes an effective tool for achieving the strategic goals of companies, institutions, and the state.

Procurement Forum 2026 is organized by the Iepirkumi.lv platform and the educational event organizer Iepirkumu akadēmija, with content developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economics, the Procurement Monitoring Bureau, the Central Finance and Contracting Agency, the Competition Council, the State Digital Development Agency, the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments, and the Latvian Procurement Professionals Association. The forum’s strategic partner is the Riga City Municipality.