In 2026, experts from the Latvian Patent Office (LPO) continue to evaluate registered trademarks and nominate candidates for the “Trade Mark of the Year 2026” award. Throughout the year, we will present the award nominees in a series of quarterly publications.
Nomination: Trademark of the Year for the European Union
Category: Word Marks
Trademark characterising products with high international potential – “KANAPEX”
The hemp cultivation and primary processing co‑operative “Lādzeres grauds” has been operating in the sector since 1993. It is one of the largest growers of this crop in the country. Over the years, the co-operative has not only introduced modern technologies but has also established stable export relationships with a number of European countries.
The success of the “KANAPEX” brand, created in 2023, is based on a full production cycle in Latvia, rapidly growing recognition, and innovation in product development, thereby strengthening the export potential of Latvia’s hemp industry.
“KANAPEX is that modern, innovative face — a brand that brings together organic production, science, and the quality of Latvian land, creating products with high added value and international potential,” emphasises Māris Kalniņš, Chairman of the Board of the agricultural co‑operative LPKS “Lādzeres Grauds”.
Nomination: Trademark of the Year for Latvia
Category: Figurative Marks
Trademark uniting music, creativity, collaboration and innovation – “RIGA MUSIC WEEK”
One of the central autumn events in Riga’s music sector has become the “Riga Music Week” festival, which brings together representatives of the music industry from various countries. This project has been created with the aim of developing Riga as an important centre for music and creative industries in the Baltic region, while also providing a platform for collaboration between artists, producers, publishers and industry professionals from different countries.
The figurative trademark, which also features one of Riga’s symbols — the cockerel — was created with the aim of establishing an internationally recognisable and competitive identity that is immediately associated with music, the urban environment and a creative meeting platform. The name combines Riga as the brand's geographical and cultural identity with the globally recognised “music week” format, symbolising an intensive exchange of music, ideas and professional contacts over several days.
“The visual identity of the brand symbolises movement, dynamism and the merging of different cultures and genres. It reflects a contemporary, open and international Baltic music environment in which Riga becomes a platform for creativity, collaboration and innovation,” explain the creators of the brand, Agnese Cimuška‑Rekke and Līva Pētersone‑Kļaviņa.
The Intellectual Property Award “Trademark of the Year”, organised by the LPO, is conducted in two stages. First, experienced LPO experts select, on a quarterly basis, four trade marks for the nomination “Trademark of the Year for Latvia” and four trade marks for the nomination “Trademark of the Year for the European Union” which are then put forward for assessment in the second stage.
The winners in both nominations of “Trademark of the Year 2026” will be selected from 16 trademarks registered at the LPO through the national procedure and 16 trademarks registered at the European Union Intellectual Property Office.