Vilnius to Host 6th Baltic Pride Festival, Expecting 20,000 Attendees
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Loading... - Farida Jabrane
- 27 Mar 2025
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Vilnius is set to host the 6th Baltic Pride festival this year, with an anticipated attendance of 20,000 people. The largest LGBT community festival in the Baltic states will take place in the Lithuanian capital from June 2-8, under the slogan "Free to Be (Yourself)", as announced by the organizers on Tuesday.
The festival is organized by Lithuania's national LGBT rights organization, the Lithuanian Gay League. Its leader, Vladimir Simonko, emphasized the importance of promoting European values in light of current global trends. He stated, "Diversity and equal opportunities are enshrined in the laws of the Republic of Lithuania, so they must not be extinguished by the unfavorable winds from across the Atlantic. Attempts to normalize the rhetoric aimed against us are not only a threat to one community but also a direct attack on the basic democratic principles of society."
Key Events
The festival's main event will be an LGBTQ+ community march along Gediminas Avenue on June 7. Organizers are inviting participants to "march together proudly for inclusion, dignity, and a future free from discrimination." Following the march, there will be a concert featuring both Lithuanian and international artists.
Simonko noted that around 20,000 marchers are expected to participate, and the Vilnius authorities have granted the necessary permits for the festival. All events during the festival will be free of charge.
Since its inception in 2010, the Baltic Pride march has been held every three years, rotating between Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn, celebrating diversity and advocating for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in the region.
