Vilnius Pink Soup Fest is an annual celebration of šaltibarščiai, the Lithuanian cold beet soup, during which the city turns pink for several days. The idea behind the festival: cold beet soup as culinary heritage becomes a city celebration with parades, concerts, competitions and more than 176,000 visitors.
In 2026 the festival takes place on 29-31 May. The main venue is by the White Bridge, but the celebration spreads across the whole city: Town Hall Square, Hales Market, the Neris embankment, Vilnius Railway Station and Lukiškės Prison.
If you only have a few hours
First time at the festival? Here is what not to miss on each day:
- Friday, 19:00: Town Hall Square. The festival opening concert: Black Biceps with an 8-piece orchestra, the K2 comedy show, Despotin Fam.
- Saturday, 11:30-13:30: Neris embankment → White Bridge. The boat parade on the Neris (12:00), followed by the waiters' race (13:30). Both take place one after the other along the same route.
- Sunday, all day: the White Bridge festival area. Family activities, the pink slide, the children's pool. For the more active: a 10.5 km walking race (start at 11:00).
Programme by day
📅 29 May, Friday: the pink start
Friday is for those who join the festival in the afternoon or after work. In the evening: the opening concert in Town Hall Square.
| Time | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 | Pink Break: a citywide cold beet soup lunch break | Railway Station, Hales Market, Lukiškės Prison and all of Vilnius |
| 19:00 | Festival opening concert (Black Biceps, K2 comedians, Despotin Fam) | Town Hall Square |
| 22:00-03:00 | Pink Nights: dancing, a pink night-time atmosphere | Hales Market |
📅 30 May, Saturday: the busiest day
This is the main festival day. It is best to arrive early, before the parade (11:30), and stay until the evening. The boat parade and the waiters' race take place along the same riverside route, one after the other.
| Time | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 11:30 | IKI treat: free cold beet soup before the parade | Neris embankment by Mindaugas Bridge |
| 12:00 | Cold beet soup boat parade on the Neris (dress code: pink) | From Mindaugas Bridge to the White Bridge |
| 13:30 | Pink waiters' race (on-site registration until 12:30) | From the Green Bridge to the White Bridge |
| All day | Slide, children's pool, "Cucumber Challenge", food, stalls | Festival area by the White Bridge |
| 22:00-03:00 | Pink Nights | Hales Market |
📅 31 May, Sunday: for families and an active day
Sunday has a calmer pace, ideal for families with children and for anyone who wants to get moving.
| Time | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00-15:00 | IKI cold beet soup walking race (~10.5 km, medals at the finish) | Start by the White Bridge, Upės Street |
| All day | Festival area: family activities, slide, children's pool, rides | By the White Bridge |
Main festival experiences
🎉 Pink Break: a lunch break for the whole city
29 May, 12:00. The festival officially starts not in the evening but at midday: during the citywide "Pink Break" everyone is invited to stop for a cold beet soup lunch: office workers, residents, tourism organisations. Special locations:
- Vilnius Railway Station: a decorated cold beet soup table, a trail of pink footprints, free IKI cold beet soup
- Hales Market: a "Cold Beet Soup Market", pink decorations, various cold beet soup vendors
- Lukiškės Prison: pink accents, music, cold beet soup in the café
⛵ Cold beet soup boat parade on the Neris
30 May, 12:00. This year the parade takes place not in the streets but on the river: it is the first pink boat parade on the Neris in Vilnius.
- Route: from Mindaugas Bridge to the White Bridge
- For spectators: walk along the Neris embankment together with the floating parade
- Before the parade (11:30): free IKI cold beet soup on the embankment
- Dress code: pink
🏃 Pink waiters' race
30 May, 13:30. One of the most fun festival activities to watch: waiters run carrying a bowl of cold beet soup on a tray in one hand. The goal: spill as little as possible.
- Start: Upės Street, below the Green Bridge, on the St Raphael's Church side
- Finish: White Bridge
- On-site registration: until 12:30 by the White Bridge
- Rule: carry the bowl on a tray in one hand, uncovered
🎿 Festival area by the White Bridge
This is the main venue, where you will find everything in one place: food, stalls, family entertainment and the festival atmosphere.
- Pink slide: this year running down from the White Bridge for the first time
- Children's cold beet soup pool: fun for the little ones
- Two inflatable rides for children
- Cucumber Challenge: a rodeo-style mechanical cucumber: stay on as long as possible on a gently spinning ride
- Food and shopping area
🚶 IKI cold beet soup walking race
31 May, 11:00-15:00. A Sunday activity for an active festival experience.
- Distance: ~10.5 km (about 15,000 steps)
- Start: by the White Bridge, Upės Street
- Dress code: pink accents
- At the finish: medals and a "step market", where the steps you have walked become a symbolic currency that can be exchanged for cold beet soup ingredients, fruit, vegetables and treats
- Important: each participant registers separately
🎵 Concerts and the opening
29 May, 19:00, Town Hall Square. The officially confirmed programme:
- Black Biceps: performing with an 8-piece orchestra
- K2 comedians: a comic "cold beet soup trial"
- Despotin Fam: a live band closing the evening
New in the opening programme this year: a comedy show.
🌃 Pink Nights: Hales Market
After the evening concerts, the festival mood moves to Hales Market.
- Time: 22:00-03:00
- Days: 29 and 30 May
- Venue: Hales Market
- Dancing, meeting people, pink flavours, a night-time festival atmosphere
🏆 Pink Vilnius: a city contest
During the festival a contest picks the Vilnius places most vividly decorated in pink.
- Public voting: 28 May - 8 June
- Winners announced: 9 June
- Prizes: an experience at the Vilnius TV Tower and a tasting dinner for six at the restaurant "Paukščių takas"
Souvenirs
Souvenirs are available at the Vilnius Tourist Information Centre (Pilies g. 7) and in the festival area by the White Bridge.
| Souvenir | Price |
|---|---|
| T-shirt | €20 |
| Cap | €13 |
| Pink Soup bag | €13 |
| Badge set | €10 |
| Socks | €9 |
| Keyring | €6 |
| Badge | €5 |
| Magnet | €5 |
| Pink Soup keyring | €5 |
| Sticker set | €3 |
Getting there and around
🚌 Free festival bus
On 29-31 May a specially decorated free bus will run. It will carry passengers from Vilnius Railway Station to Konstitucijos Avenue.
⛵ Boats on the Neris
You can also reach the festival area by the White Bridge on the Vilnius river boats. Ticket prices:
- 90-minute e-ticket: €3 (JUDU / Vilnietis card, m.Ticket, JUDU self-service)
- Contactless payment on board: €4
🚆 Cold beet soup train
From 15 May to 30 August an LTG Link train runs on the Vilnius-Mockava-Vilnius route with its second carriage decorated in a cold beet soup theme. Stations: Lentvaris, Žasliai, Kaišiadorys, Kaunas, Kazlų Rūda, Marijampolė, Mockava.
🚶 On foot
From the Old Town to the White Bridge: about 15-20 minutes on foot along the Neris embankment. Route: Town Hall Square → Pilies Street → Arsenalo Street → Neris riverside → White Bridge.
Frequently asked questions
When is the festival?
29-31 May 2026 (Friday-Sunday).
Is the festival free?
Yes. Entry to all the main events is free. You only pay for food, goods, boat tickets and souvenirs.
Where is the main festival venue?
By the White Bridge (Upės Street). This is where the main festival area operates, with food, rides and family entertainment.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. The family zone by the White Bridge has a children's cold beet soup pool, a slide, two inflatable rides and the Cucumber Challenge. The Sunday walking race is also suitable for families.
Do I need to register?
Most events do not require registration. For the waiters' race, register on site until 12:30 (30 May). For the walking race: separate registration.
What should I wear?
The festival dress code is pink. Pink accents are recommended for the boat parade and the walking race.
Where can I try cold beet soup?
At Hales Market, in the food area by the White Bridge and at the Pink Break locations (Hales Market, the railway station, Lukiškės Prison). On 29 May at 12:00 IKI serves free cold beet soup at the railway station.
