Vilnius is turning its iconic pink soup into a series of new city-wide experiences with the Vilnius Pink Soup Fest returning from 29 to 31 May and bringing a synchronised “Pink Break” on opening day with people having pink soup lunch across the city and “Pink Nights” celebrations after dark.
As heatwaves continue to shape summer travel patterns across Europe, the Lithuanian capital stands out as a refreshing destination – inviting travelers to explore the city through food, culture, and shared moments beyond the festival itself.
Pink phenomenon
Returning for the fourth time, the Vilnius Pink Soup Fest has become an international event, featuring a 50m pink water slide, a waiters’ race, and a walking competition that paints the town pink. It brings focus to the cold beetroot soup, saltibarscai, named among the best soups in the world by Taste Atlas – a cold soup made with kefir, fresh vegetables, and boiled eggs, known for its striking pink colour and refreshing taste.
While deeply rooted in Lithuanian culinary tradition, the dish becomes a canvas for creativity during the festival, with restaurants and chefs across the city offering both classic and experimental interpretations.
“The festival has become a phenomenon that’s grown beyond our initial expectations over the past few years, both in attendance and international interest,” Go Vilnius head of communications Egle Girdzijauskaite said.
“Last year, that number of visitors more than doubled to 93,000, including nearly 17,000 visitors from abroad. The momentum is turning the festival into a compelling reason to visit Vilnius.”
Pink Soup Bus
During the festival, the entire city joins the celebration, with public spaces, transport and landmarks embracing the pink spirit.
One of the highlights is a specially designed Pink Soup Bus, which runs free of charge (during the festival) from Vilnius Railway Station through key festival locations.
Adding to the atmosphere, Vilnius Airport is temporarily renamed “Vilnius Pinkternational Beetport,” while the central railway station becomes “Pink Soup Railway Station.”
The Pink Break
This year, Vilnius is aiming to turn a simple lunch break into a synchronized city-wide moment. On 29 May, at exactly 12pm, residents, businesses, and visitors across the Lithuanian capital comes together for the “Pink Break,” enjoying saltibarsciai simultaneously in offices, parks, restaurants, and rooftops across the city.
By synchronising lunch across the entire city, organisers hope to create one of the largest collective lunch experiences – not only in Lithuania, but beyond.
After dark
One of this year’s key additions is Hales Market – a historic indoor food market known for its local produce and street food – is renamed as “Pink Soup Market” and becomes a central festival hub. During the day, it hosts the Pink Break lunch, and in the evenings, the space transforms into “Pink Nights” – a two-night program of music, drinks, and social events, extending the celebration into Vilnius’ nightlife.
Summer in Vilnius
Beyond the Vilnius Pink Soup Fest, Vilnius continues its summer with a packed cultural calendar that transforms the city into an open-air stage. Culture Night (12 June) turns the capital into one large festival of light installations, music, and performances, while the Lithuanian Youth Song Festival (3 to 6 July) brings together around 24,000 participants in a long-standing Baltic tradition of folk song and dance.
“We see that the festival becomes a great way for travelers to start exploring the summer in Vilnius,” Egle Girdzijauskaite added. “With cooler climate, Baroque Old Town, and 60 per cent of the city covered in trees or parks, and various cultural events, Vilnius becomes truly alive in the summer.”
