As London prepares for its glamorous Pink Ball, Vilnius, Lithuania, is turning the color pink into a full-blown citywide celebration. After a record-breaking year, the Vilnius Pink Soup Fest is returning on May 29–31, 2026, expanding from a one-day novelty into a three-day festival dedicated to Lithuania’s iconic cold beetroot soup, šaltibarščiai. The 2025 edition drew 93,000 visitors, including nearly 17,000 international guests, proving the city’s appetite for pink is larger than ever.
The festival is a feast for the senses. Streets fill with revelers in pink from head to toe, donning tulle skirts, flowing gowns, furry mascots, wigs, and playful šaltibarščiai-inspired accessories. The most imaginative outfits are rewarded at the Pink Soup Costume Competition, adding a layer of fun and creativity to the event.
Beyond costumes, the festival offers active and whimsical events. Attendees cheered on participants in the Pink Soup Parade, accompanied by dancers, stilt walkers, marching bands, and even pets sporting pink ribbons. Athletic challenges like the Pink Soup Walking Challenge, a 10.5 km route through Vilnius, and the Pink Waiters’ Run, where participants raced while balancing bowls of soup, add excitement and a touch of spectacle.
Culinary offerings remain central to the festival experience. Vilnius restaurants serve šaltibarščiai both in classic form — made with beets, kefir, cucumber, dill, and boiled eggs — and inventive variations, such as plant-based options, soup-inspired cocktails, beetroot tacos, and kefir ice cream. Festivalgoers can enjoy these flavors while exploring the city, making the event a full immersion in Lithuanian gastronomy and culture.
“The festival has grown so rapidly since its debut three years ago that it can no longer be contained in a single day,” says Eglė Girdzijauskaitė, Head of Communications at Go Vilnius. “Visitors are coming from across Europe — the UK, Germany, the Netherlands — to experience the festival more fully, stay longer, and immerse themselves in Vilnius’ vibrant culture.”
For travelers eager to visit, Vilnius is highly accessible. Direct daily flights connect the city with major European hubs including Berlin, Frankfurt, London, Paris, and Warsaw. Once there, the airport is just 15 minutes from the historic Old Town, making the city an ideal destination for a weekend getaway or extended cultural exploration.
With its playful costumes, active events, and bold culinary offerings, the Vilnius Pink Soup Fest 2026 promises a three-day explosion of color, community, and flavor — cementing Vilnius as a European city that knows how to embrace pink in style.