The New Year promises to be busy in Lithuania, with three elections to take place and important anniversaries to be marked. LRT.lt presents an overview of what to look forward to in the country this year.
The year will start with a dive into the world of ice, music, and dance as the 2024 European Figure Skating Championships will be taking place in Kaunas Žalgiris Arena on January 10-14. Lithuania will host an ice dancing competition of this level for the first time.
On March 12 in Paris, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron will inaugurate the Season of Lithuania in France. The event will take place in various cities and regions of France from September 12 to December 12, and about 100 projects will be showcased to introduce contemporary Lithuanian culture to the French public.
In the spring of 2004, Lithuania became a member of the European Union and NATO. To mark the 20th anniversary of these key memberships, Lithuania will hold concerts, exhibitions, and other events. The presidents of thirteen European countries will meet in Vilnius on April 11 to discuss ways to strengthen transatlantic cooperation, build resilient infrastructure, and develop stronger ties. The countries of the Three Seas Initiative (12 EU members bordering the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Seas) will also discuss assistance to the associated countries – Ukraine and Moldova.
Lithuanian citizens will have to go to the polls at least three, and perhaps five, times in 2024. The election marathon will begin with the first round of voting in the presidential election on May 12. The runoff, if needed, is planned for May 26. Lithuanian members of the European Parliament will be elected on June 9. A new Seimas will be elected in October, with the first round of voting scheduled for October 13 and the runoff for October 27.
For the second time in five years Lithuania will attempt to introduce multiple citizenship as voters will be asked on May 12 whether they are in favour of removing from the Constitution the clause that Lithuanian citizens cannot hold citizenship of another country, except in individual cases.
For the second time, Lithuania will chair the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe from May 17 until November 13. One of Lithuania’s key priorities will be to support war-torn Ukraine and strengthen the council’s influence in Europe as an organisation that sets and upholds the standards of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights.
The Covid-19 pandemic forced the traditional Lithuanian Song Festival to take a six-year break. This year the festival, marking its 100th anniversary, will take place in Vilnius and Kaunas this year, with over 35,000 participants.
From June 28 to July 2, the International Folklore Festival BALTICA will be held in Lithuania with 2000 participants from different parts of the world and several regions of Lithuania. BALTICA incorporates a wide variety of cultural aspects, including traditional songs, dances, instrumental music, customs, unique arts and crafts, handmade articles and traditional cuisines. The theme of BALTICA 2024 will be Ritual, featuring customs and rites related to the exceptional and everyday moments of life, calendar holidays, agriculture, crafts, other work cycles. More information is available at lnkc.lt/baltica2024.
In September, Kaunas will open the doors to the world of science, technology, and knowledge on its brand-new Science Island. The complex took four years to build and cost 35 million euros. The museum vows to show visitors the interaction between people, their environments and technology.
