Vilnius Bids for EuroPride 2027: Free to Be Yourself

Baltic Pride Vilnius, Lithuania, alongside three other Pride organisations – Torino Pride (Italy), Torremolinos Pride (Spain), and Pride in Gloucestershire (United Kingdom) – is competing to host the annual pan-European LGBTI+ event, EuroPride, in 2027. 

EuroPride, established in 1992, centres on a single Pride event each year, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors for its parade, concerts, human rights debates, and social activities. Hosting EuroPride would position Vilnius as a beacon of inclusivity for LGBTI+ visitors from across Europe and beyond 

Vilnius has already proven its ability to organize major international events, most notably with the successful NATO Summit and the record-breaking Lithuanian Pride celebrations. These achievements highlight the city’s readiness to host EuroPride and would further solidify its reputation as an open and progressive European capital. Additionally, this opportunity could act as a powerful catalyst for Lithuania, fostering a deeper commitment to equality and potentially driving positive social and legislative changes nationwide. 

“I am delighted that Vilnius is bidding to host EuroPride for the first time. The slogan of our EuroPride 2027 bid, ‘free to be (yourself),’ encapsulates the spirit of the EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy: Building a Union of Equality where everyone is free to be themselves. EuroPride in Vilnius would coincide with the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU, underscoring the importance of LGBTIQ+ rights on both national and European levels. It is also symbolic that Vilnius applied to host EuroPride while celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Baltic Way, a peaceful political protest that saw a human chain span the three Baltic countries, sending a powerful message of freedom for a divided Europe,” said Vladimir Simonko, Executive Director of LGL Baltic Pride Vilnius. 

The EuroPride title is awarded by a majority vote of the members of the European Pride Organisers Association. The result will be announced on 2 November 2024, during this year’s EuroPride in Porto, Portugal.