Connecting Worlds: Vilnius-Born Global Portal Network Expands to Philadelphia, US, Strengthening International Bonds

The famed NYC Portal has relocated to Philadelphia after its initial display at Flatiron South Plaza in Manhattan, with a grand re-opening this week at John F. Kennedy Plaza, also known as Love Park. The new city joins the network of the Portals already located in Vilnius (Lithuania), Dublin (Ireland) and Lublin (Poland).

Vilnius, Lithuania – Vilnius-based organization behind the popular technology sculptures, Portals.org, announces the relocation of the viral NYC Portal to Philadelphia, unveiling its new home at the iconic John F. Kennedy Plaza, commonly known as Love Park.

Philadelphia, the birthplace of American independence and the nation’s first World Heritage City, now hosts one of the Portals of the global network, connecting people above borders through a real-time livestream. Identical Portal sculptures exist in Vilnius (Lithuania), Lublin (Poland), and Dublin (Ireland), with new locations, including Piauí (Brazil), to be announced soon.

The livestream now alternates every three minutes between Dublin, Vilnius, Lublin and Philadelphia.

“As a proud Philadelphia native, I’m excited to introduce the Portal to a city that thrives on creativity and shared experiences,” said Joseph Callahan, core team member of portals.org. “We’re creating a first of its kind global artwork, a network of Portal sculptures that invites people to share a moment in time with people from distant cultures using universal languages of signs, music and joy."

“The Portal’s arrival in the heart of Philadelphia is an exciting moment for our city that offers a new way to engage with the world, particularly ahead of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. This project is a celebration of our city’s spirit of innovation and unity,” said Michael Newmuis, 2026 Director, City of Philadelphia. “The Portal is an extension of the public space, it’s like a window. We are grateful to portals.org and the Flatiron NoMad Partnership for this generous activation. The Portals have been active and welcomed for more than three years in Europe, to much popular success, and we are excited to offer the people of Philadelphia an opportunity to experience this interactive and unparalleled artwork in Love Park.”

“The addition of the Portal in Philadelphia is an exciting step forward in our mission to build a bridge to a united planet,” said Benediktas Gylys, Founder of portals.org. “Each of these sculptures serves as a reminder that we share more than what separates us, offering an invitation to experience our world as one united home planet.”

The relocation was made possible through the generous support of the Flatiron NoMad Partnership, which previously debuted the Portal in the US for the temporary public art display in May 2024, and managed the Portal on the Flatiron South Plaza in Manhattan through the end of the summer.

“The Portal in New York City brought an exciting summer of intercontinental connection,” said James Mettham, President of Flatiron NoMad Partnership. “It offered spectators a unique window into the daily lives of different communities, while showcasing the international appeal of New York’s Flatiron and NoMad neighborhoods. We're thrilled that the Flatiron NoMad Partnership’s support and investment in the project have sparked interest from other U.S. cities, and we look forward to seeing Philadelphians embrace this innovative global artwork when it arrives in Love Park this fall.”

Installation of the Portal in Love Park was generously supported by the iron workers Local Union 405. In addition to providing pro bono services, Local Union 405 employed graduates of the Ironworkers Academy, a four-week paid training program hosted by the City of Philadelphia’s Rebuild program in partnership with Ironworkers Local 401 and 405, and the PA CareerLink. Additional support was generously provided by Operating Engineers Local 542 and Rebel Trucking & Rigging, LLC.

About portals.org

Portals are an invitation to meet fellow humans above borders and prejudices and to experience our home – planet Earth – as it really is: united and one. Based in Lithuania, Portals.org partners with cities, governments, and private organizations to build Portals worldwide. Since their inauguration in 2021, connecting Vilnius, Lithuania, and Lublin, Poland, Portals have grown into a global network that serves as a bridge to a united planet.