The march started at around 3:30 PM from Martynas Mažvydas Library. It will continue along Gediminas Avenue towards Kalnai Park, where a concert will take place after the march at around 5 PM.
Participants of the march carry rainbow-colored flags of various sizes and other attributes; vehicles with LGBTIQ symbols and inscriptions „Stand proud, love loud“ (“Stand proudly, love loudly”), „Taking pride in our people“ (“We are proud of our people”) stand near Martynas Mažvydas Library and on Gediminas Avenue.
Vladimir Simonko, chairman of the Lithuanian Gay League, stated that the march sends a strong message to politicians.
“This is a strong message to our politicians that they are very far behind our expectations. Our main expectation now is family equality, because we see that the Ministry of Justice is resting very heavily in the direction of human rights. We are sending a signal that we need partnership, and do not put that partnership issue on the back burner,” V. Simonko told BNS on Saturday.
Some human rights, LGBT+ and other civil organizations criticize the march organizers for cooperating with a company linked to the Israeli army.
Three weeks ago, twenty organizations appealed to the “Lithuanian Pride” organizers, urging them to terminate cooperation with the logistics company “DSV Air & Sea”, the organizations announced on Saturday.
According to them, the company’s involvement in transporting weapons to Israel is incompatible with the human rights and anti-fascist values declared by the march.
The statement says that V. Simonko did not respond to this appeal.
Jūratė Juškaitė, head of the Lithuanian Centre for Human Rights, stated that some human rights organizations are boycotting this year’s march.
Read more After J. D. Vance’s comments, the UK condemns attempts to “interfere in our democracy”
“Part of the LGBTQI+ and human rights community is boycotting the event due to the possible links of one company participating in the march with supply chains to the Israeli army. As is known, there is very serious reason to believe that the actions of this army in Gaza may amount to genocide,” J. Juškaitė said on her “Facebook” social network account.
According to V. Simonko, criticism regarding cooperation with the company “DSV Air & Sea” indicates a strengthening of radicalism in Lithuania.
“There is a strengthening of radicalism all over the world, and I think, one way or another, Lithuania is no exception,” he told BNS on Saturday when asked about the complaints of some organizations.
According to the organizers of the march, about 20,000 people are expected to attend the parade.
This year’s march theme is “All Families in Lithuania are Important”.
Representatives of three political forces are also participating in the procession: politicians from the Liberal Movement, Freedom Party, and Lithuanian Green Party. Conservatives Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas and Seimas member Matas Maldeikis are also participating in the march.
During the march, traffic restrictions and changes in public transport routes are planned in the capital.
The march is part of the “Lithuanian Pride” festival events that started this week.
Read more This dress color will dominate summer 2026 – do you already have it in your closet?
