Vilnius Music City
Vilnius is a vibrant music city where events, clubs, artists, independent initiatives and communities create a constantly evolving cultural ecosystem. Here, music shapes the city’s rhythm, cultural identity and the connections between people.
A Music City is a city that recognizes music as an essential part of its cultural, social and economic life.
Music Cities
support music creators, performers, venues and communities
invest in cultural and live music infrastructure
strengthen the local music industry and creative initiatives
integrate music into strategic urban planning and cultural policy
promote international collaboration and artist mobility
actively contribute to the city's identity
Music
Culture
Community
Economy
City Identity
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"Music brings life, character and energy to Vilnius. It connects people, shapes the city's atmosphere and helps Vilnius remain an open, creative and continuously evolving city. We are proud of our artists, creators, clubs, grassroots music venues, concert spaces and the entire community that shapes the contemporary cultural identity of Vilnius every day."
“
- Valdas Benkunskas, Mayor of Vilnius
Who Makes Vilnius a Music City?
Artists and music creators
Audiences, visitors and communities
Grassroots music venues, clubs and concert venues
Festivals and cultural initiatives
Music industry organisations and professionals
Cultural institutions and associations
Why Music Matters to Vilnius
What We Do
Vilnius is developing its Music City initiative in close collaboration with the local music community, cultural organisations and international partners. The initiative aims to strengthen the city’s music ecosystem, increase its visibility and build lasting connections between different stakeholders across the music sector.
International Collaboration
The Vilnius Night Office is a member of the Music Cities Network, and its representative serves on the network’s Board of Directors. We collaborate with other Music Cities, exchange knowledge and best practices, and develop new partnerships and joint projects. We also represent Vilnius’ music ecosystem at international events and conferences.
Activities
- c/o pop – German music industry conference, Cologne, 2026
- Tallinn Music Week – international music festival, Tallinn, 2026
- Murmurs – international music conference, Vilnius, 2026
- Stadt Nach Acht – international night-time economy conference, Berlin, 2025
- Fallen Flags – international musician exchange project, Aalborg, 2025
- Cities After Dark Festival – final event of the URBACT Cities After Dark project, Tallinn, 2025
- MCN Summer Summit 2025 – international gathering of music cities, Vilnius, 2025
- Riga Night Forum – Riga Night-Time Economy Forum, Riga, 2025
- Amsterdam Dance Event – international electronic music conference, Amsterdam, 2024
Strengthening the Music Scene
Being a Music City is about increasing the visibility of Vilnius’ music scene by showcasing the city’s artists, music venues, grassroots venues, and independent music community in both local and international contexts.
Activities
- Grassroots Music Venue Support Programme (2025–2027)
- Promotion of Vilnius’ grassroots music venues and their events
- Night-time programming during Street Music Day and other city festivals
Community, Education and Networking
Vilnius encourages dialogue between the music community, organisations and city partners by creating opportunities for networking, education and collaboration.
Activities
- AGATA and LATGA seminar on music licensing for grassroots music venues, 2025
- Producer’s Table electronic music producer meetups at Opium and Kostmosas, organised together with producer and DJ Nikita von Tiraspol, 2025–2026
- Radio programme series on the city, music and night culture on Palanga Street Radio, 2025
Research, Data and Cultural Memory
Vilnius collects data on its music ecosystem, analyses its needs and develops a long-term music strategy together with the local community and partners. The city also contributes to documenting, researching and promoting the history of music and night culture.
Activities
- Analysis of grassroots music venue events (2025)
- Promotion and launch of graphic designer R. Demšytė’s book Vilnius Nightlife Graphics: 1992–2024
- Promotion of the National Gallery of Art exhibition RAVE NATION: Dancing Towards Freedom, 1992–2004
Vilnius is a city where music brings people together and inspires collaboration.
We Welcome Collaboration
Vilnius’ Music City ecosystem is shaped by artists, organisations, cultural venues, institutions, and international partners. Collaboration strengthens the local music scene, creates opportunities for new initiatives, and connects Vilnius with the international music community.
Through our activities, we actively engage with the city’s musicians, performers, managers, promoters, music industry professionals, and the wider music community.
Music Cities
Network
Since 2024, through the initiative of the Vilnius Night Office, Vilnius has been a member of the Music Cities Network—an independent international network connecting cities that recognise music as an essential part of culture, the economy and urban identity.
Through the network, Vilnius collaborates with other music cities, cultural strategists, artists and industry professionals, shares knowledge and strengthens its local music ecosystem within an international context.
In 2025, Vilnius hosted the Music Cities Network Summer Summit, bringing together 17 music industry professionals from cities around the world. The summit was organised and facilitated by the Vilnius Night Office, which curated an intensive three-day programme featuring workshops, strategic sessions, visits to Vilnius’ cultural venues, and a closing event with live performances.
Learn more
Vilnius Music Strategy
Research
Areas of Work
FAQ
Music in Vilnius
Contact
Interested in the Music Cities Network, international projects or collaboration opportunities?
Gabija Liaugminaitė, Project Manager for Night-Time Culture at the Vilnius Night Office and Board Member of the Music Cities Network.