Published: 20260203
National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania has successfully collaborated with the Midsummer Vilnius festival for many years. Together with other events held in the Grand Courtyard of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in the summer, it was one of the main cultural landmarks of the capital in the summer. The news about the festival director and his family's ties to a sex offender shocked the museum community. There are no excuses for this, nor can there be any. Based on ethical and moral principles and in consideration of its reputation, the museum sees no possibility of continuing its cooperation with either the festival directors or the Midsummer Vilnius festival itself. The Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania Museum distances itself from any connection with this festival or its organizers.
The museum feels responsible and is looking for other solutions to avoid ruining summer evenings and to compensate Vilnius for the potential loss of cultural events. Various options are being discussed. It is very important for the museum that the new event organizers have an impeccable reputation. If, after the current festival organizer steps down, the performers do not rush to make final decisions and a new organizer is found, the courtyard of the Palace of the Grand Dukes will remain vibrant this summer. The Palace of the Grand Dukes Museum is keeping the dates reserved for events for now.
"We do not see any possibilities for continuing this festival. We are closing this chapter," says Dr. Vydas Dolinskas, General Director of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania Museum. "For our part, we will strive to ensure that there is no gap in Vilnius' cultural life this summer, and we are looking for various solutions."
In summer, the Grand Courtyard of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania hosts opera and drama performances, film screenings, and music concerts. Over the years, the courtyard has become a respectable and attractive cultural space. Active social activists, cultural figures, and business representatives discuss unexpected and attractive new ideas on how to enrich life in the capital during the summer.
