“Open House Vilnius” expands the boundaries of exploring the city – tours will take place both on the water and on a construction site

On 16–17 May, Vilnius will host the twelfth open architecture weekend “Open House Vilnius”, organised by the Architecture Fund. The organisers will invite visitors to hear the city’s stories, told through distinctive spaces that are usually fully or partially inaccessible to the public. This year’s programme features more than 70 sites, including buildings, interiors, green spaces and the offices of city creators. There will also be several new additions, with visitors invited to try tours on the water and at a construction site.

The theme of this year’s event is “The Voice of the City”. The city speaks through its buildings, streets, courtyards and spaces, all of which together shape its identity and everyday experience. According to project lead Solveiga Buoželytė, architecture reflects who we are and the vision of the future we are creating.

“Architecture preserves the traces of the past, while new developments reflect present-day needs and visions for the future. It can bring people together, foster a sense of community, encourage encounters and conversations, or simply become the backdrop to our daily routines. A city’s identity is shaped by every element, from its most recognisable landmarks to small, often unnoticed places. This year’s programme includes truly interesting and unexpected spaces whose voices we will invite visitors to hear,” says S. Buoželytė.

The visual identity for this year’s theme was created by graphic designer and illustrator Liudas Barkauskas, who has won the project’s open poster competition for the second time.

The programme will feature 70 sites, including 12 newcomers. Programme curators Emilija Deksnytė and Andrej Pleškov say that, when shaping this year’s event, they aimed to create a dialogue between the public and those places that can reveal unfamiliar historical or everyday layers of the city.

“This year’s programme invites visitors to listen to voices of the city that have so far been less often heard. Among the new and rather unexpected venues are the Vilnius Funeral Palace ‘Ritualas’, the Lithuanian Association of the Deaf, the Republican Vilnius Psychiatric Hospital in Naujoji Vilnia, and other buildings that, by their nature, are rarely visited. It is great that some of these places were suggested by visitors themselves, responding to our invitation to share what they would like to see in the programme,” says A. Pleškov.

This year, the festival will go beyond the walls of traditional buildings and invite visitors on an architectural journey along the River Neris. From the deck of a boat, visitors will not only see Vilnius from a new perspective but also experience the dialogue between the river and the city’s urban fabric. Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore the “Senamiesčio sodas” quarter while it is still under construction and witness a project in the making. This experience will offer insight into how contemporary urban architecture is created and help people better understand the constantly evolving face of the city.

“These are our experimental additions, offering a completely new way to experience architecture and the city – whether by seeing Vilnius from the river or observing how the city is being reborn,” shares E. Deksnytė.

Popular guided tours in green spaces and meetings in the offices of city creators will also return. Visitors will have the opportunity to engage directly with professionals shaping the city’s vision – architects, urbanists and city planners – who will share insights into their work and explain the principles behind different projects.

Tours are led by volunteer guides, with more than 400 taking part this year – an integral part of the festival’s success. Tours will be available in Lithuanian, English, Ukrainian and sign language. All tours are free of charge and operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

The open architecture weekend is organised by the Architecture Fund. “Open House Vilnius” is part of the Open House Worldwide network, which connects more than 50 cities around the globe. The festival is also part of the collaborative project “Open House Europe”. The event is partially funded by the Vilnius City Municipality.

List of sites participating in “Open House Vilnius” 2026:

• Republican Vilnius Psychiatric Hospital, Naujoji Vilnia
• “Dūmų fabrikas” (former scythe factory)
• Residential house in Naujoji Vilnia
• Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society
• Contemporary Art Centre (CAC)
• Chapel–columbarium at Tuskulėnai Peace Park
• Industrial site conversion: “Corner” Hotel and “Loft Gallery”
• Senators’ Passage
• ISM University of Management and Economics (former Vilnius Central Post Office)
• Complex “Bokšto skveras”
• Lithuanian Audio-Sensory Library
• Cyber City (former “Sparta” factory site)
• Hero business centre
• Campus of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre
• Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore (Vileišis Palace)
• Vilnius Palace of Culture, Entertainment and Sports
• Fire and Rescue Service team and the Emergency Response Centre
• Tech Park
• Lithuanian Association of the Deaf
• Lithuanian Court of Appeal
• “Lojoteka” Educational Media Centre
• WIX offices
• TARTLE – Lithuanian Art Discovery Centre
• Bank of Lithuania
• Conversion of a Vilnius furniture warehouse: “Atrandi Biosciences” offices and laboratories
• National Gallery of Art (NGA)
• Concrete Factory offices (former reinforcement workshop)
• Kazys Varnelis House-Museum
• State Data Agency
• Vilnius Combined Heat and Power Plant No. 2
• Artery business centre (Visma office)
• Vilnius Marriage Palace
• Renovated flat in Piromontas, Kalvarijų Street
• Vilnius St Joseph’s Seminary
• D9 – Artsy Office
• Vladas Vildžiūnas Gallery and Studio
• Vilnius Funeral Palace “Ritualas”
• Kablys (former Railway Workers’ Palace of Culture)
• Radio House
• Antakalnis trolleybus depot
• Pirklių klubas business centre
• Ignotas Parčevskis House
• St James’s Quarter
• Lithuanian Writers’ Union
• Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania
• Vilnius University Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences – Institute of Chemistry
• Department of Cultural Heritage and historic cellars
• Kazimieras Žoromskis Museum
• Interwar cottage complex in Antakalnis
• Vilnius University Grand Aula
• Lithuanian National Radio and Television headquarters
• Lithuanian Medical Library
• Composers’ Union building with residential quarter
• Vilnius Choral Synagogue
• SEB Bank headquarters
• Water tour “The City Through the Eyes of the Neris”
• Construction site of the “Senamiesčio sodai” quarter

Green spaces:

• Garden of the Gate of Dawn Shrine
• Japanese Garden Sei Shin En
• Business Garden Vilnius – green foothills of Lazdynai

Offices of city creators:

• Vilnius City Municipality
• Lithuanian Architects’ Union
• After Party
• Archispektras + Nomu
• AEXN architects
• Architektūros linija
• Sprik
• HEIMA architects
• Processoffice
• 2L Architects & Engineers