Lithuania has officially revealed an ambitious and technologically advanced staging concept for its upcoming Eurovision 2026 performance in Vienna. The design aims to push the boundaries of visual storytelling through innovative use of lighting, projection mapping, and interactive elements, marking a significant creative shift for the nation's entry.
Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas has highlighted rising social tensions in Lithuania attributed to an influx of Russian-speaking individuals. The mayor emphasized the challenges of integration and the impact on local communities, calling for increased attention to the social dynamics resulting from the demographic shift in the capital city and across the country.
Lithuanian venture capital firm FIRSTPICK has officially launched a new 25 million euro fund. The initiative is dedicated to supporting early-stage startups across the Baltic region, providing essential capital and acceleration programs to foster innovation and growth in the local technology ecosystem.
Lithuanian singer-songwriter Lion Ceccah, also known as Tomas Alenčikas, has been confirmed as Lithuania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. He secured the spot by winning the national selection show, Eurovizija.LT 2026, with his song 'Sólo quiero más'. The contest will take place in Vienna, Austria, with the Grand Final scheduled for May 16, 2026.
Nøra Blu has won the Eurovizija.LT 2026 wildcard round with her song 'Hold My Own', earning the eleventh and final spot in Lithuania's national selection final for the Eurovision Song Contest. The wildcard winner was determined by online public voting, and Nøra Blu will now compete in the Grand Final on February 27 in Vilnius.
Lithuania has finalized the acquisition of 500 American-made Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) from Oshkosh Defense, with the final units delivered on February 18, 2026. This significant procurement, initiated in 2019, enhances the nation's military mobility, protection, and combat power, strengthening NATO's eastern flank.
Lithuania is considering a direct critical minerals agreement with the United States, driven by concerns over the European Union's slow progress in finalizing a joint partnership. This strategic move aims to secure vital resources for Lithuania's growing defense and engineering sectors and reduce reliance on China.
Ryanair has announced a new direct flight route linking Zadar, Croatia, with Kaunas, Lithuania. Operating from June to September, the service will provide seven flights per week, with a flight duration of approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes, utilizing Boeing 737 aircraft.
French Naval Group and Lithuanian space-tech firm Astrolight signed an MoU on February 9, 2026, to integrate Astrolight's POLARIS laser communication terminals onto Naval Group vessels, including a new multi-purpose ship for the Lithuanian Navy, enhancing secure, jam-resistant communication in challenging maritime environments.
Lithuanian transmission system operator Litgrid has connected the Windfarm Akmenė Two project, with an installed capacity of 105.84 MW, to the national grid for trial electricity production. Developed by Aquila Clean Energy EMEA, this marks a significant step in Lithuania's renewable energy expansion, pushing total permitted wind and solar capacity to 5.3 GW.
The defense ministers of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia signed an agreement in Tallinn on January 30, 2026, to create a single military mobility space. This initiative aims to significantly reduce bureaucratic hurdles for troop and equipment movements, strengthening NATO's eastern flank and paving the way for a 'military Schengen zone' across Europe.
Lithuania's Gambling Supervisory Authority has imposed a fine of €330,600 on gambling operator Baltic Bet for significant anti-money laundering (AML) compliance failures. The violations include accepting deposits without proper identity verification and failing to ascertain the origin of customer funds. This marks another regulatory action against the Entain-owned company in Lithuania.
Newly unsealed Jeffrey Epstein documents have revealed correspondence and financial transactions involving several prominent Lithuanian figures. These include businessman Valdas Petreikis, model Dite Antanaityte, and violinist Justina Auskelyte, with details emerging about their interactions and financial ties to the late financier.
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have signed a letter of intent to create a joint 'Military Mobility Zone' aimed at standardizing border crossing procedures and accelerating the movement of military equipment and personnel across the region. This initiative, signed on January 30, 2026, seeks to enhance regional defense and NATO's eastern flank security.
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have signed a letter of intent to establish a joint 'Military Mobility Zone' in Tallinn. This initiative aims to standardize border crossing procedures and facilitate the rapid movement of military equipment and personnel, akin to a 'military Schengen zone,' bolstering regional defense and NATO's eastern flank.
Lithuania has proposed to Poland the creation of Europe's first cross-border economic zone in the strategically vital Suwałki Gap, focusing on defense and technology industries. The initiative, put forth by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, aims to stimulate economic development and enhance regional security. The proposal has been 'received positively by both sides'.
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has confirmed the relocation of her office and some staff from Vilnius, Lithuania, to Warsaw, Poland. The move, effective January 30, 2026, is attributed to a 'changing security situation' and 'reduced security' in Lithuania, which she stated posed a risk to her and her team. This decision follows Lithuania's downgrade of her security status in late 2025.
Presidents Karol Nawrocki of Poland, Gitanas Nausėda of Lithuania, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, alongside their First Ladies, gathered in Vilnius to mark the 163rd anniversary of the January Uprising. The event underscored a shared history of resistance against Russian oppression and highlighted contemporary concerns regarding Russia's enduring threat to European security.
Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska visited Vilnius, Lithuania, on January 25, 2026, engaging with representatives from Lithuanian universities. The discussions centered on their involvement in the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies, an initiative aimed at strengthening Ukraine's academic presence worldwide and countering Russian narratives. Four prominent Lithuanian institutions have joined the coalition.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda suggested a joint security agreement for the Arctic and North Atlantic could resolve the US-Europe dispute over Greenland. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Nausėda emphasized that the ongoing row distracts from the war in Ukraine and inadvertently benefits Russia, urging de-escalation.
