The winning architect will design a landmark 31,500m² venue to be constructed on a prominent publicly-owned site at the intersection of A Tumėno and A Goštauto streets next to the Lithuanian Parliament.
The €100 million project – planned to complete by the end of 2031 – aims to strengthen Vilnius’s competitiveness as a host for international congresses, conferences and governmental events in Central and Eastern Europe.
The completed building will feature 17 multifunctional conference halls – including a plenary hall for 2,000 delegates with overall capacity for 4,500 participants along with meeting, exhibition, dining spaces and underground parking.
According to the brief: ‘The Congress Centre is planned on a municipally owned site at the intersection of A. Tumėno and A. Goštauto streets — currently a green zone and parking area next to the Parliament.
‘The project is designated as strategically important for strengthening Lithuania’s capacity to host large-scale international congresses, governmental meetings and high-profile events.
‘The brief outlines the ambition to create a world-class, future-ready congress centre with intuitive visitor flows, a strong architectural identity, high levels of accessibility, and a meaningful relationship with the nearby A Sakalauskas memorial.
‘The concept also includes a high-quality, publicly accessible riverside space aligned with broader Neris riverbank development plans.’
Founded in 1323, Vilnius is the capital and largest city of Lithuania with around 600,000 residents in its metropolitan region. The contest site overlooks the Neris River and is close to the Lithuanian Parliament, Supreme Court and the Lukiškės Prison arts complex.
The contest comes almost two years after Lithuania’s DO ARCHITECTS won a high-profile competition for a new 55,000m² office development hosting nine of the Baltic state’s government ministries.
London’s Zaha Hadid Architects won an open international competition to redevelop Vilnius railway station and its precincts in 2021 and an international competition for a new arrivals terminal at Vilnius Airport earlier this year.
The latest competition, managed by Vilnius Development Company with the brief prepared by Mash Studio, features a €100,000 prize fund. Key aims include delivering a ‘top-tier’ congress centre featuring ‘convenient, attractive, and clear approaches.’
The completed scheme will also be expected to provide a ‘respectful urban and spatial link’ with a nearby memorial site dedicated to A Sakalauskas who lost his life in the struggle for Lithuania’s independence in 1991.
Judges will include Laura Kairienė, Chief Architect of Vilnius; the Danish architect and founder of Juul Frost, Helle Juul; Mads Birgens of COBE in Denmark; and the Lithuanian architects Lukas Rekevičius and Gintautas Natkevičius.
Th e jury is completed by Vita Žilinskaitė, head of the Go Vilnius Convention Bureau, and Evalda Šiškauskienė, president of the Lithuanian Hotels and Restaurants Association who will be acting as an observer.
The competition language is Lithuanian. The winner – to be announced in May 2026 –will receive a €50,000 prize while a second prize of €30,000 and third prize of €20,000 will also be awarded.
A design contract expected to be signed in June 2026. This will be followed by a two-year design phase with construction starting in 2029.
Competition details
Project title Vilnius Congress Centre – Architectural Design Competition
Client Vilnius Development Company
Contract value €100 million
First round deadline 3pm local time (UTC+2), 16 March 2026
Restrictions Tbc
More information https://vilniuscongresscentre.lt/en/
Q&A
Laura Kairienė, chief architect of Vilnius
Laura Kairienė
Why are you holding an international competition for the new Vilnius Congress Centre?
Vilnius has set a clear goal to set its position as an international conference destination in Central and Eastern Europe. To support this ambition, the city needs a congress centre that meets high international standards and can successfully compete with similar venues in other European capitals. An international architectural competition allows us to reach a wide range of experienced teams who understand this complex building typology and its operational requirements. At the same time, it ensures a transparent and professional selection process. For Vilnius, this is an opportunity not only to deliver a high-quality project, but also to learn from international best practice and invest in infrastructure that brings long-term economic, cultural, and social benefits to the city.
What is your vision for this major new building in a prominent location of the capital?
The future congress centre must be a contemporary public building that responds carefully to its highly sensitive urban context. The site is located next to the Parliament House, which is an important heritage building and holds strong symbolic value for Vilnius and for Lithuania as a whole. This requires an architectural approach that is respectful, balanced, and well-considered. At the same time, the building must work extremely well: clear internal organization, flexible spaces and efficient logistics are essential for hosting international-level events. Our vision is for a building that is open and accessible, strengthens the public space around it and contributes positively to the everyday life of the city, not only during large events.
What sort of teams would you like to see step forward for this unique opportunity?
We are looking for multidisciplinary teams with solid experience in designing congress and conference centres or similarly complex public buildings. A strong understanding of functional planning and operational efficiency is just as important as architectural quality. We value teams that are used to working collaboratively – bringing together architecture, engineering, landscape, and sustainability expertise. Sensitivity to Vilnius’s historical and cultural context is essential, particularly given the proximity of the Parliament House. We encourage teams who see this project as part of a wider urban vision and who are motivated to contribute to the long-term development of Vilnius as an open, international, and forward-looking capital.