Celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence

Press release, 6 March 2025

This year marks a special occasion, which is the 35th Anniversary of the Restoration of the Independence of Lithuania. On 11 March 1990, the Supreme Council – Reconstituent Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania proclaimed the Act on the Re-establishment of the State of Lithuania. Over the last decades, Lithuania has undergone enormous economic and social developments, which have profoundly changed all of our lives. Today, the generation of Lithuanian citizens born and raised after the restoration of the country’s independence is creating new success stories.

This year’s events of 11 March will begin with the flower-laying ceremony at the Žinia Monument commemorating 11 March 1990 in Independence Square, Vilnius, at 9 a.m.

At 10 a.m., the Hall of the Act of 11 March (Building 1 of the Seimas) will host the commemoration dedicated to the 35th Anniversary of the Restoration of the Independence of Lithuania and the award ceremony of the National Independence Grant.

The solemn commemoration will begin with an opening address by Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania, who will be followed by speeches delivered by Saulius Skvernelis, Speaker of the Seimas, as well as distinguished guests, including Lauri Hussar, President of the Estonian Riigikogu; Jussie Halla-aho, Speaker of the Finnish Eduskunta; Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Latvian Saeima; Szymon Hołownia, Marshal of the Polish Sejm; and Bryndís Haraldsdóttir, First Deputy Speaker of the Icelandic Althingi. The event will also feature the award ceremony of the National Independence Grant, which will be presented this year to Dr Ernesta Kazakėnaitė.

A live webcast of the solemn commemoration in the English language will be available on the Seimas YouTube channel.

At 12 p.m., flags of the three Baltic States will be hoisted in a solemn ceremony at Independence Square near the Seimas. This event will be followed by the march of the Guard of Honour of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the armed forces orchestras of the three Baltic States, and the procession Road to Restoration of the Independence with participants carrying metres-long flags of Lithuania and Ukraine along Gedimino Avenue from Independence Square to Cathedral Square. 

The celebrations of the 35th Anniversary of the Restoration of the Independence of Lithuania will be concluded with a concert Only in Freedom Can We Grow Big and Strong, which will take place at Cathedral Square in Vilnius at 6.30 p.m.

Throughout the day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Visitor Centre of the Seimas will be hosting events for both adults and children, offering a variety of activities, including educational events, creative workshops, quizzes, video screenings, a musical performance by school pupils of Balys Dvarionas Decennial Music School in Vilnius, as well as the screening of the documentary Jonas Žemaitis-Vytautas. Paskutinis noras (Jonas Žemaitis-Vytautas. Last Wish) commissioned by the Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania. 

On this day, the Seimas will be traditionally open to visitors from 12.40 p.m. to 5 p.m., inviting them to explore the exhibitions at the Gallery of the Defenders of Freedom and the Stained Glass Gallery (Building 1 of the Seimas), listen to concerts, and view documentaries. Meanwhile, our young visitors will be able to enjoy creative workshops.

For a detailed programme of the events of the Day of Restoration of the Independence of Lithuania, please click here.

Rūta Petrukaitė, Adviser, Press Office, Information and Communication Department, tel. +370 5 209 6666, e-mail: [email protected]