Vilnius Congress Centre Enters Design Phase Ahead of 2031 Completion

Vilnius has appointed Lithuanian architecture studio IMPLMNT Architects to develop the design of its planned Congress Centre, a project intended to expand the city’s capacity to host large international congresses, conventions and high-level political meetings.

The Lithuanian capital has taken another step towards developing its first purpose-built congress centre, following the signing of a design contract with IMPLMNT Architects, whose concept, titled “THREE”, won an international architectural competition earlier this year.

Located between the Lithuanian Parliament and Geležinio Vilko Street, the planned venue will feature a 2,000-seat plenary hall and 17 flexible event spaces. The complex is designed to accommodate up to 4,400 participants across events of different scales, addressing a gap in Vilnius’ meetings infrastructure.

Under the newly signed contract, IMPLMNT Architects will oversee the project’s design development, from detailed design proposals and construction permit applications to the technical design, Building Information Modelling (BIM) model and supervision of implementation. Design work is expected to be completed by mid-2028, with construction scheduled for completion by the end of 2031.

Expanding Vilnius’ international reach

The Congress Centre is intended to strengthen Vilnius’ position in the international business events market, enabling the city to compete for larger association congresses, corporate conventions and government-level gatherings that have previously been difficult to accommodate under one roof.

“Vilnius’ ambition to become a centre for international conferences, business events and the exchange of ideas in the region is becoming increasingly tangible. The Vilnius Congress Centre will create long-term value for the Lithuanian economy, strengthen the international competitiveness of the capital and open up new growth opportunities for the city,” said Valdas Benkunskas, Mayor of Vilnius.

For the local meetings industry, the development is expected to broaden the range and scale of events that Vilnius can attract. The city already hosts a growing number of international conferences, but the absence of a dedicated venue for larger congresses has limited its ability to accommodate some events.

“The new Congress Centre opens a new chapter for Vilnius. It will expand the range of international events we can host, bringing more delegates, knowledge exchange and global connections to the city,” said Dovilė Aleksandravičienė, CEO of Go Vilnius.

The latest project parameters envisage approximately 22,300 sq. m of above-ground space and 15,500 sq. m underground. Halls of different sizes will allow the complex to accommodate events with varying attendance and spatial requirements.

Connecting the city with the Neris riverfront

Beyond its role as an events venue, the Congress Centre is intended to reshape part of the Neris riverfront and improve connections between the surrounding neighbourhoods. Situated next to the Lithuanian Parliament and a planned pedestrian and cycling bridge across the river, the development will form part of a wider network of public spaces linking Naujamiestis with the river and Žvėrynas.

The winning “THREE” concept divides the large complex into several volumes that step down towards the Neris and the Parliament. This approach is intended to integrate the building into its urban surroundings while limiting its visual dominance. The surrounding areas will remain publicly accessible, creating a new section of riverfront for residents, visitors and event delegates.

“This is a truly important project, not only because of Vilnius’ ambition to become a top-level conference and event centre, but also because of its urban and architectural significance,” said Aurimas Syrusas, architect at IMPLMNT Architects. “Through the building and its surroundings, the project connects Naujamiestis with the new pedestrian and cycling bridge and brings the city closer to the river.”

International competition selected the winning design

The architectural competition attracted 28 submissions, of which 17 met all procurement requirements and proceeded to jury evaluation. The winning proposal was developed by the IMPLMNT Architects team comprising Aurimas Syrusas, Greta Brimė, Aurelija Kniukštaitė, Jonė Virbickaitė and Giedrė Jurkuvėnaitė.

Launched in December 2025, the competition had a total prize fund of €100,000. With the design contract now signed, the project moves into a more detailed development phase, with the coming years expected to establish the technical and architectural foundations for construction.

For Vilnius, the planned centre represents both an expansion of its capacity to host international business events and a major urban development project, combining new event infrastructure with improved public access to the Neris riverfront.
 

Published by Meeting Media Company, the publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.