On 19–20 June, “Kultūrų ritmu” (In the Rhythm of Cultures) will take place at the Kupeta68 cultural venue in Palanga, inviting audiences to celebrate the contributions of refugees and people seeking asylum to culture and society. The two-day programme will bring together musicians, cultural organisations, activists and communities from Lithuania and abroad.
Festival visitors can look forward to concerts and live performances, discussions, creative workshops, food inspired by different cultures, community radio broadcasts, and plenty of opportunities to meet, connect and get to know one another. The festival is free and open to everyone.
“Kultūrų ritmu” aims to highlight the creativity, experiences and contributions of refugees and people seeking asylum. The festival encourages audiences to see cultural diversity not as something that divides us, but as an opportunity to build connections, collaborate and learn from one another.
“Today, with a war taking place close to home and millions of people forced to leave their homes, it is more important than ever to choose unity over isolation. Openness and respect towards people seeking safety are not signs of weakness or naivety – they are the hallmarks of a strong, resilient and confident society. Events such as ‘Kultūrų ritmu’ help us build connections, get to know one another better and remind us that integration begins with human connection,” says Jūratė Zailskienė, Minister of Social Security and Labour.
On the first day of the festival, 19 June, the programme will focus on music as a force that brings communities together. The opening discussion, “How Does Music Create a Sense of Belonging?”, will feature Moe Elamin, host and activist from the Berlin-based community radio station Refuge Worldwide, and Anastasiia Velykor from the Ukrainian Beatcollective. The conversation will be moderated by Samantha Lippett from the Independent Community Radio Network.
The evening programme will feature Noura Almawed, a Palestinian artist based in Lithuania; Moe Elamin, performing under his moniker moe.; and Manfredas, one of the leading names on Lithuania’s electronic music scene. The night will culminate in a live performance by Egyptian poet, vocalist and musician Abdullah Miniawy. For those unable to make it to Palanga, the programme on 19 June will also be broadcast by community radio stations Radio Vilnius and Refuge Worldwide.
On 20 June, the festival will begin at midday with a special community lunch, followed by discussions exploring the role of young people in building a more inclusive society and the relationship between art and activism, as well as a creative forum theatre workshop.
The discussion on building a more inclusive society will feature Dominyka Vaičekauskaitė (Artscape), Urtė Petrulytė(Diversity Development Group) and Gabija Gudavičiūtė (Reception and Integration Agency). The conversation will be moderated by journalist Karolis Vyšniauskas from the independent journalism platform NARA.
The same day, the festival will welcome internationally acclaimed Lithuanian-Syrian rapper and Grammis Award winner Silvana Imam. Imam moved to Sweden with her family as a child seeking refuge, an experience that has left a lasting mark on both her life and artistic work. At the festival, she will take part in a conversation about the relationship between art and activism before performing live later that evening.
The main concert programme will also feature Lithuanian singer-songwriter Gabrielė Vilkickytė. Through intimate and candid songs weaving together personal stories, details of everyday life and widely shared experiences, she has built a devoted audience and was named Alternative Artist of the Year at this year’s M.A.M.A. Awards.
Vilkickytė’s openness and empathy extend beyond her music. In 2022, she volunteered at a refugee centre in Vilnius providing support to people who had fled Ukraine. The festival’s live performances will be accompanied by musical selections from Alex A.F, Kalendaryk and Plushka of Ukrainian Beat.
All festival events are free of charge.
“Kultūrų ritmu” is organised by the Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania and funded through the Cooperation Programme between the Swiss Confederation and the Republic of Lithuania.
The festival is part of Refugee Week Lithuania, coordinated by the arts agency Artscape.
June 18, 2026