Visitors in Lithuania’s capital can now skate on a bright pink ice rink inspired by the country’s famous cold beet soup, as Vilnius transforms into Europe’s pinkest city for the annual Vilnius Pink Soup Fest 2026.
For one weekend only, from May 29-31, the ice arena at Vilnius Akropolis shopping and entertainment centre has been turned completely pink using special water-based colouring techniques. The result is a surreal-looking ice rink that resembles a giant bowl of šaltibarščiai – Lithuania’s iconic cold soup made with beetroot, kefir, cucumber and dill.
According to Paulius Pocius, Marketing and Communications Manager at Akropolis Group, the result exceeded expectations and genuinely feels like skating inside a giant bowl of pink soup.
“We wanted to create something playful, immersive and completely unexpected — an experience visitors would remember long after the festival ends. The atmosphere on the rink is surreal – bright pink ice, themed decorations and the energy of the festival create a completely unique experience,” says P. Pocius.
The pink ice rink opened to visitors today. The free skating sessions will run throughout the festival weekend.
Organisers believe the project could be the first fully pink ice rink not only in Lithuania, but possible anywhere in the region.
The pink ice rink is part of the growing Vilnius Pink Soup Fest 2026 – a playful annual celebration dedicated to Lithuania’s beloved cold pink soup.
What began as a quirky local event has quickly evolved into one of the city’s most recognisable international tourism attractions, drawing tens of thousands of visitors dressed head-to-toe in pink.
Over the festival weekend, Vilnius hosts pink parades, concerts, costume competitions, themed food experiences, waiter races and city-wide events celebrating the country’s most iconic summer dish.
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