Šiauliai Begins Its 790th Anniversary Journey – The City Illuminated

On January 30, 2026, Šiauliai launched the first event of its 790th anniversary year, marking the symbolic beginning of the festive program. The city immersed itself in light – the audiovisual project “Aušra. The Awakening Bull” united history, architecture, and contemporary technologies into one living narrative. Four historically significant buildings were illuminated with stories told through light, lasers, 3D projections, and sound effects, joined by many other institutions and organizations across the city.
The organizer of the jubilee year is the Šiauliai City Municipality, and the event organizer is the Šiauliai Cultural Center. The event is free of charge.

The evening of January 30 welcomed the city with a sharp frost, yet this did not become an obstacle for either the creators or the audience – on the contrary, the cold air and sparkling snow only enhanced the light, which became the city’s main language. After nightfall, four historically significant buildings – Šiaulių Šv. apaštalų Petro ir Pauliaus katedra, Zubovų rūmai, the Water Tower, and Venclauskių namai-muziejus – became the axis of the main artistic narrative. Alongside them, numerous other city institutions, organizations, and businesses joined the light initiative “Along the Path of Dawn.”

Light accents created in different parts of the city connected into one glowing route, allowing Šiauliai to shine as a unified, celebration-creating city where every light became part of a shared story.

Despite the biting winter conditions, Resurrection Square became the central attraction of the evening, hosting light and dance performances. The public institution “Ugnies teatras” presented an unforgettable spectacle – the cold did not stop either the dancers or the emotion they created. Illuminated costumes, advanced LED technologies, precise choreography, and a cohesive narrative transformed the heart of the city into a pulsating stage that gathered crowds, captivated audiences, and left no one indifferent.

Good news for those who missed it or wish to experience the light journey again – the jubilee year opening events continue on January 31. That evening, the city will once again glow with audiovisual installations, and the light and dance performances at Resurrection Square will be repeated. Events will take place from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and organizers invite everyone not to fear the winter weather, to come into the city, and to become part of this special moment – when Šiauliai, even under the pressure of frost, awakens in light and begins its 790-year journey.

On January 31, visitors to gastrobar “Joker,” restaurant “Black Bar,” and bars “Kišenė,” “Bottoms Up,” “Rock ’n’ Roll,” and “Rubix” will receive special offers with the code “Šiauliai bunda.”

Please note that traffic restrictions will apply during the event. On January 31 from 6:00 p.m. to midnight, traffic will be prohibited on Vasario 16-osios Street (from Trakų Street to Vytauto Street) and on Vytauto Street (from Tilžės Street to Rūdės Street). Public transport will operate as usual.

Illuminated sites are included in the light route map published at www.siauliaisvencia.lt and through the communication channels of the Šiauliai Cultural Center and Šiauliai City Municipality. Visitors are invited to plan their route and travel through the glowing city, discovering places that are not only artistic but also symbolic.

For more information, please contact the Director of the Šiauliai Cultural Center, Deimantė Bačiulė, tel. +370 671 42 889, e-mail deimante.baciule@siauliukc.lt.

Photos by Rolandas Parafinavičius and Gintarė Daknytė.