Statehood Day in Šiauliai – a Solemn Ceremony and Carillon Music for Queen Morta

On 6 July 2026, Statehood (Coronation of King Mindaugas of Lithuania) and National Anthem Day was solemnly commemorated in Šiauliai. Residents and visitors gathered for traditional festive events, which this year were complemented by a new cultural initiative, “Carillon for Queen Morta: The Light of the Crown”. The Statehood Day programme invited participants not only to honour the origins of the Lithuanian state, but also to take a fresh look at history through professional music, contemporary art and cultural experience.
Presented by Šiauliai City Municipality. Organised by Šiauliai Culture Centre. Funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania.

The Statehood Day commemoration began with Holy Mass at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. Afterwards, a solemn procession made its way through the city streets to Resurrection Square, accompanied by the Šiauliai Wind Orchestra and dance groups dressed in national costumes.

At 12 noon, the Lithuanian national flag-raising ceremony and a festive concert took place in Resurrection Square. The national flag of the Republic of Lithuania was solemnly raised by Lithuanian economist, public figure and Honorary Citizen of Šiauliai Vilius Antanas Kazanavičius. This Statehood Day was also personally special for him – on 6 July, he celebrated his honourable 90th birthday. As the Tricolour was raised, the “National Anthem” was performed by tenor Juozas Janužas, the Šiauliai Wind Orchestra conducted by Gediminas Brūzga, and the folk music ensemble “Jovarėlis” of Šiauliai Saulius Sondeckis Gymnasium of Arts (artistic director R. Vaišnorienė, vocal group director D. Kavaliauskienė). The festive atmosphere was also created by the Šiauliai Culture Centre folk dance group “Vajaunas” (artistic director R. Laugalis) and the folk dance ensemble “Šėltinis” of Šiauliai Jovaras Progymnasium and Didždvaris Gymnasium (directors V. and R. Laugaliai, G. Urbonavičius, G. Petrauskė).

After the official part of the commemoration, the festive programme moved to the square next to Šiauliai City Municipality, where at 4 p.m. the cultural initiative “Carillon for Queen Morta: The Light of the Crown” was presented. The project is funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania and Šiauliai City Municipality. The initiative aims to foster historical memory, strengthen civic awareness and bring renewed attention to Queen Morta and the history of the formation of the Lithuanian state.

One of the most prominent highlights of the initiative was the mobile carillon brought to Šiauliai from the Museum of Gdańsk (Poland) – one of only 18 functioning instruments of its kind in the world. The carillon concert was performed by Dr Monika Kaźmierczak and Witold Maciak from Poland and Lithuanian carillonneur Ignas Vydeika. The historic sound of the bells symbolically merged with the meaning of Statehood Day and became an exceptional part of this year’s commemoration.

The art installation “The Light of the Crown” was also presented during the celebration, inviting visitors to explore the story of Queen Morta and her links to the beginnings of the Lithuanian state. A pathway of flag-pennants, symbols, stained glass, light, sound and the motif of the crown come together here into a unified narrative, inviting visitors not only to learn about history, but also to experience it. A special emotional layer was added to the installation by a specially created audio narrative, in which the symbolic voice of Queen Morta invited visitors to reflect on the beginnings of the state, memory and responsibility. The narrative was voiced by actress Jūratė Budriūnaitė. The installation will remain open to visitors until 26 July.

This year, Statehood Day resonated throughout the city. The festive programme was complemented by concerts, educational activities, exhibitions, guided tours and other activities organised by various cultural institutions. The event “Lithuanian Identity and Resilience” took place at the Šiauliai Culture Centre Rėkyva Culture House, while a Statehood Day concert was held at the Šiauliai City Concert Institution “Saulė”. Residents and visitors were also invited to visit museums and exhibitions and take part in educational activities dedicated to Lithuanian statehood and cultural heritage.

Information is provided by Rita Šimkienė, Event Organiser at the Events Organisation Department of Šiauliai Culture Centre, mob. +370 655 25 527, e-mail +370 672 59 987, rita.simkiene@siauliukc.lt.

Photo by Rolandas Parafinavičius.

More photos can be found on the Šiauliai Culture Centre Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/siauliukulturoscentras/photos_albums