Vingis Park () is the largest park in Vilnius, Lithuania, covering . It is located in the Vilkpėdė eldership near a curve of the Neris River, hence its Lithuanian name "vingis" which means "bend" or "curve". A pedestrian bridge connects the park with Žvėrynas. It is used as a venue for various events, especially concerts and sports competitions. It contains a stadium, an amphitheater, and a department of the Botanical Garden of Vilnius University.
History The park's history dates back several centuries.
Palace in Zakret
Vingis also has a historical Polish name for the location: Zakręt (with the same meaning). It was the site of a Palace in Zakret, that was eventually bought by the local Russian governor general of Vilna Governorate, Levin August von Bennigsen, in 1801. Prior to his purchase, it was a Jesuit palace built on a design by Johann Christoph Glaubitz.
Bennigsen's palace in Zakret is where, during a ball that took place on the night of 24/25 June 1812,Leo Tolstoy recounts that it was on 13 June, because that was the date by Julian Calendar which was in use in Russia at that time (see Old Style and New Style dates). Tzar Alexander I of Russia received the first news about the French invasion of Russia by the Grand Army of Napoleon Bonaparte. As Vilnius was close to the frontier where the invasion took place, Alexander and his entourage left the area in a hurry. This event was immortalised in Tolstoy's account of it in War and Peace (Book 9 Chapter 3).
Later that year, during the invasion, the palace was used as a French military hospital, until it caught fire and was badly damaged. After the war, it was not renovated, and in 1855, the remains were demolished.
Redevelopment as an amphitheater In 1965, the park was redeveloped and adapted to the needs of mass events, such as concerts or political rallies. The amphitheater was built using a modified design of the Estonian Song Festival Grounds in Tallinn. Several major rallies and demonstrations were held there during the course of the Lithuanian independence movement of the late 1980s; a rally on August 23, 1988 drew 250,000 people.
Events Many celebrities have performed at this venue, including Andrea Bocelli, Elton John, Björk, Sting, Rod Stewart, Depeche Mode, and famous Lithuanian music groups like Foje and Antis. The record for most attendants was set in 1997, when Foje performed their last concert - over 60,000 fans were there.
Lady Gaga performed at this venue for her first concert in a Baltic country on August 21, 2012, as a part of her The Born This Way Ball Tour, in front of 14,853 people.
On November 7, 2016, Robbie Williams announced that he will be performing at the venue on August 16, 2017.
German band Rammstein announced they would start their European stadium tour there on the 22nd of May 2023.
On October 9, 2025, it was announced that tickets for the concert of Lithuanian artist Jessica Shy had sold out within 24 hours during the pre-sale period. On October 10, an additional concert was announced. This was the first time in the history of Vingis Park that an additional concert had been held.
Concerts Concerts at Vingis ParkDateArtistTourAttendance17 May 1997FojeFoje Farewell Concert Tour 60,0009 May 1998Naktines personosAtvirai30,0001999Hiperbolė——31 August 2001Depeche ModeExciter Tour20,000+1 September 2006Elton JohnElton John 2006 European Tour 30,000+13 July 2008BjörkVolta tour —31 July 2008Andrea BocelliAndrea Bocelli in Concert Tour 18,000+10 June 2010Rod StewartSoulbook Tour —27 June 2011StingSymphonicity Tour —21 August 2012Lady GagaThe Born This Way Ball Tour 14,85327 July 2013Depeche ModeThe Delta Machine Tour 23,79416 August 2017Robbie WilliamsThe Heavy Entertainment Show Tourabout 30,00011 June 2022ba.ba. 10 —22 May 2023RammsteinRammstein Stadium Tour 33,2909 June 2023Andrius Mamontovas20,000+16 August 2023Imagine DragonsMercury World Tour42,0132 September 2023Justinas Jarutisabout 10,0007 June 2024Leon Somov & JazzuOne Night Onlyabout 20,0002 August 2025Armin van BuurenThe ORB13 September 2025Lilas ir Innomineabout 20,00028-29 August 2026Jessica Shyabout 100,000
Sports , seen on the map of the park (a.k.a. Vilnius Gintaras Stadium, to distinguish from the older, but abandoned ) formerly belonging to the sports club Gintaras Vingis Park Rugby Stadium Archery field Tennis court Basketball court
Notes and references
External links Official website