BŪTENT!, DISCUSSION FESTIVAL
Būtent!, Lithuania
Discussion and dialogue are the foundation of good decisions and progress. The Lithuanian discussion festival BŪTENT! is the largest live public debate event in the country, aiming to foster a culture of listening, respect, and open conversation among society, decision-makers, businesses, and civil society organisations. Through discussions on the most important issues shaping Lithuania’s future, the festival encourages tolerance for differing views, strengthens civic engagement, and helps improve the quality of decisions that affect us all.
The festival is open and free of charge for everyone.
BŪTENT! (“Makes Sense!”) brings together thousands of curious, responsible, and forward-looking people who believe that dialogue is essential for a thriving democracy. Today it stands as a welcoming space where diverse voices meet, where ideas collide respectfully, and where real inspiration for social, business, and political decisions can emerge. Our aspiration is for BŪTENT! to remain the place where shared understanding, opinion-building, and a collective vision for the country can take shape.
Purpose and Vision
The purpose of BŪTENT! is to strengthen Lithuania’s democratic culture by nurturing constructive dialogue, critical reflection, and meaningful encounters between different groups in society. The festival’s long-term vision is to be Lithuania’s central platform for public conversation: an accessible and inclusive space for listening, debating, finding common ground, and imagining the country’s future together.
While the festival continues to grow, it maintains a humble belief that real democratic progress begins with people talking and truly hearing one another.
Founder and Year of Establishment
BŪTENT! was initiated in 2017 by the non-governmental organisation Visos idėjos (“All Ideas”), established the same year with the ambition to create Lithuania’s national discussion festival and contribute to strengthening democratic culture. Since then, the festival has evolved into one of Lithuania’s most significant civic events, supported by a wide community of partners, volunteers, organisations, and citizens who believe in the power of dialogue.
Organisational Structure
BŪTENT! is organised by Visos idėjos, a non-governmental organisation run by several committed individuals and supported by a broad network of public, private, and international partners. While the core team remains intentionally small and mission-driven, the festival is brought to life through generous contributions from volunteers, NGOs, institutions, businesses, and long-standing partners. The festival’s spirit relies on collaboration, shared responsibility, and a collective desire to make meaningful dialogue accessible to all.
Location and Length
Starting from 2025, BŪTENT! takes place in the very heart of Vilnius, Bernardinų Garden, a green, open, and welcoming public space where nature meets ideas and conversations naturally blend with the everyday life of the city. Visitors can settle under the trees or on the grass and enjoy two days of inspiring discussions and encounters. The central location allows even more citizens, families, and passers-by to join spontaneously, strengthening the festival’s openness and accessibility.
Size – Number of Participants and Events
The festival has grown significantly since its first edition. In 2025, BŪTENT! hosted: 270+ discussions and sessions, 1,300+ speakers, moderators, and discussion participants, and more than 25,000 festival attendees.
The programme spans discussions, debates, workshops, cultural events, community activities, and interactive sessions for all age groups. All events are part of the official programme, ensuring openness, neutrality, and transparency.
People Attending the Festival
BŪTENT! attracts thinking, responsible, curious, and active citizens - people who care about Lithuania’s future and are willing to participate in shaping it. The main audience consists of urban residents aged 25–45: educated, civically engaged individuals with higher-than-average incomes, many of whom are decision-makers, entrepreneurs, professionals, or community leaders.
A strong emphasis is placed on families and children.
The festival invites families to participate together. For children aged 3 and above, we create a dedicated safe space filled with experiments, learning, creative activities, and hands-on experiences. Older children and teenagers are welcomed into mini-BŪTENT! discussions, talks, and workshops. Different areas are designed for different age groups to ensure everyone can meaningfully participate.
The festival remains a meeting place for policymakers, civil society, business leaders, academics, journalists, activists, and citizens from across Lithuania and abroad. Despite its size, the atmosphere remains friendly, warm, and human—something we take quiet pride in.
Programme
The programme is created through an open call, inviting everyone (NGOs, businesses, institutions, activists, experts, communities, and individual citizens) to propose topics and speakers. This approach ensures diversity, relevance, and genuine representation of society’s concerns.
Discussions explore a wide range of themes: democracy and governance, education, technology, climate, social issues, economy, culture, wellbeing, security, international affairs, and more. Evening programmes include concerts, cultural performances, and community gatherings.
For children and youth, dedicated spaces and activities help them learn about dialogue, curiosity, and critical thinking from an early age.