KAUKYNĖS - MJR UŽGAVĖNĖS FESTIVAL 2026

KAUKYNĖS – a night of powerful music and masquerade dedicated to Užgavėnės (Shrovetide), bridging ancient Baltic traditions with the pulse of modern creativity. It is a mischievous and colorful banishing of winter, a ritually loud awakening from dormancy, and a deep-rooted stirring of spring within oneself. While this archaic festival is celebrated across Europe and beyond, Lithuania’s Užgavėnės traditions are exceptionally joyous, rich, and undeservedly forgotten. Now, the organisers of the former Mėnuo Juodaragis festival  are reigniting these traditions for the modern age, inviting you to the hottest Užgavėnės ritual in the heart of Vilnius!

It is also a joyful opportunity to cast away fears, anxieties, old burdens, broken vessels, toxic relationships, illnesses, and misfortunes. An opportunity to create your own mask, find freedom beneath it, and rid yourself of your inner Morė (effigy of winter). Let’s cast it all away!

: : : O N S T A G E : : :

DRAM BAM BURTAI – a mystical ethnotronic project where the electronics of Marius Narbutis and the ethno-music of Edita Gumauskaitė will whirl you into a frenzy of archaic dance!

VILKDUJA – a well-known Vilnius project of the shadows, drifting along astronomical soundscapes. At Kaukynės, Vilkduja will appear behind a starry mask, transforming into a chthonic being that strikes the strings of a cosmic instrument. The vibrations of these strings draw inspiration from trip-hop, darkwave, and organic electronic concepts, exploding in the sky like an archaic firework. The sparks slowly drift down and pierce the soil, turning into the notes we are about to hear.

VĖLIŲ NAMAI – a ritualistic tapestry of live instruments and dark post-folk electronic sounds. This misty journey into the beyond is guided by symbols of the ancient Baltic faith, visions of primordial existence, and spiritual transformations. And masks.

+ ONE MORE BAND – special guests (to be announced)

: : : A R O U N D : : :

• Day hike around the Kaukysa stream in Ribiškės (registration will be required);
• Mask workshop (make your own festive mask!);
• Lecture on Lithuanian and Slovakian Shrovetide (Užgavėnės) traditions;
• The battle ring of Lašininis (the Fatty) and Kanapinis (the Leany);
• Artistic effigies;
• Live fire;
• Fire performers;
• Pancakes, pancakes, pancakes!
• Simas' tea;
• Polka and foxtrot with herring skeletons;

The program is constantly being updated. The full schedule (timings for each activity) will be announced on February 1st.

Join the official Facebook event for more updates and the full program or/and follow the latest updates and the festival website.

: : : T I C K E T S : : :

From January 8, 2026, tickets are available online and at the Ragainė store (Skapo St. 3, Vilnius).

• Early Bird Ticket – 25.00 EUR (price increases from February 1st)
• PatronTicket (for those who wish and are able to contribute and support the organisation of Kaukynės) – 60.00 EUR
• Discounted Ticket for youth (ages 15–18 inclusive) and seniors – 20.00 EUR (available at the entrance)
• Youths up to 14 years old [inclusive] are admitted free of charge.

The ticket price includes entry to the Event programme, infrastructure fees, and service charges. 

Terms and Conditions of the Event and Ticket Usage.

For any additional questions regarding tickets or rules, please do not hesitate to contact us by email at bilietai@mjr.lt or by phone at +370 688 19655/+370 678 86443.

Don't forget – February 13th is FRIDAY. 

Start crafting and decorating your masks now! We will select the most beautiful Kaukynės mask and award it with a special MJR prize!

See you among the sparks!

The Kaukynės Festival is organised and ticketed by the Baltic music label DANGUS (non-profit public institution “Baltijos griaustinis”, LT company code No. 124631480) and MĖNUO JUODARAGIS Association (code No. 306379617).

Festival bureau: RAGAINĖ – BALTIC SHOP, Skapo str. 3, Vilnius 01122, Lituania [DangusRagainė]