Lithuania has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 23 times since its debut in 1994, where Ovidijus Vyšniauskas finished last, receiving "nul points". Lithuania withdrew from the contest, not returning until 1999. LT United's sixth place in 2006 with the song "We Are the Winners" is Lithuania's best result in the contest. The country reached the top ten for a second time in 2016, when Donny Montell finished ninth with "I've Been Waiting for This Night", and for the third time in 2021, finishing eighth with The Roop and "Discoteque".
Lithuanian National Radio and Television is a non-profit news network that has been providing regular radio services since 1926 and television broadcasts since 1957. LRT joined the European Broadcasting Union in 1993. LRT operates three national television channels, radio stations and an internet website.
Lithuania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 with the song "Love or Leave" written by Julija Ritčik. The song was performed by the band 4Fun. The Lithuanian broadcaster Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) organised the national final "Eurovizijos" dainų konkurso nacionalinė atranka in order to select the Lithuanian entry for the 2007 contest in Helsinki, Finland. The national final took place over six weeks and involved three different competitive streams: entries performed by newcomers, semi-established artists and established artists. In the final, eleven artists and songs remained and the winner was selected over two rounds of public voting. In the first round, the top three were selected to qualify to the superfinal. In the superfinal, "Love or Leave" performed by 4Fun was selected as the winner with 23,888 votes.
Lithuania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999, held on 29 May 1999 at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem, Israel, with the song "Strazdas" written by Linas Rimša and Sigitas Geda and performed by Aistė. Broadcaster Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) returned to the Eurovision Song Contest after a four-year absence following their relegation from the 1995 contest. The Lithuanian entry for the 1999 contest was selected through the national final entitled "Eurovizijos" dainų konkurso nacionalinė atranka 1999, organized by LRT. Twelve songs competed in the national final, held on 27 December 1998 and later aired on 31 December, where a jury panel selected the winning song. "Strazdas" performed by Aistė received the most votes and was selected to represent the nation in the contest. Aistė performed as the opening entry for the show in position 1 at the international contest and at the close of the voting process, finished in 20th place, receiving 13 points.
Before the independence from the Soviet Union (USSR) in 1990, Lithuanian print media sector served mainly as a propaganda instrument of the Communist Party of Lithuania (LKP). Alternative and uncontrolled press began to appear in the country starting from 1988, when the Initiative Group of the Reform Movement of Lithuania Sąjūdis was established. After the declaration of independence the government stopped interfering in the media outlets which for the most part were first privatised to their journalists and employees and later to local businessman and companies. Currently media ownership in Lithuania is concentrated among a small number of domestic and foreign companies.
Lithuania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 with the song "Something" written and performed by Andrius Pojavis. The Lithuanian broadcaster Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) organised the national final "Eurovizijos" dainų konkurso nacionalinė atranka in order to select the Lithuanian entry for the 2013 contest in Malmö, Sweden. The national final took place over ten weeks and involved 39 competing entries. In the final, seven entries remained and the winner was selected over two rounds of voting. In the first round, the combination of votes from a jury panel and a public vote selected the top three to qualify to the superfinal. In the superfinal, a jury vote entirely selected "Something" performed by Andrius Pojavis as the winner.
Edita Mildažytė is a Lithuanian journalist, documentarian and social activist, widely known as the host of the longest running talk show in Lithuanian TV history, “Bėdų turgus”, on air since 2001.
Saulius Skvernelis is a Lithuanian politician who served as prime minister of Lithuania between 2016 and 2020. He had previously served as police commissioner, and was Minister of the Interior from 2014 to 2016. Though he was an independent politician, he was backed by the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union and was a member of its parliamentary group until 2022, as a result of which he became the first head of government in European history primarily backed by a green party.
Lithuania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 with the song "Happy You" written and performed by Aivaras. The Lithuanian broadcaster Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) organised the national final "Eurovizijos" dainų konkurso nacionalinė atranka in order to select the Lithuanian entry for the 2002 contest in Tallinn, Estonia. The national final involved 15 competing entries and "We All" performed by B'Avarija was selected as the winner following the combination of votes from a jury panel, votes from the venue audience and a public vote, however the entry was later disqualified due to a Lithuanian version of the song being released on CD at the end of 2001 and replaced by runner-up "Happy You" performed by Aivaras.
The Lithuanian Regions Party, also translated as the Lithuanian Party of Regions, is a political party in Lithuania. It was founded in 2018 as the Social Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania following a split of members from Social Democratic Party of Lithuania after the LSDP's decision to exit a coalition government with the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union in 2017.
Lithuania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 with the song "Run with the Lions" written by Ashley Hicklin, Eric Lumiere and Pele Loriano. The song was performed by Jurij Veklenko. The Lithuanian broadcaster Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) organised the national final "Eurovizijos" dainų konkurso nacionalinė atranka in order to select the Lithuanian entry for the 2019 contest in Tel Aviv, Israel. The national final took place over seven weeks and involved 49 competing entries. The results of each show were determined by the combination of votes from a jury panel and a public vote. In the final, eight artists and songs remained and "Run with the Lions" performed by Jurijus was selected as the winner.
Gitanas Nausėda is a Lithuanian politician, economist and banker who is serving as the ninth and current president of Lithuania since 2019. He was previously director of monetary policy at the Bank of Lithuania from 1996 to 2000 and chief economist to the chairman of SEB bankas from 2008 to 2018.
Stasys Jakeliūnas is a Lithuanian politician currently serving as a Member of the European Parliament (EP) for the populist Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union. Jakeliūnas has previously spent one incomplete term as MP at the Lithuanian Seimas, having been elected in 2016.
Ina Marija Bartaitė was a Lithuanian film actress. She is known for her roles in Peace to Us in Our Dreams and Seneca's Day, among others.
People's Bayraktar was a series of fund-raising projects for the purchase of the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Lithuania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool, United Kingdom, with "Stay" performed by Monika Linkytė. The Lithuanian broadcaster, Lietuvos radijas ir televizija (LRT), used the national selection Pabandom iš naujo!2023 to select their representative.
On 24 February 2022, the Lithuanian authorities declared a state of emergency in the country due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said that he condemned the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, and also said that after Russia started a war against Ukraine, NATO should clearly state that Russia is a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security.
Petras Gražulis is a controversial Lithuanian politician and former Member of the Seimas who is the incumbent chairman of the right-wing People and Justice Union party. He is known for his political scandals and hardline opposition to LGBT rights.
Dainius Žalimas is a Lithuanian lawyer, jurist and politician who served as the chairman of the Constitutional Court of Lithuania from 2014 to 2021. He is the candidate of the Freedom Party in the 2024 Lithuanian presidential election.
