“Baltics Gaming Expo 2025”: Vilnius to Become the Gaming Capital of the Baltics

From May 23 to 25, Vilnius will host “Comic Con Baltics 2025 sponsored by Samsung”, where a special spotlight will be placed on one of the region’s most important gaming and tech events – “Baltics Gaming Expo 2025”. More than just a celebration for fans, it is also a key platform for developers, esports professionals, and those eager to be among the first to explore the latest technologies.

For three days, the Litexpo Exhibition Centre will become the region’s central hub for gaming. Visitors will have the opportunity not only to try out the latest releases and unreleased projects, contributing feedback for improvement, but also to witness high-level competitions between professional teams on the main stage. The Expo is an integral part of the  “Comic Con Baltics 2025 sponsored by Samsung” festival.

This year’s “Baltics Gaming Expo” will showcase top-tier competitive play. Finals for eight of the most popular games, from Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant to Street Fighter 6, will take place on the event’s main stage. Several tournaments have already earned international prestige: the Trackmania event is part of the global World Tour circuit, while the Counter-Strike 2 competition has been officially recognised as a Valve Ranked event, awarding participants valuable ranking points.

The total prize pool will reach €15,500, and winners will receive exclusive, custom-made trophies. All tournaments will be streamed live on Twitch, giving thousands of European fans the chance to tune in remotely.

One of this year’s highlights is the return of the showmatch, now in its second edition and featuring a new format. Well-known content creators will take the stage, divided into all-female and all-male teams, to compete on the popular gaming platform Roblox. As one of the world’s largest online game creation platforms, Roblox enables millions of users not only to play but also to design games across countless genres, from obstacle courses to strategy, action, and simulation adventures.

“Last year’s showmatch attracted massive attention and proved that this format aligns perfectly with the festival’s mission to unite diverse communities,” says event co-organizer Šarūnas Tamulis. “It also gives audiences a chance to watch their favorite creators in an unexpected setting, adding a unique, playful element to the experience.”

Another core event’s feature is the “Game Developers’ Terrace”, which has become a magnet for visitors and creators. Independent developers across the Baltics are invited to showcase their games live, collect feedback from thousands of players, and sometimes rewrite code on the spot based on real-time suggestions. This initiative was created to help emerging developers reach their audiences and attract potential partners.

Organisers emphasise that “Baltics Gaming Expo” is not just a celebration for gamers, it’s also a vital platform for those who dream of building careers in esports or game development. While the region is rich in talent and competitive events, not everyone has the chance to participate live and performing on the big stage remains a dream for many aspiring players.

“We still can’t believe how unified this community can be,” say the organisers. “It’s living proof that games have the power to unite, inspire, and spread positive energy to tens of thousands of people.”

Now in its seventh year, “Comic Con Baltics 2025 sponsored by Samsung” is the premier new-generation entertainment festival in the region. Every year, it brings world-renowned creators and actors from iconic films, TV series, comics, and video games to Vilnius. From May 23 to 25, visitors will be able to try out the latest and soon-to-be legendary video games and even play alongside top influencers in the Baltics Gaming Expo zone.

The “Meet Lithuanian Film Industry” program promises meet-and-greets with Lithuanian filmmakers and presentations of new films. The festival will also feature its traditional international Cosplay competition and — for the first time — a K-Pop dance competition, both presented by McDonald’s. A special Family Zone will be set up for the youngest festival-goers.

Several high-profile guests have already confirmed their attendance, including Ed Westwick (Chuck Bass in Gossip Girl), Jack Gleeson (Joffrey Baratheon in Game of Thrones), Roger Clark and Rob Wiethoff from the iconic Red Dead Redemption 2, Ned Luke and Shawn Fonteno from the GTA V universe, and actors Tom McKay and Luke Dale from the rapidly growing Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Comic book artists will also join, including Valerie Minelli (Mrs. Frollein), Luis Coelho (purr.in.ink), and Andrés J. Colmenares (Wawawiwa Comics, Colombia).

The festival is funded by the Vilnius City Municipality.