Detailed agenda
Join Rotary International leaders, district governors, peace fellows, and young change-makers for four days of inspiring sessions, workshops, and cultural events in Palanga, Lithuania September 3 - 6 2026.
Thursday, 3 September 2026 |
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| Forums — Listen, Learn & Share | |||
| Time | Session | Presenter / Moderator | Venue |
| 14:00–16:00 | Membership Forum | Christine Buering (Germany, RI District 1950, Rotary Club of Altenburg, Rotary International Director) and Venky Venkatesh (India, RI District 3234, Rotary Club of Chennai Mambalam, Rotary Foundation Trustee) | Gabija Hotel Vytauto g. 40, Palanga |
| 14:00–16:00 | Foundation Forum | Stephanie Urchick (USA, RI District 7305, Rotary Club of McMurray, Past Rotary International President) and Ann-Britt Åsebol (Sweden, RI District 2335, Rotary Club of Falun-Kopparvågen, The Rotary Foundation Trustee) | Baltic Grand Dunes Birutės al. 26, Palanga |
| 14:00–16:00 | Action Plan Planning Forum | Suzan Stenberg (Sweden, RI District 2330, Rotary Club of Östersund Åre, Rotary International Director) and Claudia Hendry (Switzerland, RI District 2000, Rotary Club of Ufenau) | Gabija Hotel Vytauto g. 40, Palanga |
| 14:00–16:00 | Conflict Management and Prevention Forum | Jennifer Scott (Australia, RI District 9685, Rotary Club of Central Blue Mountains, Rotary International Director) and Brian Rusch (Spain, RI District 5150, Rotary Club for Global Action) | Baltic Grand Dunes Birutės al. 26, Palanga |
| 14:00–16:00 | Investing in the Future — Creating Lasting Impact | RI President Yinka Babalola (Nigeria, RI District 9141, Rotary Club of Trans Amadi, Rotary International President) and Soffía Gísladóttir (Iceland, RI District 1360, Rotary Club of of Húsavík/Satellite, Rotary International Director) | Youth center Vytauto g. 110, Palanga |
| Special Events | |||
| Time | Session | Presenter / Moderator | Venue |
| 16:30–17:30 | Interact & e-Rotaract Club Charter Ceremony | RI President Yinka Babalola (Nigeria, RI District 9141, Rotary Club of Trans Amadi, Rotary International President), RI Directors and District Governors |
Youth center Vytauto g. 110, Palanga |
| 19:00–22:00 | Evening Dinner — Individual | Enjoy Palanga`s restaurants at your own pace See the dining guide on our website |
Various restaurants, Palanga |
| 21:00 onwards | Sundown Walk at the Beach & Pier | Open to all — a relaxed evening stroll along the Baltic Sea coast | Palanga Beach & Pier |
Friday, 4 September 2026 |
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| Share your passions in the Foyer of Friendship | |||
| 08:30–18:00 | House of Friendship — Exhibitions & Networking | Districts, Fellowships, and partners presenting projects and initiatives | Palanga Concert Hall Vytauto g. 43, Palanga |
| Listen and Learn in the Plenary Session in the morning — included in your ticket | |||
| Time | Session | Presenter / Moderator | Venue |
| 8:00 - 9:00 | Check In for day tickets | Palanga Concert Hall Vytauto g. 43, Palanga |
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| 09:00 - 10:35 | Welcome & Introductions — Flags, Film and Greetings from the Mayor of Palanga | Mingaile Scherer, RID Soffía Gísladóttir and RID Christine Buering | |
| Where We Are — History of the Baltic Region | Ambassador Argita Daudze | ||
| Where We Are — The Baltics Today | Ambassador Arnoldas Pranckevicius | ||
| Introduction to European Security in Lithuania | General a.D. Jörg Vollmer | ||
| Conversation on Cooperation | General a.D. Jörg Vollmer and Lithuanian partner | ||
| Investing in the Future | RI President Yinka Babalola | ||
| 10:35–11:05 | Coffee Break | Palanga Concert Hall Foyer | |
| starting 11.05 | Peace Work in Uppsala | Prof. Magnus Oeberg and Rotary Peace Fellows | |
| Panel: What means Peace today? | Anastasiia Klonova, Manouchehr Shamsrizi and Natalia Sineaeva | ||
| Connecting — Diversity as a Value and Attraction | Brian Rusch | ||
| Lunch Break - included in your ticket | |||
| 12:15–14:00 | Lunch | Don`t forget your coupons* | Indicated in the coupon, You have received in the Welcome center |
| Listen and Learn in the Plenary Session in the afternoon — included in your ticket | |||
| Time | Session | Presenter / Moderator | Venue |
| 14:00 - 15:00 | SpeakUp competition winner "Don`t be stumm" | Fiona Stumm, Rotaract Hamburg | Palanga Concert Hall |
| Panel — New Formats for Young People | Esi Otto, Marek Balschun, Viktoria Carazvec, Rotaract | ||
| Rotary as a national project | RI Director Emmanuel Katangole Uganda | ||
| Rotary International — Financial Update | Jennifer Scott | ||
| 15:00 - 15:20 | Coffee Break | Palanga Concert Hall | |
| 15:00 - 16:45 | Where we live. The Baltic Sea and the environment | Rüdiger Strempel, execcutive Secretary of HELCOM, Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission | |
| Sustainable Projects for the Baltic Sea | BASRAN Network, Martin Weigel | ||
| Closing Remarks — Creating Lasting Impact | RI President Yinka Babaola | ||
| Sing-Along, Celebrations and Thank-Yous | Conveners and Chair | ||
| Enjoy and get to know each other in the Evening - White Dinner is included in your ticket | |||
| Time | Session | Presenter / Moderator | Venue |
| 17:00–18:30 | Concert with Youth Orchestra Simfukai | Complimentary, make a donation. First come first serve seating | Kurhaus, Palanga Grafų Tiškevičių al. 1, Palanga |
| 19:30–21:30 | White Dinner with Lottery | Dress in white! Celebrating life and fellowship - only for Summit participants* | Club Exit Bar&Restaurant S. Nėries g. 39, Palanga |
| 21:00 - 02:00 | Pre-Rotariada Party | Joined with all Rotariada participants. Entry included, drinks on your own expenses. | Club Exit Discotheque S. Nėries g. 39, Palanga |
Saturday, 5 September 2026 |
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| Rotariada Summer Sports Games 2026 | |||
| Time | Session | Presenter / Moderator | Venue |
| 08:30–10:00 | Rotariada — Parade | Join the parade and compete in the Rotariada Summer Sports Games | Jūratė ir Kastytis Sculture J. Basanavičiaus g., Palanga |
| 10:24–12:00 | End Polio Walk/Run and Darts | Join the Sports & Games | Palanga Stadium Sporto g. 3, Palanga |
| 10:30–12:00 | Petanque and Darts | Join the Sports & Games | Palanga Stadium Sporto g. 3, Palanga |
| 12:00–14:00 | Lunch Break | Explore Palanga and connect with fellow participants | Buy your lunch next to the stadium or in Palanga town centre |
| Afternoon Workshops & Impulse Sessions (choose your sessions) | |||
| Sessions run in parallel. Each session takes place at its own venue — see individual listings below. Capacity is limited; arrive early. | |||
| Impulse & Motivation Sessions | |||
| Time | Session | Presenter / Moderator | Venue |
| 14:00–15:00 | Update on Vaccination in the Future | Polio Teams | Gabija Hotel Vytauto g. 40, Palanga |
| 14:00–15:00 | How to Speak About Last Wills and Bequests | RI Office Zürich and Foundation Team | Baltic Grand Dunes Birutės al. 26, Palanga |
| 14:00–15:00 | High Tea with Stephanie — Major Donor Motivation | Stephanie Urchick (USA, RI District 7305, Rotary Club of McMurray, The Rotary Foundation Trustee) in conversation with Lars Borgestrand (Norway, RI District 2260, Jeløy Rotary Club, Council on Legislation Representative) | Restaurant Gras, Kęstučio g. 32, Palanga |
| 14:00–15:00 | High Five for Paul Harris Society (PHS) with Holger | Holger Knaack (Germany, RI District 1940, Rotary Club of Herzogtum Lauenburg-Mölln, Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair) in conversation with Anette Loewert (Denmark, RI District 1461, Rotary Club of Assens, End Polio Now Regional Coordinator) | Restaurant Gras, Kęstučio g. 32, Palanga |
| 14:00–15:00 | Happify with Yinka | Yinka Babalola (Nigeria, RI District 9141, Rotary Club of Trans Amadi, Rotary International President) interviewed by Venanzia Rizzi (Finland, RI District 1420, Rotary Club of Kerava, Rotary Membership Coordinator) | Kurhaus (main hall), Palanga |
| 14:00–15:00 | How to Bring Peace to a (New) Club | Vinita Venkatesh (India, RI District 3234, Rotary Club of Chennai Anchorage, Club President) and Elísabet Ólafsdóttir (Iceland, RI District 1360, Rotary Club of Mosfellsbær, District Governor) | Kurhaus (Wedding Room), Palanga |
| Interactive Workshops | |||
| Time | Session | Presenter / Moderator | Venue |
| 14:00–15:30 | How to build projects with refugees that last | Peace Fellow Natalia Sineaeva (Poland) and Anastasiia Klonova (Sweden) | Baltic Grand Dunes Birutės al. 26, Palanga |
| 14:00–15:30 | How to Create Continuity in Leadership | Elisabeth Norrby (Sweden, RI District 2355, Stockholm International Rotary Club, District Governor) and Claudia Hendry (Switzerland, RI District 2000, Rotary Club of Ufenau) | Gabija Hotel Vytauto g. 40, Palanga |
| 14:00–15:30 | How to Do Innovative Fundraising | Brian Rusch (Spain, RI District 5150, Rotary Club for Global Action) | Kurhaus (Cinema Room), Palanga |
| 14:00–15:30 | How to Plan a Global Grant and Its Communication | Ulrike Vogt (Germany, RI District 1930, Rotary Club Müllheim-Badenweiler, Rotary Public Image Coordinator) and Ulf Bingsgård (Sweden, RI District 2395, Rotary Club Malmö-Öresund, Endowment/Major Gift Adviser) | Kurhaus (Roof Room), Palanga |
| 14:00–15:30 | How to Establish an Alumni Network | Suzan Stenberg (Sweden, RI District 2330, Rotary Club of Östersund Åre, Rotary International Director) with Interact, Rotaract and Rotex representatives | Palanga Concert Hall |
| Interactive Workshops | |||
| Time | Session | Presenter / Moderator | Venue |
| 14:00–16:30 | BASRAN Baltic Sea Walk — Networking on the Move | BASRAN Network | Departing from Restaurant Gras Kęstučio g. 32, Palanga |
| 14:00–16:30 | How to Support Security and Peace Today | General Jörg Vollmer (Germany, RI District 1810, Rotary Club Bonn-Rheinbach) | Žilvinas Hotel Kęstučio g. 32, Palanga |
| 14:00–16:30 | How to Build Resilience, Peace and Education Through Gaming | Manouchehr Shamsrizi (Germany, RI District 5170, Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley) | Žilvinas Hotel Kęstučio g. 32, Palanga |
| 14:00–16:30 | How Do You Imagine the Rotary of the Future? | Esi Otoo (Sweden, RI District 2395, Rotaract Club of Malmö-Lund International, Assistant Rotary Membership Coordinator) with fellow Rotaracters Marek Balschun (Germany, RI District 1810, Rotaract Club Aachen) and Viktoria Carzavec (Germany, RI District 1842, Rotaract Club München, Rotary Meet#Up Moderator) | Youth Centre Vytauto g. 110, Palanga |
| 14:00–16:30 | How to Live as a Peace Bringer in Our Society | Uppsala Peace Team (Finland) | Youth Centre Vytauto g. 110, Palanga |
| Evening | |||
| Time | Session | Presenter / Moderator | Venue |
| 16:00-19:30 | Major Donor Dinner | On invitation only | In the private invitation |
| 20:00–23:00 | Rotariada Gala Concert — Awards, Music, Dance & Get-Together | Celebrating the Rotariada Summer Games and our community. | Palanga Concert Hall Vytauto g. 43, Palanga |
Sunday, 6 September 2026 |
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| 8:30-9:30 | Yoga on the Beach | Yoga teacher - Viney Prakash Dubey | Palanga Beach |
| 10:00-12:00 | ICC Meeting | All foreign participants are welcome | Kurhaus |
| Farewell — Safe Travels! | We hope you leave inspired, connected and ready to make a difference. | ||
*Note: drinks are not included in the ticketed lunch or dinners.