Vilnius Wins Global Bid for the 2028 Winter Sports Congress

A milestone event for Lithuania, strengthening Vilnius’s reputation as a dynamic host for international congresses. Vilnius has been selected to host the 2028 FIS Congress, the largest gathering of the world’s leading winter sports governing body, marking the first time this prestigious event will take place in Lithuania. The congress will welcome around 450 delegates and guests from nearly 150 countries. 

The decision was made by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) Council, which chose Vilnius from among seven candidate cities. In the final round of voting, the Lithuanian capital triumphed over Dublin. According to Remigijus Arlauskas, President of the Lithuanian National Skiing Association (LNSA), “Vilnius offered an attractive, well-balanced proposal – combining excellent infrastructure, convenient logistics and cost-efficiency. FIS representatives were particularly impressed by the city’s modern facilities and world-class connectivity.” 

The congress is expected to take place at the LITEXPO Exhibition and Congress Centre in May or June 2028. Delegates will elect the new FIS Council and make key decisions on the organisation’s governance, competition rules, membership, and future championship hosts. 

“Hosting such an event is both an honour and an opportunity,” Arlauskas added. “It allows us to showcase Lithuania’s growing potential in winter sports and further position Vilnius as a capable and welcoming destination for global-scale congresses.” 

Founded in 1924, FIS is the world’s largest winter sports federation, governing six Olympic sports — freestyle, alpine, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, Nordic combined, and ski jumping — as well as three Paralympic disciplines. The 2028 Congress will also announce the hosts of future World Championships across all FIS disciplines. 

The LNSA is also a member of the Small Developing Ski Nations (SES) Association, under the FIS umbrella. Lithuania previously hosted the SES Congress in 2015, as well as the FIS Leaders’ Seminar (2015) and Scandinavian & Baltic Conference (2019) — underscoring its growing engagement in the global skiing community.