The 2025 "Corgi Race Vilnius" took place with great fanfare on August 23 in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. Hundreds of corgis, known for their short legs, raced across the field, capturing the attention of thousands of spectators on site.
According to the Associated Press, at least 120 teams from several European countries participated in this event, including Poland, Latvia, Germany, Austria, and Italy. Thousands of Lithuanian residents gathered at Vilnius's largest park over the two days of August 23 and 24 to watch the competition.
The event featured individual dog sprints, a "Strongest Bark" contest, costume challenges, and team races. The excitement culminated on the 24th with what was called the "World Corgi Meetup." During this gathering, Lithuanian corgis connected via live broadcasts with corgis from the United States, Ireland, and Poland.
Retired teacher Janina Stoniene, who came to watch with her three grandchildren, said, "This is so much fun. The whole family can feel the joy, something many people crave for nowadays." Her grandchildren expressed their admiration for the costume challenge, highlighting how many of the pups wore eye-catching outfits such as Batman, princesses, or airplanes.
A corgi named "Mango" won the sprint championship. Mango's owner, Ignas Klimaika from Lithuania, shared that this was their second year competing. Despite training every day last year, their results were unsatisfactory. This year, they decided to participate without training, simply to enjoy being around so many corgis — yet Mango surprisingly took home the crown.
Klimaika, who has already planned to compete again next year, said, "He knows what he did, and he's truly proud of himself."
The Origin of the "Corgi Race Vilnius"
According to a report by Central News Agency, the "Corgi Race Vilnius" was founded by Edvinas Miškas, who is the owner of two corgis. He explained that this event was conceived on a whim during the COVID-19 pandemic out of boredom, together with friends. Unexpectedly, it was warmly welcomed by the public. As the event has grown in scale over the years, this year marks its 4th edition.
The highlight of this event is the corgi race, modeled after horse racing. Each race features eight corgis competing simultaneously to see who can sprint the fastest across a 50-meter track and dash into the embrace of their owners waiting at the finish line. The sight of these round-bodied corgis with their short legs running enthusiastically has captivated the entire audience, filling the venue with continuous cheers and laughter.
The event organizer, Dovilė Bielousovaitė, stated that the reason for continuing the race is simple: "There is nothing more touching than seeing dozens of corgis running with all their might while thousands of people cheer and laugh together." She emphasized that this race is not just a speed contest to the finish line, but an attempt to create a tradition that makes the atmosphere in Vilnius more relaxed, warmer, and closer-knit.
She said they will continue to use this event to foster a joyful spirit in the city, with the goal of promoting Vilnius as the "European Corgi Capital."
