Palanga Action Summit 2026 — Programme
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 |
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| Time | Session | Presenter / Moderator | Venue |
| 14:00–16:00 | Membership Forum | Christine Buering and Venky Venkatesh | Gabija Hotel Vytauto g. 40, Palanga |
| 14:00–16:00 | Foundation Forum | Stephanie Urchik and Ann Brit Asebol | Baltic Grand Dunes Birutės al. 26, Palanga |
| 14:00–16:00 | Action Plan Planning Forum | Suzan Stenberg and Claudia Hendry | Gabija Hotel Vytauto g. 40, Palanga |
| 14:00–16:00 | Conflict Management and Prevention Forum | Jennifer Scott and Brian Rusch | Baltic Grand Dunes Birutės al. 26, Palanga |
| 14:00–16:00 | Investing in the Future — Creating Lasting Impact | Yinka Babaola and Soffía Gísladóttir | Youth center Vytauto g. 110, Palanga |
Special Events |
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| Time | Session | Presenter / Moderator | Venue |
| 16:30–17:30 | Interact & e-Rotaract Club Charter Ceremony | Rotary International President Yinka Babaola, Rotary International Directors and District Governors |
Youth center Vytauto g. 110, Palanga |
| 18:00–19:00 | Ceremony for Local Global Grant Project | Rotary International President Yinka Babaola, Rotary International Directors and guests |
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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House of Friendship |
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| 08:30–18:00 | House of Friendship — Exhibitions & Networking | Districts, Fellowships, and partners presenting projects and initiatives | Palanga Concert Hall Vytauto g. 43, Palanga |
Plenary Session — Morning |
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| Time | Session | Presenter / Moderator | Venue |
| 08:00–09:00 | Check In for day tickets | Palanga Concert Hall | |
| 09:00–09:20 | Welcome & Introductions — Flags, Film and Greetings from the Mayor of Palanga | Mingaile Scherer, Soffia Gislandottir and Christine Buering | Palanga Concert Hall |
| 09:20–09:30 | Where We Are — History of the Baltic Region | Argita Daudze | Palanga Concert Hall |
| 09:30–09:40 | Where We Are — The Baltics Today | Arnoldas Prancevicius | Palanga Concert Hall |
| 09:45–10:00 | Introduction Security | General Jörg Vollmer | Palanga Concert Hall |
| 10:00–10:15 | Conversation on Cooperation | General Jörg Vollmer and Lithuanian partner | Palanga Concert Hall |
| 10:20–10:35 | Investing in the Future | Rotary International President Yinka Babaola | Palanga Concert Hall |
| 10:35–11:05 | Coffee Break | Palanga Concert Hall Foyer | |
| 11:05–11:25 | Peace Work in Uppsala | Peace Fellow Professor and Rotary Peace Fellows | Palanga Concert Hall |
| 11:30–12:00 | Panel: Peace — With Us, For Us? Voices of Young People | Anastasia Klonova, Manouchehr Shamsrizi and Natalia Sineaeva | Palanga Concert Hall |
| 12:05–12:15 | Connecting — Diversity as a Value and Attraction | Brian Rusch | Palanga Concert Hall |
Lunch Break |
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| 12:15–14:00 | Lunch — Restaurant Gras and surrounding restaurants | Restaurant Gras Kęstučio g. 32, Palanga and nearby venues |
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Plenary Session — Afternoon |
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| Time | Session | Presenter / Moderator | Venue |
| 14:00–14:10 | What is. Baltic Sea and regional environment | Rüdiger Strempel | Palanga Concert Hall |
| 14:10–14:20 | Sustainable Projects for the Baltic Sea | BASRAN Network | Palanga Concert Hall |
| 14:25–14:45 | Panel — New Formats with Young People | Moderator: Esi Otto; Panelists: RYLA representative and Erika | Palanga Concert Hall |
| 14:50–15:10 | Regional Initiatives in Europe | Representatives from Arctic, ESRAG Sea Project and MineX | Palanga Concert Hall |
| 15:15–15:30 | SpeakUp competition winner "Don`t be stumm" | Fiona Stumm, Rotaract Club Hamburg | Palanga Concert Hall |
| 15:30–16:00 | Coffee Break | Palanga Concert Hall | |
| 16:00–16:10 | Rotary International — Financial Update | Jennifer Scott | Palanga Concert Hall |
| 16:10–16:25 | Closing Remarks — Creating Lasting Impact | Rotary International President Yinka Babaola | Palanga Concert Hall |
| 16:25–16:45 | Sing-Along, Celebrations and Thank-Yous | Conveners and Chair | Palanga Concert Hall |
Evening |
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| Time | Session | Presenter / Moderator | Venue |
| 17:00–18:30 | Concert with Youth Orchestra Simfukai — Free & Open to the Public | Kurhaus, Palanga Grafų Tiškevičių al. 1, Palanga |
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| 19:30–22:00 | White Dinner with Lottery | Dress in white! Celebrating our trainers and community | Club Exit S. Nėries g. 39, Palanga |
| 21:00 onwards | Pre-Rotariada Party | Club Exit S. Nėries g. 39, Palanga |
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Saturday, 5 September 2026 |
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Rotariada Summer Sports Games 2026 |
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| Time | Session | Presenter / Moderator | Venue |
| 08:30–12:00 | Rotariada — Parade, Sports & Games | Join the parade and compete in the Rotariada Summer Sports Games | Jūratė ir Kastytis Sculture J. Basanavičiaus g., Palanga |
| 12:00–14:00 | Lunch Break | Explore Palanga and connect with fellow participants | Palanga town centre |
Afternoon Workshops & Impulse Sessions (choose your sessions) |
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| Sessions run in parallel. Each session takes place at its own venue — see individual listings below. Capacity is limited; arrive early. | |||
Impulse & Motivation Sessions |
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| Time | Session | Presenter / Moderator | Venue |
| 14:00–15:00 | Update on Vaccination in the Future | WHO and Polio Teams | Gabija Hotel Vytauto g. 40, Palanga |
| 14:00–15:00 | How to Create Continuity in Leadership | Elisabeth Norrby and Claudia Hendry | Gabija Hotel Vytauto g. 40, Palanga |
| 14:00–15:00 | How to Speak About Last Wills and Bequests | RI Office Zurich and Foundation Team | Baltic Grand Dunes Birutės al. 26, Palanga |
| 14:00–15:00 | How to Have More Impact with Refugee Projects | Peace Fellow Natalia Sineaeva | Baltic Grand Dunes Birutės al. 26, Palanga |
| 14:00–15:00 | High Tea with Stephanie — Major Donor Motivation | Stephanie Urchik in conversation with Lars Borgestrand | Restaurant Gras, Kęstučio g. 32, Palanga |
| 14:00–15:00 | High Five for Paul Harris Society (PHS) with Holger | Holger in conversation with Anette Loewert | Restaurant Gras, Kęstučio g. 32, Palanga |
| 14:00–15:00 | Happify with M&Ms and Yinka | Yinka Babaola interviewed by Venanzia Rizzi | Kurhaus (main hall), Palanga |
| 14:00–15:00 | How to Bring Peace to a (New) Club | Vinita, Venky Venkatesh and Elisabet Olafsdottir | Kurhaus (Wedding Room), Palanga |
Interactive Workshops |
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| Time | Session | Presenter / Moderator | Venue |
| 14:00–15:30 | How to Do Innovative Fundraising | Brian Rusch | Kurhaus (Cinema Room), Palanga |
| 14:00–15:30 | How to Plan a Global Grant and Its Communication | Ulrike Vogt and Ulf Bingsard | Kurhaus (Roof Room), Palanga |
| 14:00–15:30 | How to Establish an Alumni Network | Suzan Stenberg with Interact, Rotaract (Lithuania) and Rotex representatives | Palanga Concert Hall |
Interactive Workshops |
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| 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 | Norbert Froitzheim and General Jörg Vollmer | Žilvinas Hotel Kęstučio g. 32, Palanga |
| 14:00–16:30 | How to Build Resilience, Peace and Education Through Gaming | Manouchehr Shamsrizi | Žilvinas Hotel Kęstučio g. 32, Palanga |
| 14:00–16:30 | How Do You Imagine the Rotary of the Future? | Esi Otto with young Rotary members | Youth Centre Vytauto g. 110, Palanga |
| 14:00–16:30 | How to Live as a Peace Bringer in Our Society | Uppsala Peace Team | Youth Centre Vytauto g. 110, Palanga |
Evening |
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| Time | Session | Presenter / Moderator | Venue |
| 19:00–23:00 | 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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| Morning | Optional: Yoga on the Beach or Guided Walking Tour | Volunteers welcome — contact the organising team to lead a session. | Palanga Beach / Town Centre |
| Farewell — Safe Travels! | We hope you leave inspired, connected and ready to make a difference. | ||