Kombinatas is an annual gathering for left ideas and practices, bringing together individuals and organisations from across the Baltic region and beyond. The aim of the festival is to explore transformative social, ecological and political ideas based on principles of solidarity and equality, encourage positive change and strengthen regional connections.
During day, the programme consists of discussion panels, lectures and workshops. At night, the musical programme with live performances and DJs takes hold, bringing everyone together.
Kombinatas was initiated in 2020 by a number of Lithuanian grass-root organisations. Throughout the years, the festival has grown significantly. The event is attended by around 200 participants, with speakers, performers and visitors from across the world. The festival is organised on a voluntary, do-it-together basis by a collective of people from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia who dedicate their time to making Kombinatas happen.
Why we need you
To ensure the festival remains accessible to everyone, participation is completely free of charge. While we are proudly supported by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, their grant only covers a portion of our total expenses. To bridge the gap, we rely on everyone’s support.
Meet the team!
Say hello to Kombinatas organisers - the people making the festival happen
Monika is one of the founding members of Kombinatas in 2020 . Monika holds master’s degrees in psychology and philosophy and is currently pursuing their academic path. They contribute to the programme setup, communications, volunteer coordination as well as various technical matters. Monika believes that Kombinatas gathering is an important space for progressive community building and development - both in terms of ideas and relationships.
Jurgis – one of the founding members of Kombinatas, currently working as a lawyer and organiser in May 1st Labor union (G1PS). He is responsible for technical maintenance and construction of the festival area as well as accountancy of the festival's budget.
Vasia joined the organizing team in 2025, as a person responsible for accommodation and all around things. They are a dancer with background in social anthropology, experimental music, academic institutions, multitasking, coordination, maintenance, migration, unlearning, organizing & activism, vibing with excel sheets, protesting, problem-finding and problem-solving. All that motivates them deeply to commit to non-institutionalized initiatives, such as Kombinatas.
Agnė is one of the founders of the festival. She is also an artist, curator, and researcher working across feminist and queer politics, labour and soviet modernity history, and people’s histories.
Airi is an independent cultural worker, educator, labour organizer and storyteller based in Tallinn. They have been supporting Kombinatas from a distance for the past three years, helping to strengthen connections across the nearby region and contributing to programme discussions. For Airi, the most valuable part of Kombinatas is the focus on Eastern-European experiences. Other international gatherings they regularly attend are usually dominated by Western perspectives, and voices from the Baltic region are at best peripheral. In Kombinatas, the local experiences are central and therefore it feels like a political home.
Nele is a feminist organiser from the advocacy organisation Feministeerium, which celebrated a major victory this June with the adoption of Estonia’s consent-based sexual violence law. She first heard about the local leftie summer camp three years ago and has been looking forward to the extra kick of motivation in August ever since. She spreads the news about Kombinatas in Estonia and helps to organize from abroad. On the spot she helps with stage facilitation, volunteering and general shenanigans.
Viktorija works in communications and community organizing, focusing on intersectional feminist, queer, and labour movements. She has been returning to Kombinatas in different roles since its early days, valuing it as a temporary space for building connections, sharpening political thought, and strengthening collective organizing.
Georgy is a human rights activist working with and for queer and/or pro-democratic communities, which often lands them in places most inconsiderate of the issues we discuss here at Kombinatas. For that reason, they join as a co-organiser for the 3rd year in a row, to keep their heart as close to the progressive politics as one can while working in such a (mostly) liberal-centrist environment.
Aurelijus is a musician and composer, part of Social centre Emma collective. He is responsible for curation of this years’ music programme.
Danielė Liepa is a queer technician and DJ interested in the intersections of sound, technology, and community. She enjoys creating spaces where people can connect, experiment, and dance together. At Kombinatas, she keeps the cables untangled, the sound systems running, and the music flowing— making sure everything works when it matters most.
Ignas is a human rights activist mostly organising for the cause of Palestinian liberation as a member of Vilnius University Students for Palestine. He joined the Kombinatas team this year with an intent to collaborate on a festival that brings people from different backgrounds united by the same important goals.
Živilė: "It's nice to finally contribute to Kombinatas, rather than simply attend!"
Simona is a human rights activist, working mostly with queer rights. Simona spent many years participating in Kombinatas as a visitor and gradually is taking on a more active role in helping on during and before the festival.
