The “Corgi Race Vilnius” took place in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius on August 23, 2025, drawing hundreds of Corgi dogs famous for their short legs to compete on the field, capturing the attention of thousands of onlookers.
According to reports from the Associated Press, at least 120 teams from European countries including Poland, Latvia, Germany, Austria, and Italy participated in the race.
Thousands of Lithuanian residents gathered in Vilnius’ largest park on August 23 and 24 to watch the competition, which included solo (dog) sprints, “strongest bark” contests, costume challenges, and group races.
The event reached its peak on the 24th with the “World Corgi Meetup.” During this gathering, Lithuanian Corgis interacted with counterparts from the U.S., Ireland, and Poland through live broadcasts.
Janina Stoniene, a retired teacher who brought her three grandchildren to watch the race, expressed, “It’s so much fun, the whole family can feel the excitement, this is the kind of joy that many people crave nowadays.”
Her grandchildren mentioned their admiration for the costume challenge, where many dogs dressed as Batman, princesses, or airplanes, creating a spectacle.
A Corgi named “Mango” emerged as the champion of the sprint. Mango’s owner, Ignas Klimaika from Lithuania, shared that this was their second year participating in the race. Despite training diligently last year without achieving ideal results, they decided this year to join without training, simply to be among so many Corgis.
To their surprise, Mango clinched the championship this year. Klimaika, who plans to continue participating in future races, said, “She knows what she did, she is really proud of herself.”
The founder of the “Corgi Race Vilnius” event, Edvinas Miškas, the owner of two Corgis, mentioned that the event was started out of boredom during the COVID-19 pandemic, and unexpectedly gained widespread popularity. As the event expands year by year, this year marked its 4th edition.
The highlight of the event is the Corgi race held in a horse racing style, where eight Corgis compete at a time to dash over a 50-meter track, aiming to reach their owners waiting at the finish line. The sight of these chubby, short-legged Corgis running has charmed the audience with applause and laughter echoing around.
Dovilė Bielousovaitė, the event organizer, emphasized that the reason they continue to hold the races is simple, “There’s nothing more heartwarming than watching dozens of Corgis running with all their might, while crowds cheer and laugh together.”
She stressed that the race is not just about reaching the finish line quickly but aims to create a tradition that fosters a more relaxed, warmer, and closer atmosphere in Vilnius.
She mentioned their commitment to using this event to cultivate a joyful atmosphere in the city and work towards Vilnius becoming the “European Corgi Capital.”
Prior reports by media outlets have highlighted that despite their short stature, Corgis exhibit remarkable abilities. An example was seen in Russia, where a Corgi with a keen sense of smell became the country’s sole Corgi police dog, performing as effectively as larger breeds like German Shepherds typically used in law enforcement.