Audio documentary is non-fiction storytelling made in sound. It blends voice – of the maker and contributors – with field recordings, soundscapes, sound design and music. It sits somewhere between radio journalism, documentary practice and sound art.Rooted in the tradition of radio, audio documentary doesn’t treat sound as a vehicle for information alone, but as a narrative language in its own right. Through voice, silence, atmosphere and sonic detail, it creates an immersive space where listeners construct the story in their mind’s eye.

Listening Sessions are at the heart of Banguoja. We invite audiences to gather around a screen and experience documentaries from around the world together, with Lithuanian and English subtitles. This year’s programme brings together stories in nine different languages.Many sessions are followed by Q&As with the makers and informal discussions.

Each year, Banguoja presents Short Docs Night – a programme of short-form audio documentaries.You’re welcome to drop in at any time, stay for a single piece or listen through the night. We recommend, however, giving yourself at least half an hour to settle in and fully immerse in the experience.

An Audio Walk is a group listening experience that unfolds while walking a route chosen by the creator, often wearing headphones. Documentary storytelling and physical movement intertwine, allowing the surrounding environment to become part of the work. A Sound Walk is a group listening experience that unfolds while walking and tuning into the surrounding soundscape.A Performative Listening Session invites audiences to experience a story beyond listening. Alongside a live presentation of the work, the artist may incorporate other sensory elements, inviting participants to smell, taste or otherwise physically engage with the narrative.

Throughout the festival, Banguoja Radio broadcasts online.Marking 100 years of radio in Lithuania, we return to the simplicity of linear broadcasting. When choosing what to listen to feels overwhelming, sometimes the best option is simply to press PLAY and drop into the middle of a story.The station features a curated selection of works in Lithuanian and English. The programme is also broadcast via Palanga Street Radio, every day from 12 noon throughout the festival.

For five years, Banguoja ran an audio storytelling school through its Mentorship Programme. Open to anyone curious about working with sound-based storytelling, it offered workshops and mentoring in the making of original audio documentaries.The Mentorship Programme will not run as part of the 2026 festival.

All festival events are free to attend, though registration is required as some listening sessions have limited capacity.Those who wish to support the future of the festival can also purchase a support ticket at a price of their choosing.

These terms are often used interchangeably, but they describe slightly different things.Radio documentary refers to documentary works made specifically for radio broadcast, usually within public service or commercial radio contexts.Audio documentary is a broader term covering all documentary storytelling created in sound, regardless of distribution. These works may be broadcast on radio, published online, released via podcast platforms or presented as sound art.Sound documentary (or sometimes sound journalism) is often used in Lithuanian as a synonym for audio documentary. Some practitioners, however, use it more narrowly to describe works focused on documenting real-world sounds, environments and voices, while maintaining the ethical and factual frameworks of documentary practice.Podcasts are a form of distribution rather than a genre. A podcast may be an interview, conversation, educational series, fiction or documentary. An audio documentary can be released as a podcast, but not every podcast is an audio documentary.

Banguoja is organised by the Lithuanian Human Rights Centre and the documentary film festival Nepatogus Kinas (Inconvenient Films).Like Nepatogus Kinas, Banguoja is interested in questions of social justice, inequality and human rights. The festival approaches these themes through the medium of audio documentary. The programme is curated by listeners, makers and enthusiasts from a wide range of backgrounds.

To learn more about the history of audio documentary in Lithuania and beyond, read our interview with Vaida Pilibaitytė.