FK Žalgiris started the season as defending champions. None of the 6 last year's teams were relegated, and 4 teams were promoted to A lyga.
Licensing process In addition to sporting principles of promotion and relegation, the teams and clubs need to pass rigorous licensing process. Because of this, promotion and relegation does not always follow the rights achieved by sporting principle. A total of 12 teams applied for A lyga license: The 6 previous season's teams: :
FK Žalgiris,
FK Sūduva Marijampolė,
FK Kauno Žalgiris,
FK Panevėžys,
FK Banga Gargždai and
FK Riteriai met licensing criteria and received a straight pass to their licenses. Top 4
2020 LFF I Lyga teams: :
FK „Nevėžis“ (Kėdainiai),
FC „Hegelmann Litauen“ (Kaunas),
FK „Jonava“ (Jonava),
FC „Džiugas“ (Telšiai) have all applied. FK Nevėžis and FC Hegelmann Litauen got their licenses straight away. FC Džiugas has been granted a license after an appeal. FK Jonava failed to meet all licensing criteria and were not issued a license. The club appealed, the appeal was rejected, then the club requested participation by exception — a method used by
Lithuanian Football Federation to make up numbers in the league after licensing fails. The request was also rejected by LFF council's vote in favour to 6th placed
DFK Dainava. Other
2020 LFF I Lyga teams: :
FA „Šiauliai“ (Šiauliai),
DFK „Dainava“ (Alytus). FA Šiauliai later withdrew from licensing process, claiming that the team is not yet ready for top division football. DFK Dainava failed licensing criteria, however after FK Jonava's failure to meet licensing criteria, DFK Dainava were invited to request participation by exception, and were ultimately promoted to the A lyga. The controversial decision to drop FK Jonava and promote DFK Dainava was justified by the fact that FK Jonava have pending investigation to allegations of match fixing in the 2020 season. The LFF have issued sanctions and fines against three players and the club, however FK Jonava deny allegations of involvement in match fixing in the three matches that are being investigated and have appealed. The LFF have also revealed that a warning letter has been issued to FK Jonava in relation to the team's coach, who has been reportedly involved in match fixing in his previous career.
Changes FK Nevėžis (Kėdainiai),
FC Hegelmann Litauen (Kaunas),
FC Džiugas (Telšiai) and
DFK Dainava (Alytus), the latter three teams promoted to the top-flight for the first time in their history, were promoted from the
2020 LFF I Lyga.
2021 competitors Personnel Managerial changes == Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic ==