content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
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      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001185554</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0001528129</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Vital Energy Inc.</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>001-35380</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>521 E 2nd Street</com:street1>
          <com:street2>Suite 1000</com:street2>
          <com:city>Tulsa</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>OK</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>74120</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>9185134570</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Edmund P. Segner III</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>UBS Financial Services Inc</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>1000 Harbor Blvd</com:street1>
            <com:street2>3rd Floor</com:street2>
            <com:city>Weehawken</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>NJ</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>07086</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>1155</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>50820</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>18596810</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>05/19/2023</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/14/2013</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>restricted stock award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>58</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/14/2013</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>cash</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>05/16/2013</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>restricted stock award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>575</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>05/16/2013</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>cash</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>08/18/2013</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>restricted stock award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>29</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>08/18/2013</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>cash</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>05/16/2014</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>restricted stock award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>464</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>05/16/2014</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>cash</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>08/18/2014</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>restricted stock award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>29</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>08/18/2014</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>cash</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>05/19/2023</noticeDate>
        <signature>/s/ UBS Financial Services Inc, as attorney-in-fact for Edmund P. Segner III</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
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text: 144
  0001185554
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0001528129
  Vital Energy Inc.
  001-35380
  521 E 2nd Street
  Suite 1000
  Tulsa
  OK
  74120
  9185134570
  Edmund P. Segner III
  Director
  common
  UBS Financial Services Inc
  1000 Harbor Blvd
  3rd Floor
  Weehawken
  NJ
  07086
  1155
  50820
  18596810
  05/19/2023
  NYSE
  common
  02/14/2013
  restricted stock award
  issuer
  N
  58
  02/14/2013
  cash
  common
  05/16/2013
  restricted stock award
  issuer
  N
  575
  05/16/2013
  cash
  common
  08/18/2013
  restricted stock award
  issuer
  N
  29
  08/18/2013
  cash
  common
  05/16/2014
  restricted stock award
  issuer
  N
  464
  05/16/2014
  cash
  common
  08/18/2014
  restricted stock award
  issuer
  N
  29
  08/18/2014
  cash
  Y
  05/19/2023
  /s/ UBS Financial Services Inc, as attorney-in-fact for Edmund P. Segner III