<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <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>
</edgarSubmission>
