Vilnius, Lithuania, is adding a new dimension to its cultural tourism scene after hosting the Baltic debut of Meeting of Styles, one of the world’s best-known international street art and graffiti festivals.
More than 40 artists representing 23 countries gathered in the Lithuanian capital to create large-scale public artworks that will remain part of the city after the festival. The four-day event transformed industrial spaces and neighborhoods into an open-air gallery while giving residents and visitors an opportunity to watch artists create their work in real time.
The festival comes as travelers increasingly seek cultural experiences outside traditional museums and established tourist attractions. Street art has become an increasingly important part of urban tourism, offering visitors a way to experience a city through its neighborhoods, public spaces and contemporary creative communities.
One of the festival’s featured projects was a new centerpiece mural created by Romanian artist Lost.Optics and Lithuanian muralist Linas Kaziulionis, also known as K ART 7. Lost.Optics is recognized for geometric murals that combine graffiti lettering with futuristic and digital-inspired elements. Kaziulionis is one of Lithuania’s prominent muralists and created more than 2,000 square meters of murals internationally in 2024.
The international lineup also included Spanish muralist Moreno, South African-born artist Marcamix and Croatian artist Lunar, whose work has appeared on six continents.
The festival selected participating artists from nearly 170 applications. In addition to murals, the event featured a repainted train wagon that became a visual centerpiece and a new mural on Naugarduko Street, an area known for its mix of technology, culture and dining.
Meeting of Styles also incorporated graffiti, street culture and hip-hop, with workshops, educational activities and DJ sets at the Railway Station. Some of the artwork created during the event will eventually be moved to social spaces and schools.
For travelers, however, Vilnius’ street art story extends beyond the festival. The city has developed an extensive street art trail featuring more than 30 installations at Open Gallery, the Užupis Art Incubator in the independent Užupis neighborhood and “The Walls Remember,” a contemporary art project honoring the city’s Jewish community.
Many of the works can be explored on foot through Vilnius’ dedicated street art route, making contemporary art an accessible part of a city visit.
The festival’s arrival further establishes Vilnius as a destination where public art, local identity and international creativity intersect. Rather than confining art to galleries and museums, the city is turning streets, industrial spaces and neighborhood walls into places for cultural exchange — giving travelers another reason to explore Lithuania’s capital through its creative side.
Explore Vilnius’ official tourism information and street art experiences