41 International Graffiti Artists Gathered to Paint in Vilnius: Lithuania’s Capital is Becoming Street Art Destination
This weekend, more than 40 artists from 23 countries collaborated to create permanent large-scale open-air artwork at the Baltic debut of Meeting of Styles in Lithuania’s creative capital. As travelers increasingly seek authentic urban experiences beyond traditional museums, Vilnius is emerging as a worthy street art destination.
This weekend, Vilnius became the first city in the Baltics to host the Meeting of Styles, one of the world’s best-known international street art and graffiti festivals. More than 40 artists from across Europe, Chile, Uruguay, and Japan were transforming industrial spaces into a permanent large-scale open-air gallery.
The festival reflects a broader shift in art-led travel. According to Future Market Insights, travelers are increasingly choosing city-based art events and interactive cultural experiences over traditional museum-only visits. The shift favours public-space experiences that combine local identity, contemporary creativity, and urban culture. This trend has made street art an increasingly important part of the modern city-break experience.
One of the weekend’s highlights is the creation of a new centerpiece mural by Romanian artist Lost.Optics and Lithuanian muralist and painter Linas Kaziulionis (K ART 7). Known for his large-scale geometric murals that blend graffiti lettering with futuristic and digital-inspired aesthetics, Lost.Optics has created public works across Romania, Austria and France, while his recent project Abandoned focuses on painting in forgotten and neglected spaces. Linas Kaziulionis is one of Lithuania’s leading muralists – in 2024 alone his murals covered more than 2,000 m² of international walls. One of his newest murals, Time Layers decorates an office building in central Vilnius – the piece focuses on vibrant colors and the juxtaposition of the past and the future.
“For me, painting in the street has always been about energy – the energy of the place, the people and the artists who bring their own style into the mix. Vilnius surprised me because it already has a strong visual identity and a street art culture that feels authentic, not forced. Seeing artists from different countries, generations and scenes working side by side was exactly what street art is about: sharing ideas, respecting different styles and leaving something behind for the community,” said Daniel, also known as Lost.Optics.
Vilnius Street Art © Go Vilnius
Selected from nearly 170 applications, artists from 23 countries created works that will remain in the city long after the festival ends. The highlights include a repainted train wagon that has become the festival’s visual centerpiece, and a new mural on Naugarduko Street – a youthful neighborhood where tech, culture and gastro scenes converge.
The international line-up featured artists such as Moreno, the Spanish muralist known for large-scale urban spray-paint works across Bristol, Cologne and Berlin. Vibrant, narrative-driven murals featuring stylized animals and character-based compositions were seen by South African-born artist Marcamix, who is a regular at Meeting of Styles. Another prominent member of the community was Lunar, Croatia’s former Creative Ambassador of Culture, whose playful murals have appeared on six continents.
Unlike many festival-based events, Meeting of Styles is designed around public creation rather than ticketed exhibition spaces. Over four days, artists created murals in front of visitors, allowing them to witness the works develop in real time.
The festival also brought together graffiti, street culture, and hip-hop battles on Friday as the Railway Station hosted workshops, educational activities, and DJ sets for city residents and guests. The works created during the event maintain a strong emphasis on permanent public art rather than temporary installations – some will be moved into other social places and schools.
“The name Meeting of Styles is very accurate – the festival brings together different energies, colors, techniques and creative approaches. For a few days, Vilnius became a place where completely different artistic worlds met in the same public space. That is the festival’s real strength: the city itself turns into an open creative platform where people and ideas from different parts of the world can connect,” says one of the festival’s organizers and artists Linas Kaziulionis.
For travelers interested in urban culture, contemporary art and creative neighborhoods, Vilnius offers far more than a single festival weekend. The city’s street art trail is extensive, including more than 30 installations at Open Gallery, the hidden Užupis Art Incubator in the independent Užupis Republic, and “The Walls Remember” – a contemporary art project that pays tribute to the city’s Jewish community. Many of these works can be explored on foot through the city’s dedicated Vilnius Street Art route.
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