From October 1 to 4, 2026, the Lithuanian Exhibition and Congress Centre Litexpo will once again transform into a vibrant nexus of international creativity as the 17th edition of ArtVilnius opens its doors. As the largest and most influential contemporary art fair in the Baltic States, the event has established itself as a cornerstone of the regional cultural calendar, bridging the gap between emerging local talents and the established global art market. This year, the fair welcomes a diverse cohort of 70 galleries hailing from 13 countries, including Austria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.
Situated just 15 minutes from the historic heart of Vilnius, the Litexpo venue serves as an expansive stage for this cross-regional dialogue. Over its 17-year history, the fair has consistently drawn between 18,000 and 23,000 visitors, ranging from seasoned collectors and institutional curators to curious art enthusiasts of all generations. This year’s edition carries a specific thematic weight, with a renewed focus on the contemporary art ecosystems of Vilnius, Warsaw, and Vienna. By fostering deep, targeted exchanges between these three capitals, the organizers aim to increase the international visibility of regional artistic practices while strengthening the professional networks that sustain the contemporary art market.
International Exhibitors and a Regional Focus
The breadth of this year’s gallery program is particularly notable, showcasing a mix of veteran institutions and ambitious newcomers. The Austrian delegation brings significant weight to the fair, represented by the renowned Christine König Galerie, a stalwart of the international art scene that has been championing conceptual and contemporary artists for over four decades. Joining them is Galerie Sturm & Schober, further cementing the Viennese presence.
The connection to Poland remains robust, with several key players from the Warsaw art scene returning to Vilnius. Notably, LETO Gallery—which participated in the inaugural edition of ArtVilnius—is returning after a nearly ten-year hiatus. Similarly, Le Guern Gallery returns to the fair, while the roster is refreshed by the debut of HOS Gallery and Fijewski Gallery, both of which are dedicated to promoting cutting-edge Polish contemporary art.
The fair’s reputation as a launchpad for regional and international talent is further bolstered by a wave of first-time participants. Among these are Galerie 3AP from Düsseldorf, Galleri Lundberg-Sandhagen from Stockholm, and Tur from Riga. The local scene is represented by the prestigious Galerija Vartai, which joins a robust contingent of returning favorites such as Estonia’s KOGO Gallery, Riga’s ISSP, Paris’s Galerie Nivet-Carzon, and Denmark’s Galleri NB. The local Vilnius scene is also well-represented by galleries like The Room and OKAPI, while the Vilnius Academy of Arts has curated a presence for six of its internal galleries. Beyond the capital, the fair provides a platform for regional Lithuanian spaces, bringing galleries from Utena, Molėtai, Trakai, Ukmergė, Šiauliai, and Panevėžys into the international spotlight.
Celebrating Three Decades of Gallerist Advocacy
This year marks a dual milestone for the fair’s organizers. The Lithuanian Art Gallerists’ Association, which founded ArtVilnius seventeen years ago, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. This long-standing commitment to the art community has been fundamental in elevating the fair to its current status as the Baltic region’s most important commercial art event. Many of the association’s member galleries are active participants in this year’s fair, including DRIFTS, The Rooster Gallery, Terra Recognita, and Meno Niša, alongside Baroti Gallery from the port city of Klaipėda.
The involvement of these galleries underscores the cooperative nature of the event, where the commercial imperative of art sales is balanced by a deep-rooted desire to nurture the regional art market. The diversity of the works on display—ranging from intimate oil paintings like Monika Plentauskaite’s "Guest room" to the bold, large-scale sculptures featured in the fair’s specialized zones—reflects the multifaceted nature of the contemporary art scene.
Curated Projects and Intellectual Engagement
The intellectual heart of ArtVilnius’26 lies in its Project Zone, which this year is curated by Neringa Bumblienė, the director of Nida Art Colony and a central figure in the Vilnius Performance Art Biennial. The Project Zone serves as a site for institutional dialogue, featuring major international players such as the Zachęta National Gallery of Art in Warsaw, which brings with it the prestige of having long served as a commissioner for the Polish Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Also represented is Galeria Studio, known for its extensive collection of Polish modern and avant-garde art, and the Rothko Museum in Daugavpils, which holds the unique distinction of housing the only original works by Mark Rothko in the Baltic region.
Furthermore, the fair highlights the work of legendary figures and institutions, such as the Stasys Museum in Panevėžys, dedicated to the prolific artist Stasys Eidrigevičius. The programming also includes appearances by some of Lithuania’s most prominent contemporary voices, such as Deimantas Narkevičius, a winner of the Vincent van Gogh award, and Emilija Škarnulytė, whose global reach has included solo exhibitions at Tate St Ives and recognition through the Future Generation Art Prize.
Adding a dynamic layer to the fair is the "Takas" (The Path) exhibition, which focuses on sculpture, installation, and performance art. For the first time, this segment is curated by the Vienna-based writer and curator Aliaksei Barysionak. His selection features an international lineup of eleven artists, including Lithuanian talents such as Žygimantas Julijus Bėrontas and Vytautas Viržbickas, alongside international voices like Ukraine’s Mariia Kulykivska and Estonia’s Anna Mari Liivrand. The exhibition promises to challenge spatial perceptions within the Litexpo halls, turning the fair into an immersive environment.
The fair’s program is rounded out by "ArtVilnius Talks," an expansive series of panel discussions featuring industry heavyweights including collector Frédéric de Goldschmidt, art advisor Alia Al-Senussi, and curator Paco Barragán. These sessions provide a space for critical discourse on the future of the art market and the role of cultural institutions in a shifting geopolitical landscape. Beyond these talks, the fair offers guided tours by art historians, dedicated educational workshops for younger audiences, and networking sessions designed to foster long-term partnerships. An international jury, working in conjunction with the fair’s visitors, will also present awards to recognize the most outstanding galleries and artists on display, providing a final layer of prestige to the event.
ArtVilnius’26 is organized by the public institution of the Lithuanian Art Gallerists’ Association, led by director Diana Stomienė and artistic director Sonata Baliuckaitė Arlauskienė. The fair’s financial foundation is supported by the Lithuanian Council for Culture and the patronage of the Vilnius City Municipality, with primary backing from the law firm Cobalt and the EIKA Group.
As the doors open on Thursday, October 1st, for the exclusive VIP preview, the event marks another chapter in the story of Vilnius as a growing cultural capital. Following the preview, the fair opens its doors to the general public from Friday through Sunday. With its combination of commercial ambition and institutional rigor, ArtVilnius’26 stands as a testament to the resilience and vitality of the contemporary art scene in the Baltic region and beyond. Information regarding tickets and the full schedule of programming can be accessed via the official ArtVilnius website and their dedicated ticketing portal.
