Have you heard? In 2026, a destination the stylish, trendy, and successful are talking about is Kaunas. Whether for half a day, a weekend, or even longer, this Lithuanian city is ready to welcome everyone who loves sports and history, good food and architecture, culture and art, nature and design, all year round.
We have not included the attractions that are open (almost) every day, such as museums, Science Island, the Lithuanian Zoo, or the Žalgiris Arena pool complex. And what about the restaurants boasting a place in the Michelin Guide or the bars that tempt you in for long evenings… You can find more tourism-related news as well as reads about business, sports and education in Kaunas at our brand new website kaunasin.lt. For more tours, concerts, exhibitions, and other events in the constantly updated calendar at kaunaspilnasrenginiu.lt. We will be happy to share interesting routes and noteworthy sights with you in person at the “Kaunas IN” Tourist Information Centre (Laisvės al. 36 or Rotušės a. 15).
Photo: Darius and Girėnas stadium
January
While the Darius and Girėnas Stadium is in its winter slumber, the spotlight is on futsal. International games are back in Kaunas! The 2026 UEFA Futsal EURO will take place at Žalgiris Arena from 21 January to 2 February.
Cinema lovers will be pleased to know that from 21 to 27 January, the historic “Romuva” cinema will host the most interesting programmes from the Vilnius International Short Film Festival. January will also see the premiere of highly anticipated films like Paolo Sorrentino’s “La Grazia” and Karolis Kaupinis’ “The Hunger Strike Hotel”.
February
The country’s main music awards, M.A.M.A., will welcome a dressed-up crowd on 20 February, at Žalgiris Arena, of course.
It seems all roads lead there this month, starting with the Žalgiris home game against Monaco on 3 February. There are also home games scheduled on 8, 13, 21 and 25 February, both against local and international rivals.
For Lithuanian music lovers, we suggest checking out the Rondo 50th anniversary concert on 7 February, to a Valentine’s Day performance by Jazzu with an orchestra and the traditional 16 February concert “Aš – dalis tavęs” (I Am a Part of You)… And that is not all. Right after M.A.M.A., there is the ever-popular UTMA martial arts show, and the month will be capped off with several more spectacular concerts.
For Valentine’s Day, Kaunas, also known as the city of love, is preparing even more surprises. For example, on 13 February, Lemon Joy’s greatest love songs will rock the Kaunas Sports Hall, and on 14 February, a concert by Superkoloritas at “Romuva” will be perfect for both a first date and a silver wedding anniversary.
On 16 February in Kaunas, you can not only take part in the festive procession but also visit the Vytautas the Great War Museum and the Historical Presidential Palace, which are always open on this special occasion.
For sports fans, there is an invitation to the President Valdas Adamkus Athletics Arena, which will host the Lithuanian Indoor Athletics Championships from 28 February to 1 March.
Photo by Žalgiris Group
March
From 9 to 22 March, almost the entire month, the screens of “Romuva”, “Forum Cinemas”, and “Cinamon” will be dominated by films from around the world selected for the “Kino Pavasaris” (Vilnius IFF) festival.
Just like 16 February, 11 March is celebrated in a special way in Kaunas. Everyone is invited to participate in the festive procession and other commemorative events that stir patriotic feelings in our hearts.
On 20, 21 and 22 March, the National Kaunas Drama Theatre will host the grand premiere of the season. “The Seven Solitudes” is a journey into the world of Oskaras Milašius by the recently departed master of visual theatre, Robert Wilson.
On 27 March, the Kaunas State Musical Theatre will also roll out the red carpet. The spring premiere is “The Marriage of Figaro”! The opera’s director, Viktorija Streiča, says that this work by Mozart is an opera where comedy becomes a means to talk about power dynamics, social hierarchy, and the human effort to preserve dignity.
With spring comes the return of football. On 29 March, the Lithuanian national team will play a friendly match against Georgia at the Darius and Girėnas Stadium.
Photo by A. Aleksandravičius
April
We cannot know where you will celebrate Easter, but we know where you can spend the evening of the second day of Easter, 7 April: at Žalgiris Arena, listening to the songs of Eros Ramazzotti. You can bring the whole family!
In general, April in Kaunas is the month of jazz. Since the restoration of independence, this music has flooded the city’s most important cultural spaces, streets, and squares as spring gets into full swing. From big stars at the National Kaunas Drama Theatre to promising talents on Laisvės alėja, there is always plenty to choose from. Part of the “Kaunas Jazz” programme has already been announced, so it is time to pick your favourites, coordinate your outfit, and find a comfortable place to stay in Kaunas.
May
As summer approaches, it is time for the Kaunas Literature Week. Its programme features talented guests from abroad, a focus on local authors and the younger generation, and fresh forms of text. It is also an opportunity to fill your shelves with meaningful, autographed books.
May is also the month of the Long Night of Museums. Every year, Kaunas museums outdo themselves, coming up with new creative attractions for the city’s residents, who in turn break attendance records.
However, the biggest highlight of May is the Kaunas City Birthday! Our forever-young city celebrates in a contemporary style every year, always finding new ways to do so. Major concerts, entertainment, and performances, not only by professional artists but also by community representatives, draw thousands of curious people to the city.
An alternative to these crowds is a cultural block party at Putvinskio street (“Putvinskio Gatvės Diena”), which invites you to discover the uniqueness and secrets of one of the city’s main cultural arteries. Another highlight of the Kaunas birthday weekend is the “Švęskime upę” (Celebrate the River) initiative, which invites you not only to sail along the Neris and Nemunas rivers but also to dock at cultural stops along the riverbanks.
Photo by L. Žemgulis
June
In Kaunas, summer traditionally begins and ends with the Pažaislis Music Festival, and 2026 will be no exception. Over the three warmest months of the year, you can treat yourself to many opportunities to enjoy high-quality classical, contemporary, or world music in the special spaces of Kaunas and its surroundings.
Another special gift for music lovers this June is two concerts by the world-famous star, violinist, and conductor André Rieu, dubbed the “King of the Waltz”, at Žalgiris Arena on 2 and 3 June. For those looking for love and good nights, the Black Eyed Peas will arrive in Kaunas to help – their gig is scheduled on 18 June.
July
The city will traditionally greet the only king of Lithuania, and all those named Mindaugas in his honour, as well as the residents of Kaunas awarded for their good deeds and achievements, at Kaunas Castle, where the “Operetė Kauno Pilyje” (Operetta at Kaunas Castle) festival takes place on Statehood Day.
July also brings more local traditions: the “Kvapų naktis” (Night of Scents), which grows bigger every year at the VMU Botanical Garden, and the “Kauno aviacijos šventė” (Kaunas Aviation Festival), which will draw thousands of eyes to the sky above the S. Darius and S. Girėnas Aerodrome in Aleksotas.
On 31 July, at the Darius and Girėnas Stadium, Pitbull will throw the biggest party of the month, perhaps even the whole summer, worthy of his native Miami. It will be his first visit to Lithuania. As for Lenny Kravitz, we are sure he already has some favourite spots in Kaunas. Maybe you will spot him having a coffee in town before his concert at Žalgiris Arena on 18 July?
August
In August, Kaunas and the Kaunas district will be swept up in a whirlwind of contemporary performing arts, presented by the highly spectacular international festival “ConTempo”. This event, which is becoming a phenomenon that makes you reschedule your summer holidays, features bold, original, and breathtaking experiments in contemporary performing arts. It is a platform for Lithuania’s most interesting creators and a way to see familiar city spaces in a new light.
This month also sees the now-traditional event series “Kultūra į kiemus” (Culture to the Courtyards), which will visit residents of all Kaunas elderships, organising concerts, dance performances, film screenings, and storytelling evenings right under their balconies.
September
The autumn pace will be set by the now-traditional Kaunas Culture Fair, where you can plan your season’s schedule, and at great prices. And then, it’s time to dive in with your eyes closed: the contemporary city festival “Audra” takes over from 3 to 6 September. The month also features the “Fluxus Festival”, inviting you to climb Parodos Hill in the most inventive ways.
The abundance of early autumn events will be complemented by the Kaunas Book Fair, which debuted last year and will return from 18 to 20 September.
The urban energy of Kaunas will reach its peak on 25 September with a performance by A$AP Rocky in Žalgirio Arena.
And on 27 September, it is World Tourism Day! We cannot wait to announce what new adventure we will offer to the biggest Kaunas enthusiasts this year.
October
If April is the month of jazz, then October is the month of dance. The international dance festival AURA will return for its 36th time. Featuring the most interesting works by top international professionals and the latest AURA performances, you have to see it with your own eyes.
October is also the time for the International Photography and Media Art Festival IPMA, which usually lasts the whole month, presenting unexpected artists and hosting lectures and seminars. It is also a time to open your heart to the blues and let loose at the “Kaunas Blues” festival.
Documentaries will reign in the cinema halls in October, with the “Inconvenient Films” festival taking place.
November
Concert halls and unconventional spaces will be filled with the notes of the contemporary music festival “Iš arti” (Up Close), while film gourmets adore November for the “Scanorama” European film festival. In addition, the international contemporary circus festival “Cirkuliacija”, which was born in Kaunas and now takes place all over Lithuania, will celebrate its 10th anniversary in November.
Although the official date has not yet been announced, we have no doubt that Kaunas will kick off the festive season and light the Christmas tree in the Town Hall Square at the end of November.
December
Although the end of the year seems light-years away, it will not hurt to mark a few dates in your calendar now. The second M1 Music Awards are already planned for 9 December at Žalgiris Arena, and on 12 December, all the country’s sound and lights will be harnessed to celebrate the 50th birthday of Egidijus Dragūnas, leader of Lithuania’s legendary dance music act SEL.
Of course, these are just a couple of the dozens of festive year-end events, the best of which are those you attend with friends and loved ones. But the most important highlights: the Christmas tree, the market, the ice rink, and the magic, will definitely be there. After all, this is Kaunas.
Photo by A. Aleksandravičius
