Craft tourism is set to be a major travel trend in 2026, with 84% of travellers seeking experiences centred around personal passions. Vilnius, Lithuania, is embracing this trend by hosting the Kaziukas Fair from 6 to 8 March 2026. This annual event, one of Europe's oldest artisan fairs, will transform the city's Old Town into a five-kilometre open-air marketplace featuring over 1,200 artisans.
The fair is not just a commercial event but an experiential one, offering visitors the chance to engage in hands-on activities such as pottery making and traditional Lithuanian tree cake baking. According to a study in the Environmental and Sustainability Indicators journal, creative tourism supports community development by involving visitors in cultural and craft-based experiences.
Visitors can explore a wide array of handmade goods, including glassware, ceramics, jewellery, and leatherware, whilst enjoying the sounds of traditional musicians and the aromas of local delicacies like cepelinai, a famous Lithuanian potato dumpling. The fair also introduces new attractions such as Dzyvų Alėja, which showcases artisans from Lithuania's ethnographic regions, and the Avilys creative collective, offering insights into traditional crafts.
Distinctly Lithuanian crafts featured at the fair include sodai, verbos, and šakotis. Sodai are intricate straw ornaments linked to Lithuanian folklore, whilst verbos are colourful Easter palms crafted from native plants. Šakotis, a tree-shaped cake, is a staple of Lithuanian celebrations.
Vilnius International Airport provides easy access to the fair, with direct flights from major European cities. As craft tourism continues to grow, the Kaziukas Fair offers a unique opportunity to experience Lithuania's rich cultural heritage
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