PRESS RELEASE

From gastronomy and culture fairs to climbing a hill dressed in creative costumes; from labyrinths of contemporary art to the heights of electronic music. September in Kaunas has traditionally marked the beginning of the autumn cultural season, but it has never before been so rich in choices. A true cultural feast, as we look at a culture calendar sparkling with offers and surprises. We invite you to plan your weekends in a city once again ready to reinvent itself.

The Start – at the Fairs

For the fifth time, Kaunas Artists’ House invites everyone to the Kaunas Culture Fair, where you can plan your entire events season (and get tickets at very attractive prices). This year, the fair will take place on September 5–6 in Independence Square. The list of participants includes cultural organizations and initiatives from Kaunas as well as guests from all over Lithuania. Premieres, tours, concerts, discussions – we promise you’ll stay longer than planned.

But you’ll have to escape this fair eventually, because another one – a gastronomic fair, more precisely a craft drinks exhibition – will take place in colorful Šančiai, full of historic wooden architecture. “Over 100 different flavors will swirl in the glasses, paired with selected street food and the best beats,” promise the local drink makers “Genys,” who have been organizing this flavor fiesta for several years now. This event will be held on September 6 from the afternoon until…

The first autumn weekend will also feature the International Kaunas Carillon Music Festival. Almost invisible, but perfectly audible in the city center! During the festival you’ll hear the most famous classical works, jazz, and pop melodies played on the bells.

FLUXUS Festivities

In Kaunas – a city breathing the creative, free, and playful spirit of Fluxus – autumn begins for the 8th year in a row with the Championship of Climbing Parodos Hill, where there are no losers. If you create a costume that unleashes your inner beast, you’ve already won. The only question left is – fur or feathers? Hooves or tentacles? More seriously, the FLUXUS Festival will take place on September 13, at dusk, and you simply must be part of it.

Labyrinths of Contemporary Art

In mid-September, Kaunas will plunge into deep reflection on transformation and the future – thanks to two of the city’s most powerful festivals, the Kaunas Biennial and “Audra,” each in its own way.

Let’s start with one of the most anticipated events of the year, not only in the city but also across the Baltic region – the Kaunas Biennial. It is the largest, longest-running, and most visited contemporary art festival in Lithuania, surprising every time with its curators, themes, venues, artists, and values.

The 15th Kaunas Biennial, starting on September 12, will be curated by a representative of the young generation of contemporary art – Adomas Narkevičius. His exhibition Life After Death, set in the historic “Stumbras” factory (usually closed to the curious) and other city spaces, aims not only to explore themes of transformation and uncertainty but also to experiment with the very format of the biennial itself. Life After Death will open doors to a wide range of artistic phenomena and genres – whether typically considered contemporary art or not. The jubilee 15th edition, running until November 23, will raise a crucial question: if the global biennial format no longer meets the needs of today’s reality, what artistic shape could a contradictory present take in an exhibition that tries neither to “fix” it nor escape from it?

The Biggest Party in Town

The strongest urban contemporary festival in the region, “Audra,” returns this year completely renewed. Previously held in midsummer, the event – featuring electronic music parties, live concerts, contemporary art, and other creative activities – will now be held September 18–21. The date is no coincidence: the organizers are paying tribute to the 150th anniversary of Lithuania’s greatest artist of all time, Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis.

So this year’s “Audra” is not just about parties – though there will be plenty, transforming the century-old metal factory “Pergalė” and the postmodern M. Žilinskas Art Gallery into clubs. Among the invited guests are nightlife stars such as Prosumer and Ellen Allien. The program will also include an international exhibition at the Kaunas Picture Gallery, a unique “Edible City” concept, and exceptional music and art performances throughout the weekend. The Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra is already rehearsing dancefloor hits – yes, the “808 Orchestra,” which blew the roof off during the “Kaunas 2022” program, is coming back.

And It Keeps Getting Better

The Kaunas cultural wave will not stop later in autumn either. Theaters are preparing to open their seasons with premieres. In early October, the 35th International Dance Festival “Aura” will take place – a special anniversary edition. Throughout October, the International Photography and Media Art (IPMA) Festival – which in just a couple of years has become a true hit and strengthened Kaunas’s image as a hub for visual arts – will bring exhibitions and events to a long-forgotten but centrally located venue. Intrigue guaranteed! And on October 12 – the first Kaunas Book Fair in history! But first, let’s focus on September, shall we?

Anytime

In every season, every week, Kaunas awaits with the oldest historical cinema in Lithuania – “Romuva,” where a contemporary repertoire meets classics. Kaunas restaurants, several of them included in the prestigious Michelin Guide, adapt their menus to the seasons, while the legends of Kaunas bars’ hospitality and bartenders’ creativity travel far beyond the city. All that remains is to choose the coziest hotel or apartment, and the best autumn weekend is guaranteed.