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Country Profile: Lithuania

The world’s leading promoters & the 70+ top markets they operate in.
Click the interactive map below to explore these global markets.

Lithuania is the largest of the Baltic states and arguably the one with the greatest potential for touring acts. Ed Sheeran’s two shows in Kaunas in August 2024 at the Darius and Girėnas Stadium drew 81,000 fans and set a new ticketing record for an international artist in the Baltics, showing other major acts the scale of demand for shows there. The shows were promoted by a combination of AEG, FKP Scorpio, and L Tips.

Giedrius Klimašauskas, founder of Stay Live (which operates in Lithuania as well as Poland, Latvia, and Estonia), says the market there has properly rebounded after Covid but still struggles to draw major international acts (Sheeran aside). “We can do more shows if big names come more often to the Baltics,” he says.

He proposes that of all the Baltic states, Lithuania has the most potential for international touring acts. “Latvia has only one arena and no proper concert halls, while Estonia has one arena, one concert hall, and unattractive taxes,” he says. “Lithuania has four major arenas, one brand-new 45,000-cap stadium [the Darius and Girėnas Stadium], and a growing economy.”

“Like elsewhere, the golden rule says: come and play a small club, be kind to the audience, show interest in the country where you’re playing”

The infrastructure is there, he says, but insists this is a two-way street where international acts also have to commit to the market. “Like elsewhere, the golden rule says: come and play a small club, be kind to the audience, show interest in the country where you’re playing,” he explains. “Come for more shows – and hopefully, in bigger venues.”

Alongside Stay Live, other key promoters in Lithuania include the above-mentioned AEG, FKP, L Tips, 8 Days A Week Agency, Bravo Events, and Seven Live.

Klimašauskas says the Lithuanian market is expected to keep growing and remain healthy. “Lithuania is the biggest and economically the strongest market among the Baltic countries – and shall remain so for several years,” he says.

The market is tilted more towards pop and indie and less so towards rock and hard rock. Klimašauskas lists Matteo Bocelli and Jordan Rakei (each playing their own shows in Vilnius) and Kaleo playing the Granatos Live festival as standout recent events.

The market is full of potential, but acts wishing to establish themselves there need to commit fully to touring in the country. He says the trick to breaking into the Lithuanian market is relatively simple: “You need to have good relationships with agents – and deep pockets.”

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