Lithuania will become an international meeting point for pilgrimage, heritage and religious tourism professionals on October 1 and 2, 2026 with the celebration of the International Religious Tourism Forum (IRTF), which will take place in Raseiniai and Šiluva.
For two days, the meeting will bring together international buyers, tourism organizations, pilgrimage destinations, public institutions, religious entities, service providers and professionals specialized in cultural, heritage and religious tourism.
The Forum is developed under a motto that summarizes its philosophy: "Faith, Heritage and Tourism." Its objective is to strengthen international cooperation, show Lithuania's potential as a pilgrimage and religious heritage destination and generate opportunities for collaboration, business meetings and development of new tourism products.
For the media and organizations linked to the Camino de Santiago, the event is especially interesting because it reflects a trend that continues to grow in Europe: the pilgrimage is no longer understood only as a religious practice, but also as a way of traveling that contributes to preserving heritage, supporting local communities and establishing international relations.
Raseiniai and Šiluva, protagonists of the meeting
The main conference program will take place at the Raseiniai District Cultural Center, while Šiluva and other important spaces of Lithuanian religious heritage will be part of the complementary activities.
Raseiniai is located in central Lithuania, approximately 90 kilometers from Kaunas and about 190 kilometers from Vilnius, the country's capital.
For its part, Šiluva occupies a prominent place in Lithuanian religious tradition and will have a special role throughout the days. The Forum will also serve to present to international participants different pilgrimage destinations and elements of the region's religious heritage.
A program focused on cooperation and the future of religious tourism
The main conference will begin on Thursday, October 1, with institutional interventions by Arvydas Nekrošius, mayor of the Raseiniai district; Kęstutis Kėvalas, metropolitan archbishop of Kaunas; and Guoda Burokienė, Deputy Minister of Economy and Innovation.
One of the first presentations will be dedicated to Šiluva, the Path of Grace and the development of the International Religious Tourism Forum itself.
Subsequently, the program will address a broader European perspective, including the presentation of the Route of the Living Legacy of John Paul II, conceived as a route that connects one hundred places and one hundred stories.
Another intervention will analyze global trends in the commercialization of religious tourism, led by Santiago Cano, from REDITUR.
There will also be a specialized presentation on the expectations of international tour operators regarding religious destinations, addressing issues such as accessibility, accommodation, guide services, heritage interpretation, program organization and collaboration with local actors.
This practical approach is especially significant.
Religious tourism is currently developing in an international market in which destinations need to offer more than just important churches or historical monuments. Visitors also look for organized routes, adequate services and experiences that allow them to understand the cultural and spiritual significance of the places they visit.
Living heritage, pilgrimage and sustainable tourism
One of the central debates of the meeting will be titled "Paths of faith in Europe: living heritage, pilgrimage and sustainable religious tourism."
The panel will analyze how religious tourism can grow without compromising cultural and spiritual heritage, while strengthening local communities and creating connections between different European pilgrimage centers.
Participants include representatives of Lithuania Travel, officials of the Lithuanian tourism administration, members of the diplomatic sphere and representatives of the Shrines of Europe network.
This reflection is especially relevant for historical pilgrimage routes such as the Camino de Santiago.
Across Europe, pilgrimage routes face a similar challenge: how to attract visitors and generate economic opportunities without reducing spiritual and cultural heritage to a simple tourism product.
The balance between authenticity, local life and visitor growth will foreseeably be one of the big issues that pilgrimage destinations will have to address in the coming years.
Business meetings and international tourism development
The Forum is not only conceived as a conference congress, but also as a professional space to establish contacts and promote projects.
The afternoon of October 1 will include an exhibition and B2B business meetings between international buyers, suppliers, exhibitors and institutional representatives.
Tour operators, travel agencies and companies specialized in the design of experiences will meet with pilgrimage destinations, municipalities, tourism organizations, visitor centers, guides and accommodation establishments.
This format gives the event a practical dimension.
The participating routes and destinations will have the opportunity to establish relationships capable of transforming into new tourism programs and collaborations during the coming seasons.
A tour of Lithuania's religious heritage
On Friday, October 2, participants will leave the conference rooms to see firsthand some of the most representative places of Lithuanian religious heritage.
The program includes a visit to the Šiluva Sanctuary, the well-known Hill of Crosses, Žemaičių Kalvarija and the Bernardine Monastery of Tytuvėnai, where a dinner followed by an evening visit is planned.
These trips will allow you to discover different expressions of the spirituality, architecture and religious traditions of the country.
In addition, certain international buyers will be able to continue to Vilnius on Saturday to participate in a familiarization program dedicated to Divine Mercy Vilnius, linked to the religious heritage and tradition of Divine Mercy.
Pilgrimage, a phenomenon that transcends borders
The International Religious Tourism Forum comes at a time of increasing international visibility of pilgrimage routes.
The Camino de Santiago continues to be the most internationally known European pilgrimage network, but similar initiatives are being developed in numerous countries, connecting spirituality, landscape, heritage and local identity.
The meeting in Lithuania reflects precisely this evolution.
Its importance lies not only in promoting certain sanctuaries or religious monuments, but also in promoting cooperation between destinations, sharing experiences and understanding pilgrimage as part of an increasingly connected European cultural network.
For the Jacobean community, the message is familiar: the pilgrimage has always crossed borders.
In Raseiniai and Šiluva, that tradition will now become the starting point for new conversations about how faith, heritage and tourism can walk together.
