Step through the portal of Palau Can Vivot and suddenly the noise of the world feels very far away. Courtyard air carries the faint scent of natural dyes. Somewhere nearby, hands are pulling thread through cloth. Voices drift in from a dozen languages. For four days one of Palma’s most breathtaking historic palaces will again host XTANT. This year’s edition of the international textile art gathering is called XTANT Nomad 2026 and looks to the world’s wandering peoples.
The Market at Can Vivot: Step Inside the Bazaar
The heart of the public program is the market at of Palau Can Vivot. The entry to browse the stalls on the patios, or listen in on discussions is entirely free. Doors open each day from 11 in the morning until 7 in the evening, from May 9th through May 12th. What you find inside is hard to put in a single category.
Think of it as an Arab bazaar transported into a Mallorcan Baroque palace. Colorful textiles draped over wooden frames. Large woven tapestries rolled in straw baskets. Hand embroidered robes and kaftans. Delicate ceramics. Aromatic essences. Each piece carries a story, and most of them have traveled a long way to get here.
Makers From Every Corner of the Globe
The artists and artisans gathered at XTANT Nomad 2026 represent an extraordinary breadth of traditions and techniques. More than 80 artists from about 40 countries are participating, they come from across Asia, Africa, the Americas and Europe. Together they form a comprehensive presentation of global textile and craft heritage.
Past editions have included master weavers, dyers, basket makers, jewelers and ceramicists whose knowledge reaches back generations. This year that community continues to grow. The curation is deliberate and careful. Every exhibitor has been selected because their work represents something genuinely rare.
Why Nomad? The Philosophy Behind XTANT 2026
„In these times of chaos and strife it might do us good to remember that for most of human history we did not see ourselves as masters over the earth. As nomads we wandered through its diverse ecosystems living lightly, understanding ourselves as an integral part of them.“ That is the spirit XTANT strives to channel this year.
The United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. So the organizers took the moment to reflect on what the few remaining nomadic peoples still carry with them. Their knowledge of the land, their understanding of impermanence. And their ability to make things of extraordinary beauty with minimal means.
In essence, XTANT has always been more than a market. It is a question asked out loud. What does it mean to make something by hand? What does it mean to preserve a tradition that the modern world is in such a hurry to forget?
Hands On: The Workshops
For those who want to go further than browsing, XTANT Nomad 2026 offers a program of hands-on workshops led by master craftspeople, available for a fee. This year’s lineup includes classes like the making of traditional Japanese Sekimori stones or protective „Tobsho“ buttons, as well as workshops on the ancient art of hand-twined cords, Boro and Sashiko stitching, hand embroidery, and real silver block printing.
Back Where It Belongs
XTANT found its home at Can Vivot years ago and the fit has only grown more natural with time. There is something deeply right about displaying the handmade traditions of nomadic and indigenous peoples in a place where history itself is layered into the stone. Where artisans from Buryatia, Japan, Greece and Argentina stand side by side in a 17th century Mallorcan palacio and speak the same wordless language of craft.
XTANT 2026 runs from Friday May 9th to Tuesday May 12th at Palau Can Vivot, Palma. Entry to the market is free and open daily from 11 AM to 7 PM. 
Read more about Palau Can Vivot, here.
