The present invention relates to a process for preparing vinyl carboxylates, wherein a carboxylic acid is reacted with an alkyne compound in the presence of a catalyst which is selected from carbonyl complexes, halides and oxides of rhenium, of manganese, of tungsten, of molybdenum, of chromium and of iron and rhenium metal at a temperature of ≦300° C.The process gives the desired vinyl esters with high yield.