Interview with Kim Oosterlinck, Director of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
P. 9 PRACTICAL INFORMATION
P. 10 FAIR PROGRAMME 2026
P. 12 BRAFA’S SELECTION
Hotels, restaurants, wine & cocktail bars
P. 19 BELGIUM'S FINE MUSEUMS
P. 25 TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS DURING BRAFA
P. 41 OPERAS, CONCERTS, DANCE & THEATRE
P. 46 SHOPPING & TOURIST INFORMATION
Preface by Klaas Muller Chairman of BRAFA
Dear BRAFA-guests,
BRAFA 2026 invites you to rediscover Brussels through the lens of art, culture, and timeless elegance. A guide for true cultural enthusiasts, this edition forms a unique bridge between past and future, between masterpieces and collectors as well as the art lovers who cherish them.
BRAFA 2026 promises to be more ambitious and refined than ever before.
With an expanded selection of galleries, new thematic sections, and an enhanced culinary offering, the Fair has grown in both scope and experience.
Almost 150 galleries from 18 countries will be showcasing their finest works across more than 20 specialities: Old Masters, modern and contemporary painting, sculpture, furniture and design, archaeology, Asian art, classical African and Oceanic art, silverware, fine jewellery, rare books and manuscripts, glass and ceramics, ancient and modern tapestries, carpets and textiles, Art Nouveau and Art Deco pieces, natural history artefacts…
With all this, the Fair remains welcoming and accessible: with a well-planned visit, the full BRAFAuniverse can certainly be experienced in a single day – though many visitors treat themselves to a second visit.
This year’s guest of honour is the King Baudouin Foundation, an institution that has served the public good since 1976. It will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. Through their commitment to heritage, research, and social initiatives, the King Baudouin Foundation is leaving a lasting mark on the arts and cultural sector.
To celebrate its anniversary, it will be presenting not only recent acquisitions but also a selection of major works collected over the years in a refined setting. Daily at their booth, visitors can enjoy a concert by young talents, a lecture by a specialist focusing on a featured masterpiece, and the traditional BRAFA Art Talks, where curators, art market experts, and other distinguished figures will explore engaging and timely art topics.
At this year’s Fair, in addition to the free BRAFA Art Tours - which offer fascinating insights into the event’s most remarkable highlights - our young visitors can also enjoy KIDS Tours, specially designed for children aged 5 to 12. For those who prefer to explore at their own pace, the BRAFA Discovery Tour provides a self-guided experience filled with inspiring stories, accessible directly on their smartphone.
BRAFA 2026 is more than an art fair. It is a tribute to ideas, encounters, and beauty – supported by institutions that preserve and share our cultural heritage. This City Guide leads you through Brussels’ hidden treasures, from galleries to museums, from heritage landmarks to culinary gems.
Let yourself be inspired. Join us in this feast for the eyes.
Klaas Muller, Chairman of BRAFA
Guest of Honour 2026
THE KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION CELEBRATES 5� YEARS
For half a century, the King Baudouin Foundation has been working to strengthen solidarity and build a better society. Amongst its long-standing commitments is the Heritage & Culture programme, which has preserved, protected, and shared Belgium’s cultural heritage since its creation. Thanks to the generosity of patrons, more than 140 philanthropic Funds are currently active in the cultural field, ensuring that treasures from the past remain accessible to all.
The King Baudouin Foundation works closely with museums and heritage institutions to safeguard and manage its collections and make them accessible through exhibitions, publications, and digital platforms. It also encourages partnerships between private and public actors to further strengthen the preservation and promotion of Belgium’s heritage.
In 2026, the King Baudouin Foundation will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in a very special way: as guest of honour at BRAFA, the prestigious Brussels Art Fair in which it has participated since 2007. Visitors will be invited to discover an exceptional presentation that combines recent acquisitions with masterpieces that have been entrusted to Belgian museums and public collections over the years.
Highlights amongst the new artworks include a striking bracelet by Pol Bury, a moving figure of Christ by Willem Key, Evelyne Axell’s vibrant L’égocentrique 2, a tapestry by Elisabeth De Saedeleer and a unique piece in Brussels lace. Alongside these, the Foundation will also be showcasing some of its most iconic earlier acquisitions, such as Bonnecroy’s panoramic Vue de Bruxelles, the delicate Holy Blood Ensign and the Gallic Treasure of Thuin.
“The King Baudouin Foundation and its patrons help preserve our most significant heritage,” says Mélanie Coisne, Head of the Heritage & Culture Programme. “Each work entrusted to the Foundation is a piece of memory, carefully safeguarded for future generations.”
For the Foundation, BRAFA is more than an art fair: “Being guest of honour in 2026 is a wonderful recognition of our mission. BRAFA is the occasion to share these treasures with art lovers from around the world, to inspire and engage them, and to highlight our ongoing dedication to preserving and promoting heritage, art and culture.”
Looking back and forward, the King Baudouin Foundation is celebrating 50 years of philanthropy and nearly four decades of cultural stewardship - a milestone that underscores the power of heritage to connect us across time.
Brussels is internationally recognised as a capital of the arts, notably due to its pioneering role in Art Nouveau and Art Deco, illustrated by iconic buildings designed by Victor Horta and Adrien Blomme. The city also stands out for the exceptional quality of its museums—such as the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, the Magritte Museum, the Royal Museums of Art and History, and the AfricaMuseum - as well as the vibrancy of its contemporary cultural scene: from visual arts and dance to design, comic art, and fashion.
We spoke with Kim Oosterlinck, Professor at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management and Director of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium since July 2024.
You’ve been at the helm of one of Belgium’s largest museums for just over a year now. What have you been most surprised by in your new role? What struck me most is the enthusiasm and deep affection that the staff have for “their museum.” It's a privilege to work with such motivated teams. The richness of the collections has also been a wonderful surprise. Even though I was aware of it, I still find myself regularly amazed by the number of hidden treasures we hold. These often come to light when works are loaned out and replaced by others. Very recently, a Leda by Andrea del Sarto was installed in our galleries - it was a real revelation for me.
The museum is about to undergo partial renovation. What is your vision for the future, and what projects are in store? Firstly, it's important to clarify a key point: if all goes according to plan, the Régie des Bâtiments (Belgian Building Authority) will oversee renovation work from 2027 to 2030 on a wing of the museum complex that has already been closed to the public for about a decade - known as the “Extensions” building. This large building, located on Museum Square, will undergo a complete renovation of both its floors. These works will have no impact on visitor access to either the Old Masters Museum or the Magritte Museum. Once the renovation is complete, which we expect to be in 2030, the museum’s exhibition capacity should effectively double.
The RMFAB has many projects underway. We’ve launched a series of prestigious collaborations with other major institutions, including the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Lille and the Petit Palais in Paris.
We’re also working on a new museum layout within the building that currently houses the Old Masters Museum, which will allow us to redisplay our collections spanning the fifteenth to the twenty-first century. This ambitious project, set to be completed by 2027, has already taken shape with the opening of a new room devoted to modern and contemporary works on paper—the Spilliaert Room. We’ve also devoted a gallery space to modern and contemporary art, which will host a rotating display every six months featuring works from our collection in dialogue with a guest artist.
Starting mid-November, we will be launching the “Art x Gender” project, a new exhibition in the heart of the Old Masters Museum. This initiative aims to raise public awareness of the gender stereotypes that have permeated art history across all periods. It’s an opportunity to question and deconstruct these biases in order to reach a better understanding of their influence.
Why does Brussels continue to attract so many art and culture lovers?
Brussels is a historical crossroads. Its central location and proximity to major capitals make it a unique meeting point where artists from diverse backgrounds can connect and inspire one another. It’s a place of creativity and freedom, offering artists not only a strong local network of collectors, galleries, and art fairs, but also access to similar institutions in nearby cities such as Paris, London, and Amsterdam. Belgian art schools are also internationally recognised. All of these factors, combined with a rich cultural agenda, contribute to the appeal of our capital. Lastly, major artistic figures - from Van Eyck to Magritte, via Bruegel, Rubens, and Ensor—coexist here with architectural and decorative art gems. The recently reopened galleries of the Royal Museums of Art and History provide a perfect example of this richness.
Alongside public institutions, Brussels also hosts internationally renowned art fairs. Why is BRAFA important in the cultural world?
BRAFA enjoys a prestigious reputation, built on trust and a broad scope in terms of the periods and techniques it presents. It is one of the oldest art fairs in Europe, attracting top-tier exhibitors and equally important collectors. BRAFA also maintains close relationships with many museum institutions. Its significance in the cultural world goes beyond the commercial sphere - it’s a platform that fosters new encounters, which can lead to ambitious cultural projects.
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Brussels
Pieter Bruegel, the Fall of the Rebel Angels 1562
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Brussels
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
BRAFA IS…
• the oldest art fair in Europe, now celebrating its 71st edition…
• one of the top 5 art and antiques fairs in the world
• a first-class gathering of almost 150 exhibitors from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
• an extraordinary showcase of more than 20 specialities from archaeology to design and contemporary art covering Classical Antiquities, Old Masters, modern and contemporary painting, silverware, jewellery, furniture, sculpture and works of art from the Middle Ages to the 21st century, glass and ceramics, classical African and Oceanic art, Asian art, Pre-Columbian art, antique frames, icons, drawings and engravings, antique and modern books, original comic art, autographed letters and manuscripts, photography, tapestries, carpets and textiles…
• an inspiring meeting place bringing together more than 72,000 art lovers, collectors, museum conservators, artists, interior designers, art market professionals, and visitors from around the world
• an exceptional showcase of 10,000 to 15,000 pieces for sale unveiling 5000 years of art history from the five continents
• A guarantee of quality, as the authenticity and condition of each artwork on display are carefully verified by 90 international experts over a two-day period prior to the opening. Carried out with great rigour, these examinations are supported by the presence of a scientific laboratory.
• a human-scale fair in a warm and elegant setting despite its 21,200 m² of exhibition space - visitors will be able to visit the whole Fair in a few hours and pick out their favourite artworks...
• an exciting open classroom: free daily BRAFA Art Tours at 3 pm and BRAFA Art Talks at 4 pm to enhance visitors’ experience
• quite simply, the first unmissable event on the artistic calendar!
VENUE
Brussels Expo - Halls 3, 4, and 8
Access via Hall 4
Place de Belgique - Belgiëplein 1 / 1020 Brussels
DATES AND OPENING HOURS
Private opening days
Collectors’ Preview: Friday 23 January 2026, from 12 noon to 10 pm
Exclusive Saturday: Saturday 24 January 2026, from 11 am to 7 pm
Public opening days
From Sunday 25 January to Sunday 1 February 2026, from 11 am to 7 pm except on Monday 26 January 2026 (by invitation only)
Late opening on Thursday 29 January 2026 until 10 pm
TICKETS
Collectors’ Preview 160 €
Exclusive Saturday 110 €
Individual ticket 35 € 16-26 years old 12 €
< 16 years old free
Buy online at brafa.art or on site (payment by card only)
GENERAL SERVICES
*Available exclusively at the event (payment by card only)
Parking (12 €), cloakroom (3 €), Special parking & access for disabled persons (Car parks M & T)
Loading stations for electric cars:
- Buro Market car park - Esplanade 1020 Brussels
- Greenfly BE - 116 Avenue Madrid
- Atomium - 617 boulevard du Centenaire
- Car parks T, E, C
SAFETY REGULATIONS
Animals, large bags, backpacks, suitcases and umbrellas are not allowed at the Fair. Please do not bring art or antiques for valuation. No photography or filming of the artworks is allowed without permission from the exhibiting gallery. No use of tripods without permission. Security personnel reserve the right to search all visitors and their belongings at the entrance to the Fair.
CONCIERGE SERVICE BY HOTEL LE PLAZA
During the Fair, the Concierge of the Hotel Le Plaza Brussels - a proud member of the Belgian Royal Warrant Holders - will be pleased to assist you with any request. You’ll find them at the entrance hall of the Fair. If you have any questions prior to the opening of BRAFA - whether about the Fair itself, hotels, restaurants, exhibitions, concerts, airport transfers, or anything else - please contact Patricia Simonart at: p.simonart@brafa.be, t. +32 (0)2 513 48 31
CATERING FACILITIES
Belgium’s warm hospitality is no legend! BRAFA unveils a newly reimagined catering offer in Hall 8. The options include a classic brasserie, a fine Italian restaurant Osteria Senzanome, an Oyster & Seafood bar, a Sushi & Asian bar, and a self-service corner. In addition, four champagne bars can be found throughout the fair.
Daily at 12 noon on the stand of King Baudouin Foundation n° 151.
Free access with a valid entrance ticket.
Young musicians supported by one of the philanthropic funds managed by the King Baudouin Foundation will give a short concert - a living reminder that philanthropy also plays a vital role in supporting contemporary creation!
KBF ART TALKS
Daily at 2 pm on the stand of King Baudouin Foundation n° 151. Free access with a valid entrance ticket.
A series of talks by specialists devoted to masterpieces from the King Baudouin Foundation’s collection.
BRAFA ART TOURS SUPPORTED BY HISCOX
Daily at 3 pm. Free public tours in English, French, and Dutch, starting in front of the info desk - by registration only at brafa.art/en/art-tours
Fascinating highlights of the Fair are brought to life by passionate guides, offering deeper insight into these remarkable pieces.
BRAFA ART TALKS
Daily at 4 pm. Starting on Saturday 24 January until Sunday 1 February 2026 on the stand of King Baudouin Foundation n° 151. Free access with a valid entrance ticket. Belgian and international curators, art experts and gallerists will be delivering inspiring lectures on a variety of topics. Full programme available at brafa.art/en/art-talks
BRAFA DISCOVERY TOUR
A free, self-guided journey through the highlights of the Fair, featuring inspiring stories to explore at your own pace using your phone - available in English, French, and Dutch.
PRIVATE GUIDED TOURS
Available in English, French, Dutch, German, and other languages on request. For prices and bookings, please contact Patricia Simonart, p.simonart@brafa.be, t. +32 (0)2 513 48 31
KIDS’ TOURS
Specially designed for children aged 5 to 12. Available in English, French, and Dutch on Sunday 25 January, Saturday 31 January and Sunday 1 February 2026 at specific times. For prices and bookings, please contact:
- Marie-Hélène De Groote, mariehelene.degroote@gmail.com (tours in French and English)
- Maïka Janssens, maika_janssens@icloud.com (tours in Dutch)
HOW TO GET TO BRAFA
BY AIRPLANE
Brussels Expo is located 20 minutes from Brussels International Airport. Book tickets at brusselsairlines.com
From the airport, take a taxi to Brussels Expo or the bus De Lijn 20 (direction UZ Brussel) and get off at the Brussel Expo stop on the Chaussée Romaine/ Romeinsesteenweg.
To access BRAFA from Car park C, take the footbridge that connects Car park C to Hall 4 or use the free shuttle service.
BY TRAIN
BELGIAN RAIL - SNCB/NMBS
For information about transport in Belgium and abroad: belgianrail.be
EUROSTAR
Direct route to Brussels: from Paris (1h22), from London (2h), from Amsterdam (1h50), from Cologne (1h50). Train times and tickets on eurostar.com Arrival at Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid station.
To reach Brussels Expo from BruxellesMidi/Brussel-Zuid station, take a taxi or the metro, line 6 (direction Roi BaudouinKoning Boudewijn). Get off at HeyselHeizel station, which is located almost opposite the entrance of Hall 4. This journey takes approximately 15 minutes.
BY CAR
Ring RO - Exit 7A Expo - Car park C, Chaussée Romaine/Romeinsesteenweg
Parking: 12 € - presale at brussels-expo.com/en/parkings
Car parks M & T are easy to access: brussels-expo.com/en/pmr
Please let us know in advance if you need special assistance, t. +32 (0)2 513 48 31 - info@brafa.be
BY TAXI
Taxis Verts - t. +32 (0)2 349 49 49
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Visit stib-mivb.be
BY METRO
Line 6 - direction Roi BaudouinKoning Boudewijn
Heysel-Heizel stop
BY TRAM
Line 7 - direction Heysel-Heizel
Heysel-Heizel stop
Line 35 - direction Esplanade Esplanade stop
Line 62 - direction Heysel-Heizel Heysel-Heizel stop
BY BUS STIB-MIVB
Line 83 - direction Gare de Berchem-Station Berchem Heysel-Heizel stop
BY ANY MEANS - APP FLOYA
Visit floya.brussels
A VIRTUAL TOUR OF BRAFA ���6 WILL BE AVAILABLE ON BRAFA.ART FROM SUNDAY �5 JANUARY ���6
To access BRAFA from Car park C, take the footbridge that connects Car park C to Hall 4 or use the free shuttle service.
Special access for people with reduced mobility on the right at the entrance of Hall 4.
Launched by the STIB-MIVB, Floya brings together all of the transport services available in Brussels: metro, bus, scooter, trams, taxis, etc. Visitors will be able to optimise their journeys in the capital by using multimodal transport, keep track of timetables in real time and even pay directly in the app for their tickets and/ or vehicle hire!
HOTEL PARTNERS
PREFERENTIAL RATES FOR BRAFA VISITORS
VALID FROM THURSDAY 22 JANUARY TO SUNDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2026
HOTEL LE PLAZA BRUSSELS (4*)
Boulevard Adolphe Max 118-126
1000 Brussels
Contact: Mrs. Giulia Lanciotti
t. +32 (0)2 278 01 00 reservations@leplaza.be leplaza-brussels.be
Special offer for 2 people:
- One night in a Deluxe room
- Breakfast for two
- A box of fine Belgian biscuits by Maison Dandoy
- Late check out
Special rate: 255 € excl. the city tax of 4,24 €
CORINTHIA GRAND HOTEL
ASTORIA BRUSSELS (5*)
Rue Royale 103 / 1000 Brussels
Contact: Mr. Dimitri Janvier t. +32 (0)2 593 10 00
Avenue Van Volxem 304 / 1190 Brussels fondationastichting.com
Trarah Krajnak / 22 Jan 2026 > 17 May 2026
DOMAINE DU CHÂTEAU DE SENEFFE
Silver Museum of the Fédération
Wallonie-Bruxelles
Rue Lucien Plasman 7-9 7180 Seneffe chateaudeseneffe.be
TOURNAI
MUSÉE DES BEAUX-ARTS DE TOURNAI
Rue de l'Enclos Saint-Martin 3 7500 Tournai mba.tournai.be
Tarrah Krajnak (Lima, 1979) is a Peruvian-born artist based in Los Angeles. Her work blends photography, performance, and poetry to question dominant histories and reclaim erased or silenced voices. Through reenactment, archival intervention, and ritual, she explores identity, memory, and the politics of the gaze. Krajnak’s practice is both deeply personal and sharply critical, pushing the boundaries of photographic language.
The Congo Panorama 1913. Colonial Illusion Exposed / 28 Nov 2025 > 27 Sept 2026
The new exhibition at the AfricaMuseum is a reflection on colonial propaganda. Original witness accounts from the past and the present, together with
surprising collections and photographs, give context to the Congo Panorama, an immense pro-colony painting presented at the 1913 World’s Fair in Ghent. It glorified Belgian achievements in the Congo and depicted the young Belgian colony as an idyll.
A RT & HISTORY MUSEUM
Parc du Cinquantenaire 10 1000 Brussels artandhistory.museum
Two new galleries devoted to decorative arts
The Art & History Museum in Brussels has unveiled two new spectacular galleries showcasing nineteenth-century decorative arts and Belgian Art Nouveau and Art Deco. The first gallery highlights Belgium’s pioneering Art Nouveau movement, featuring exceptional works by key figures such as Victor Horta, whose reconstructed Cousin House winter garden, supported by numerous patrons including BRAFA, stands as the centrepiece.
While France led the Art Deco movement in the 1920s and 1930s, Belgium became known for its exceptional craftsmanship and design, represented here by prominent artists and firms. The second gallery explores societal changes reflected in the decorative arts, including the art of dining, leisure, fashion, and communication, offering a comprehensive view of the artistic and cultural landscape of the period.
A TOMIUM
Place de l’Atomium 1 / 1020 Brussels atomium.be closed from 19 January to 6 February 2026, except on weekends
CROSSING / 6 Feb 2025 > 23 Feb 2026
Built for the World’s Fair in 1958, the Atomium is much more than a monument: it is a unique experience. With its spectacular silhouette representing an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times, it has become the symbol of Brussels and Belgium. The Atomium offers visitors the most beautiful panoramic view of Brussels, whilst hosting a variety of exhibitions devoted to installations with themes revolving around the digital arts. Currently, visitors are invited to discover CROSSING - a digital and symphonic work combining art and technology. A must-visit visual and sound journey inside the Atomium!
BOGHOSSIAN FOUNDATIONVILLA EMPAIN
Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 67 1050 Brussels villaempain.com
Fire / 25 Sep 2025 > 1 Mar 2026
This exhibition brings together modern and contemporary artists to explore the many dimensions of fire. Through diverse media, the artworks reflect the symbolic, physical, and emotional power of fire, ranging from flames and smoke to candles and electricity. Fire is a universal force present in myths, rituals, and celebrations across cultures
and eras. Its dual nature - life-giving and destructive - inspires both awe and fear. The artists interpret fire as warmth and healing, but also as chaos and danger. It is a metaphor for passion, desire, rebellion, and rebirth, echoing the complexity of human emotions. The exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the enduring presence of fire in nature, homes, and memories.
B OZAR - CENTRE FOR FINE ARTS
Rue Ravenstein 23 / 1000 Brussels bozar.be
John Baldessari. Parables, Fables, and Other Tall Tales / 19 Sep 2025 > 1 Feb 2026
John Baldessari (California, 1931-2020)
was a contemporary art pioneer who turned artistic conventions upside down. Baldessari wittily combined text, photography, and painting to challenge the traditional boundaries of art. He was a master of appropriation and collage, drawing on popular culturefrequently from films, television, press clippings, and other appropriated images - to create a new irreverent, playful visual language. Bozar presents the first major European exhibition devoted to his work. The exhibition features over 60 works, many of them monumental. Photographs,
paintings, installations, videos and wallpaper will be on display, some for the very first time in Europe.
B
RUSSELS
CITY MUSEUM
The King’s House Grand-Place / 1000 Brussels brusselscitymuseum.brussels
Bare! First Prizes from the Brussels Academy / 21 Oct 2025 > 1 Mar 2026
This selection of prize-winning academic drawings from 1841 to 1885 showcases the technical excellence demanded by the Brussels Academy. These male nude studies, reflecting strict academic training at a time when women were excluded as models, enter into dialogue with later works by laureates. A perspective on learning, artistic development, and knowledge transmission.
C
ENTRALE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART
Place Sainte-Catherine 44 1000 Brussels centrale.brussels
improbable spaces - their fragmented architecture, their horizons crisscrossed by flocks of birds. Through his videos and drawings, Michel Couturier’s exhibition at Centrale celebrates the poetry that lies before our eyes - if only we would take the time to look.
C LOUD SEVEN
Quai du Commerce 7 / 1000 Brussels cloudseven.be
(Not) All Is Gold / 4 Sep 2025 > 28 Feb 2026
Michel Couturier - la friche la galaxie / 9 Oct 2025 > 22 Feb 2026
At a time when new policies are focusing on cities and suburban areas, Michel Couturier’s images appear both surprising and familiar. They feature the elements that populate modern urban landscapes: road signs, motorway lights, surveillance cameras, and cranes slicing through the sky. We discover in them the poetry of
(Not) All Is Gold investigates the notion of value in art at both the direct, intrinsic level and at the metaphorical one. Alongside works that embrace or subvert the material richness or modesty of their medium, others subtly comment on the economy of the art world and, more specifically, on the status of artists and their survival strategies. A special focus is also placed on works that integrate transactional mechanisms into their own creative processes. Featuring works by Ignasi Aballí, Béatrice Balcou, Alighiero Boetti, Kasper Bosmans, Aline Bouvy, Cristina Garrido, Gabriel Kuri, Céline Mathieu, Jonathan Monk, Sophie Nys, Oriol Vilanova, …
Centrale for contemporay art - Michel Couturier, L’enlèvement de Proserpine, 2018, video-stil
Place de Belgique 1 / 1020 Brussels designmuseum.brussels – The museum will be closed from 19 January to 6 February 2026, except on weekends
Design and Comics: Living in a Box / 18 Oct 2025 > 1 Mar 2026
Through the collection of the Vitra Design Museum, this exhibition explores design and its relationship to the world of comics. To create a visual narrative that can be universally understood, comic artists have developed codes to convey information, one of which is the placement of design objects. In Brussels, the exhibition will pay particular attention to design in Belgian comics, and more specifically to the Atom style and Franquin’s characteristic Belgian playful modernism.
F ASHION & LACE MUSEUM
Rue de la Violette 12 / 1000 Brussels fashionandlacemuseum.brussels
New Presentation of the Lace Room / 12 Nov 2025 > Autumn 2027
In order to best preserve its lace collections, the museum rotates its pieces every two years. This rotation serves both to protect the oldest and most fragile works, and to offer visitors the chance to discover remarkable examples of lace. The museum is also showcasing its recent acquisitions, including an exceptional large Point de Gaze needle lace shawl, purchased in collaboration with the King Baudouin Foundation. Extremely rare in shape, this highly delicate piece - likely
created for a World’s Fair or a special commission - is the first of its kind to join the museum’s collections.
FONDATION CAB BRUSSELS
Rue Borrens 34-36 / 1050 Brussels fondationcab.com
Art & Language, Sixty Years and Going On / 12 Nov 2025 > 28 May 2026
This exhibition is devoted to Art & Language, a major artistic group founded in the 1960s which was at the forefront of reflection on the links between art, language and critical thinking. Conceived as a veritable retrospective, this exhibition looks back to the collective's entire career, through a variety of formats: textual installations, archival documents, visual works and emblematic conceptual devices. It offers an insight into a body of work that is as rigorous as it is radical, which continues to question the ways in which contemporary art is produced and received.
F ONDATION WALTER & NICOLE LEBLANC
Chaussée de Gand 1118 / 1082 Brussels walterleblanc.org
Oriol Vilanova. The Archive on Display / 20 Jan 2026 > 29 May 2026
The Walter & Nicole Leblanc Foundation presents a solo exhibition by Oriol Vilanova (Manresa, Spain, 1980), which he developed during his residency at the Foundation in the autumn of 2025. Based in Brussels, Vilanova explores systems of collection and display through a conceptual practice centred on vintage postcards and overlooked cultural artefacts. Engaging with the Foundation’s archive and collection, the artist has created new work that reflects on the circulation of images, memory, and the exhibition as form. This exhibition, which is part of Europalia España, is an extension of the Foundation’s curatorial approach of activating Walter Leblanc’s legacy through contemporary artistic
perspectives and precedes Vilanova’s participation in the Spanish Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale.
H OTEL VAN EETVELDE
Avenue Palmerston 2-4 / 1000 Brussels lab-an.be / open Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays
Art Nouveau and Art Deco: convergence and divergence / 20 Sep 2025 > 2 Feb 2026
philosophical, social, and spiritual concerns. The perspective is shaped by the tastes of the house’s original patrons, who were deeply attuned to the cultural innovations of their time. The exhibition features artists such as Delville, Khnopff, Fabry, and Rousseau.
R OYAL LIBRARY OF BELGIUM –KBR MUSEUM
Monts des Arts 28 / 1000 Brussels kbr.be
New immersive experience of the KBR Museum’s permanent exhibition
The major artistic movements of the early twentieth century, Art Nouveau and Art Deco, although stylistically opposed in appearance, both reflected their era and had a profound influence on modern art. What do they have in common, and how can they be differentiated? This exhibition, designed by the LAB·AN - Laboratory of Art Nouveau and presented inside the Hotel van Eetvelde, goes back to basics and presents these two artistic movements through the prism of heritage, furniture and architecture.
M AISON HANNON
Avenue de la Jonction 1 / 1060 Brussels maisonhannon.be
Echoes of dreams. Symbolism in Brussels / 29 Aug 2025 > 19 Apr 2026
Set in an elegant Brussels Art Nouveau residence, the exhibition Echoes of dreams focuses on Belgian Symbolism, bringing together fin-de-siècle works and ideas. It explores the ways in which Symbolism engaged with aesthetic,
For over 600 years, a priceless cultural treasure has been preserved in Brussels: the Library of the Dukes of Burgundy, one of Europe’s most important collections of illuminated manuscripts. These rare books offer a glimpse into the artistic, religious, and political life of fifteenth- and sixteenthcentury Europe. Visitors can explore the powerful world of the Dukes of Burgundy, who were visionary rulers and passionate patrons of the arts. As well as manuscripts, the exhibition includes prints, engravings, paintings, and sculptures. A new immersive musical experience brings the period's polyphonic music to life, enhancing the visit. This is a wonderful opportunity to wander through a Golden Age and discover a major hidden cultural gem.
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ROYAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS OF BELGIUM
Rue de la Régence 3 / 1000 Brussels fine-arts-museum.be
Georges Meurant meets Bonolo Kavula / 7 Oct 2025 > 8 Mar 2026
In a new permanent room dedicated to modern and contemporary artwith displays that will change twice a year - the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium inaugurate their first presentation featuring Belgian painter Georges Meurant (Brussels, 19482023) and South African artist Bonolo Kavula (Kimberley, 1992). Painter and essayist, Georges Meurant is best known for his dynamic use of color, chromatic abstractions, and geometric lines. A great connoisseur of Kasai embroideries, he developed a pictorial practice inspired by their motifswithout copying them. The works of the young artist Bonolo Kavula can be situated between weaving, engraving, sculpture, and installation, echo both Meurant’s practice and textile art. This event offers an opportunity to question the encounter between contemporary African art and the practice of a Western painter, showing that inspiration is not synonymous with appropriation.
The van Buuren Museum & Gardens has joined forces with the Fashion & Lace Museum to mark the centenary of the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts. Through four silhouettes from the collections of the Fashion & Lace Museum, enriched with archival material, the exhibition explores the transformations in women’s fashion between 1920 and 1935. From the garçonne style to Hollywood-inspired evening gowns, Art Deco fashion reveals a striking blend of sobriety and glamour, practicality
and refinement. Strongly influenced by sportswear, cinema and distant cultures, the fashion of this period reflects the social shifts and aesthetic ideals of the interwar years. Presented within the interiors of the van Buuren House, the silhouettes engage in a visual dialogue with its architecture and furnishings.
VANHAERENTS ART COLLECTIONPRIVATE ART COLLECTION
Rue Anneessens 29 / 1000 Brussels vanhaerentsartcollection.com mandatory registration required
Viewing Depot EXH#03 –
Year of the Snake / Sat 24 Jan 2026
The Vanhaerents Art Collection, started in the 1970s by Walter Vanhaerents and expanded by his children Els and Joost, has grown into one of the most influential private collections of contemporary art worldwide. What was once considered bold and radical laid the foundation for a collection
that today embodies the diversity and vitality of current artistic practices. The current exhibition brings together large-scale works focused on themes such as oppression, the deprivation of freedom, and the loss of individuality. In the project space - where the presentation changes annuallythe monumental tapestry Elen or Hubris (2020) by Brazilian artist Elen Braga is being shown to the public for the first time in its entirety.
W IELS - CONTEMPORARY ART CENTRE
Avenue Van Volxem 354 / 1190 Brussels wiels.org
Nairy Baghramian. Nameless / 25 Oct 2025 > 1 Mar 2026
Recognised as one of the most influential artists of our time, Nairy Baghramian (Iran, 1971) presents a new, previously unseen, group of works. Known for her sculptures, spatial organisations, photographs and drawings, Baghramian develops a practice of fearless experimentation marked by historical and conceptual acuity. Drawing from aesthetic realms such as interior design, fashion, dance and theatre, and utilitarian objects such as naval or dental instruments, Baghramian invokes a wide range of formal references to address all variants of bodies in their vulnerability and obstinacy.
Everlyn Nicodemus. Black Bird / 25 Oct 2025 > 1 Feb 2026
Be it through painting, collage, academic writing, curating, or poetry, the work of Everlyn Nicodemus (Tanzania, 1954) is rooted in a longstanding engagement in art as a site for healing, forging counternarratives, and exercising freedom. Throughout her career, Nicodemus pursued a distinctive and polymorphous practice anchored in postcolonial theory, feminism and trauma studies. This retrospective exhibition showcases her approach that always eschewed conformity and the ‘othering’ frames of expectation shaped by the Western ethnographic gaze. Instead, Nicodemus addresses colour, texture and the form of the human body through a profound involvement with community organising, communion and relationality.
Early Gaze - Unseen Photography from the Nineteenth Century / 24 Oct 2025 > 1 Mar 2026
For the first time in nearly 40 years, FOMU presents a major exhibition on nineteenth-century Belgian photography. Visitors will discover how this new, magical medium sparked a revolution in society, science and art from the late 1830s onwards. In addition to iconic portraits, landscapes, and architectural photography, the exhibition showcases early photojournalism, scientific, medical, and legal photography, and propaganda images. A rare highlight: many exceptional historical photographs and masterpieces from both Belgian and international collections are brought together, most of which have rarely been shown to the public.
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KMSKA - ROYAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
Leopold de Waelplaats 2 2000 Antwerp kmska.be
Magritte. La ligne de vie / 15 Nov 2025 > 22 Feb 2026
In 1938, René Magritte gave a profound lecture at the KMSKA - La ligne de vie - in which he shared his vision of reality, the origins and evolution of his art, and the history of Belgian Surrealism. This speech, his second after London, is considered the most important statement about his work. In this exhibition, Magritte acts as his own curator, presenting works that were central to the lecture; he also appears as a link between Surrealism in Antwerp and Brussels (with figures such as Marcel Mariën and Léo Dohmen). A poetic quote from the lecture illustrates his view: ‘The Ladder of Fire gave me the privilege … I made fire from a sheet of paper, an egg and a key.’ Although he first experimented with abstraction, he ultimately rejected the style: he wanted to paint ideas, not forms.
MUSEUM MAYER VAN DEN BERGH
@ MAAGDENHUIS
Lange Gasthuisstraat 33 / 2000 Antwerp museummayervandenbergh.be
Beloved. An intimate look at masterpieces
20 Jun 2025 > 12 Sep 2027
Consolation. Pride. Inspiration and hope. The masterpieces from the collection of Museum Mayer van den Bergh in Antwerp still stir up a lot of emotions. From the Belgian artist Bent Van Looy to a mother-daughter duo: 43 museum enthusiasts have selected a piece that touches them. Their selection of 90 masterpieces will remain visible in the nearby Maagdenhuis during the renovation of the museum. Visitors will be able to unravel the mystery of Pieter Bruegel’s Mad Meg and admire stunning pieces by Pieter Paul Rubens, Quinten Massys and other masters.
MOMU - FASHION MUSEUM
Nationalestraat 28 / 2000 Antwerp momu.be
GIRLS. On Boredom, Rebellion and Being
In Between / 27 Sep 2025 > 1 Feb 2026
GIRLS explores the beauty and complexity of girlhood, as it has been represented and remembered across time. The exhibition examines how ideals and images of girlhood continue to influence current visual culture and fashion. It presents girlhood as
both a personal experience and a powerful cultural construct that shapes identity and aesthetics. With work by Louise Bourgeois, Sofia Coppola, Edgar Degas, Chopova Lowena, Martin Margiela, Nigel Shafran, Léon Spilliaert, Juergen Teller and many more.
CHARLEROI
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BPS22 – MUSÉE D’ART DE LA PROVINCE DU HAINAUT
Boulevard Solvay 22 / 6000 Charleroi bps22.be
&
et faits divers / 31 Jan 2026 > 3 May 2026
The work of Louis Bachelot (Alger, 1960) and Marjolaine Caron (Paris, 1963) originates in the illustration of news items. Combining photography, digital processes, collage and pictorial effects, the duo stages human comedy in photographic paintings whose aesthetics reference the history of art and cinema. For over eight years, they have been integrating performance and ceramics into their practice in large immersive installations that question the contradictions of society and its darker side. This exhibition the first retrospective of the Bachelot-Caron duo, alludes to a baroque and theatrical fable, exploring desire, violence, grotesqueness and the essence of art.
Chantal Maes. Because even stars stumble / 31 Jan 2026 > 3 May 2026
The starting point for this retrospective exhibition of the Belgian photographer Chantal Maes (Brussels, 1965) is a reinterpretation of her entire artistic output. Photographs, video sequences and sound recordings intertwine, midway between weaving and cutting, guided by the idea of a cinema on paper. A body of work centred on relationships with others but designed as an autobiographical introspection.
T HE PHOTOGRAPHY MUSEUM
Avenue Paul Pastur 11 / 6032 Charleroi museephoto.be
Histoires en séries - Astrid Ullens de Schooten Whettnall Collection / 4 Oct 2025 > 25 Jan 2026
The Astrid Ullens de Schooten Whettnall collection, managed by the A Foundation, includes approximately 5,500 photographs by 100 different photographers, acquired over a 30-year period. These photographers, from diverse backgrounds, explore various themes such as social documentaries, architecture, and life stories. Astrid Ullens collected complete series of photographic sets. The exhibition Histoires en séries will feature works such as Nicholas Nixon's ‘The Brown Sisters’ and HansPeter Feldmann's ‘100 Jahre,’
bringing together 42 photographers of various nationalities, including Diane Arbus, Walker Evans, and Helen Levitt.
GHENT
MSK - MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
Fernand Scribedreef 1 / 9000 Ghent mskgent.be
Last phase of the restoration of the Ghent Altarpiece / 2 May 2023 > 1 Mar 2026
The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by the Van Eyck brothers, more commonly known as the Ghent Altarpiece, is undergoing restoration at the MSK. For the third and final phase, the five upper panels of the open altarpiece have been transferred to the museum for restoration: the central Deësis scene - depicting God flanked by the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist - along with the panels of music-playing angels and the figures of Adam and Eve. During the week, visitors can watch restorers from the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK-IRPA) at work in a glass-enclosed studio, while on weekends, the panels are moved to a more visible location.
S.M.A.K. – MUNICIPAL MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
Jan Hoetplein 2 / 9000 Ghent smak.be
Marc De Blieck / 17 Oct 2025 > 15 Mar 2026
S.M.A.K. is hosting the first comprehensive solo exhibition devoted to the work of Marc De Blieck (Sint-Niklaas, 1958). De Blieck is a consistent and influential figure in conceptual photography in Belgium. He views the photographic image as a construction that arises at the intersection of technology, cultural norms, and aesthetic principles. Despite their simple construction, his images reveal an increasingly complex visual grammar, exposing the tension between a photographic vision and artificiality. De Blieck starts from a critical reflection on the essence and malleability of images but also raises questions about our understanding of visual experience.
Resistance. The Power of the Image / 28 Nov 2025 > 3 May 2026
As part of EUROPALIA ESPAÑA, S.M.A.K. presents Resistance. The Power of the Image, a group exhibition featuring approximately 20 Spanish artists exploring the role of art in the fight for democratic values. Since the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), Spanish artists have used images to resist oppression, demand rights, and expose injustices.
A key moment was the 1937 Spanish Pavilion at the Paris World’s Fair, where Picasso’s Guernica became a lasting symbol of artistic resistance. The exhibition highlights two crucial periods: the 1970s, during the final years of Franco’s dictatorship and Spain’s democratic transition, and the past decade, marked by protests like the Indignados movement, in response to economic crises and democratic decline.
HORNU
CID - INNOVATION AND DESIGN CENTRE
As part of Europalia Spain, the CID invites the internationally renowned architect-designer Patricia Urquiola (Oviedo, 1961). The exhibition primarily focuses on the research of the Patricia Urquiola Studio over the past five years. At a time when climate change and artificial intelligence are gradually reshaping certain aspects of the creative sphere, the exhibition Patricia Urquiola. Metamorphosis explores our own relationship to change, the transformation of our world, matter, and our perception of beauty... The result is a new aesthetic, a true formal and cultural mutation. \
Site du Grand-Hornu
Rue Sainte-Louise 82 / 7301 Hornu cid-grand-hornu.be
Site du Grand-Hornu Rue Sainte-Louise 82 / 7301 Hornu mac-s.be
Cristina Garrido. The White Cube is Never Empty 14 Dec 2025 > 10 May 2026
The White Cube is Never Empty is the first solo show in a Belgian museum by the Spanish artist Cristina Garrido (Madrid, 1986). Spanning the past decade of her practice, it includes a new site-specific installation that is a direct response to the Museum’s distinctive architecture and exhibition history. Garrido’s multidisciplinary work examines how art is framed – culturally, digitally and institutionally. Recurring themes in her practice include the relationship between art and cultural narratives, the impact of technology, and the role of viewer subjectivity. The exhibition offers a critical perspective on the evolving dynamics of the contemporary art world.
Honoré d’O. Quarantaine – Quarantine. 40 Days in the Desert / 14 Dec 2025 > 10 May 2026
Conceived by Honoré d’O (Audenarde, 1961) for the large square room at MACS, this exhibition consists of a vast installation in which the Belgian artist evokes the “retreat into the desert” he undertook for 40 days as
part of his residency in Marfa (Texas) in 2024. As its title suggests through the double meaning of the French word ‘quarantaine,’ (both ‘around forty (days)’ and ‘quarantine’), the project combines the experience of spiritual introspection with that of physical isolation.
LA LOUVIÈRE
THE CENTRE FOR ENGRAVINGS AND PRINTS (CGII)
Rue des Amours 10 / 7100 La Louvière centredelagravure.be
Collectionner l’image / 14 Jan 2025 > 31 Jan 2026
This exhibition offers an immersion into the heritage archival room of the Ateliers du Texte et de l’Image in Liège, Belgium. Initiated in 2022, this collection of original works invites visitors to discover the diversity of graphic and narrative practices of illustrator-authors from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. It explores the place of the album in contemporary creation, the challenges of image conservation and the materiality of illustrated books for young people.
KERAMIS - CERAMICS CENTRE
Place des Fours-Bouteilles 1 7100 La Louvière keramis.be
Clémence van Lunen. Sculptures 1995-2025 - A Retrospective / 11 Oct 2025 > 1 Mar 2026
Keramis and the Gerhard Marcks Haus in Bremen (Germany) present the first major retrospective of the Belgian sculptor Clémence Van Lunen (Brussels, 1959). Trained in Brussels and Paris, she first explored wood sculpture before turning to ceramics in the early 2000s, following influential trips to China. Winner of the Grand Prize at the Vallauris Biennale in 2008, she has since developed a powerful, body-scaled sculptural language across thematic series. Her vibrant, humorous works combine the physicality of clay with bold colours and dynamic forms. The exhibition features nearly 80 key sculptures.
LEUVEN
M LEUVEN
Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 28 3000 Leuven mleuven.be
challenge scientific and philosophical concepts. She achieves this by dismantling the boundaries of perception and putting our observational capacities to the test. By using mirroring and repetition, and by deconstructing or reconstructing everyday objects and natural materials, she seeks to expose and understand the essence of our world. Her work is simultaneously poetic, magical and visually challenging. Her solo exhibition at M showcases a selective overview of her practice in recent years, alongside new creations.
LIEGE
L A BOVERIE
Parc de la Boverie / 4020 Liege laboverie.com
Alicja Kwade
10 Oct 2025 > 22 Feb 2026
Alicja Kwade (Katowice, 1979) is internationally renowned for her sculptures and installations that
Robert Doisneau. Instants donnés / 31 Oct 2025 > 19 Apr 2026
Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the sensitive and poetic world of Robert Doisneau (Gentilly 19121994 Montrouge) through the largest Belgian retrospective ever devoted to his extraordinary work. Making its stop in Liège, this international touring exhibition presents nearly 400 striking photographs - a captivating blend of iconic images and rare gems - including
MACS - Cristina Garrido, Local Colour is a Foreign Invention (The Netherlands/ Belgium), 2020, (detail). Image: Roberto Ruiz. Courtesy of the artist; The Goma and Galería CURRO.
intimate portraits of Picasso, Simenon, and Giacometti. This captivating journey offers a behind-the-scenes look at the photographer’s creative process, revealing the inspirations and historical moments that shaped his vision. A newly curated section highlights Doisneau’s special connection to Belgium, capturing its landscapes, vibrant personalities, and unforgettable moments in time. More than just an exhibition, it’s a moving encounter with the timeless spirit of a true humanist master.
MARIEMONT
ROYAL MUSEUM OF MARIEMONT
Chaussée de Mariemont 100 7140 Morlanwelz musee-mariemont.be
complex imperial succession, Mary was a driving force for her family, reshaping history, territories and the arts through carefully crafted strategies of propaganda and representation.
MECHELEN
MUSEUM HOF VAN BUSLEYDEN
Frederik de Merodestraat 65 2800 Mechelen hofvanbusleyden.be
canvas. This exhibition acknowledges Nel not only as a model and muse but also as a promoter and manager who left her mark on the artist’s work. Through 12 artworks in a single room, the unique bond between Rik and Nel is brought back to life.
HET KUNSTUUR
Heilige Geestkapel
Minderbroedersgang 1-3
2800 Mechelen
hetkunstuur.com - mandatory reservation in advance
Masterpieces by Belgian artists (18501950) / 22 Sep 2025 > 14 Jun 2026
Het Kunstuur offers a fascinating and highly interactive experience. The subtle combination of masterpieces of Belgian painting from 1850 to 1950, stories told by Flemish individuals, and music by Dirk Brossé creates a unique experience whose impact is both visual and emotional. The intimate setting, with groups of no more than eight, enhances the atmosphere, allowing each visitor to fully engage with the art and the stories it tells.
MUSÉE FÉLICIEN ROPS
Rue Fumal 12/ 5000 Namur museerops.be
Japoniaiseries. Japanese fantasies in the time of Félicien Rops / 18 Oct 2025 > 15 Feb 2026
Mary of Hungary: Art & Power in the Renaissance / 22 Nov 2025 > 10 May 2026
This exhibition highlights the political, diplomatic, and artistic role of a key sixteenth-century figure: Mary of Hungary, the sister of Emperor Charles V and governor of the Low Countries. As princess, queen, regent, patron of the arts, and collector, she carved out a unique place in spheres traditionally dominated by men. Central to the
Rik Wouters & Nel: Muse and Manager / 25 Oct 2025 > 26 Apr 2026
In a focus exhibition, Museum Hof van Busleyden shines a spotlight on the painting The Red Curtains, the most iconic work by Rik Wouters (Mechelen 1882-1916 Amsterdam).
A figure stands between red curtains, dressed in a striking red-and-white striped dress. In the summer of 1913, Rik Wouters captured his eternal muse Hélène Duerinckx - known simply as Nel - with confident brushstrokes on
This exhibition delves into 19th-century European artists’ fascination with Japan. While Félicien Rops (Namur 18331898 Corbeil-Essones) was influenced by the great Japanese masters of the Edo period, he remained critical of the Japonism trend. With a touch of irony, he referred to the Japanese-inspired elements in his work as ‘Japoniaiseries’. The exhibition highlights the influence of the ukiyo-e school on Rops’s art, placing him in dialogue with both Japanese and Japonist artists of his time. It also opens a conversation with contemporary creators, demonstrating the enduring legacy of these influences - particularly through the lens of manga and its global cultural impact.
It’s a Sunday on the sea! / 28 Jun 2025 > 22 Feb 2026
The exhibition on view at the Venetian Galleries in Ostend - Mu.ZEE’s temporary location during renovations - explores the sea not only as a visual subject, but as a source of emotion, memory, and imagination. Calm or powerful, real or remembered, the sea continues to inspire artists. Featuring highlights from Mu.ZEE’s collection, with works by Léon Spilliaert, HenriVictor Wolvens, Guillaume Bijl, Jacqueline Mesmaeker, Roger Raveel, Lili Dujourie, Erich Heckel, Etienne Elias, Jean Brusselmans, and others.
ROESELAERE
HET KUNSTUUR
Sint-Amandskerk
De Coninckplein / 8800 Roeselare hetkunstuur.com mandatory reservation in advance
Masterpieces by Belgian artists (18501950) / 20 Sep 2025 > 14 Jun 2026
Het Kunstuur offers a fascinating and highly interactive experience. The subtle combination of masterpieces of Belgian painting from 1850 to 1950, stories told by Flemish individuals, and music by Dirk Brossé creates a unique experience whose impact is both visual and emotional. The intimate setting, with groups of no more than eight, enhances the atmosphere, allowing each visitor to fully engage with the art and the stories it tells.
TOURNAI
FI NE ARTS MUSEUM
Rue de l’Enclos Saint-Martin 3
7500 Tournai
mba.tournai.be
A final glimpse before transformation / > 31 Dec 2026
Before closing for renovation and expansion in December 2026, the Museum of Fine Arts in Tournai is inviting visitors on a special tour through its renowned collection. As the only museum ever designed by Victor Horta, this exceptional heritage building is a striking example of the transition from Art Nouveau to early Modernism, inspired by Art Deco. Its galleries house one of Belgium’s remarkable collections of fifteenth- to nineteenthcentury paintings, complemented by drawings and sculptures, thanks largely to the patronage of Henri Van Cutsem. Highlights include works by Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Georges Seurat, James Ensor... Alongside works by artists who were friends of the patron Van Cutsem, the curators have brought to light other discoveries from the museum’s reserves - some significant, others more modest, but all captivating.
OPERAS, CONCERTS, DANCE & THEATRE
BRUSSELS
ROYAL OPERA HOUSE
LA MONNAIE / DE MUNT
Place de la Monnaie – Muntplein
1000 Brussels
t. +32 (0)2 229 12 11 lamonnaiedemunt.be
Concertinin - chamber music
A l’extrême bord du monde / Harold Noben
Fri 23 Jan 2026 at 12.30 pm & 8 pm
Ravel / Clarke / Sato / Debussy
Fri 30 Jan 2026 at 12.30 pm
Grand Foyer
Kids Opera
La cuisine musicale
Compagnie Minute Papillon
Sat 24 Jan, Sun 25 Jan and Sat 31 Jan 2026 at 11 am & 2 pm
Fiocco room
Opera
Benvenuto Cellini / Hector Berlioz
Wed 28 Jan and Sat 31 Jan 2026 at 7.30 pm
BOZAR - CENTRE FOR FINE ARTS
Rue Ravenstein 23 / 1000 Brussels
t. +32 (0)2 507 82 00 / bozar.be
Concert
Bozar Bassment #4: Nik Colk Void, Klara Lewis & Pedro Maia - GAIKO
Thu 22 Jan 2026 at 8.30 pm
@ Bozar, Terarken Hall
Javier Perianes
Chopin, De Falla & Albéniz
Fri 23 Jan 2026 at 8 pm
@ Bozar, Henry Le Boeuf Hall
Hilary Hahn & Philharmonia Orchestra
Rachmaninov, Sibelius & Prokofiev
Sat 24 Jan 2026 at 8 pm
@ Bozar, Henry Le Boeuf Hall
Brecht Valckenaers
Sun 25 Jan 2026 at 11 am
@ Bozar, Henry Le Boeuf Hall Stage
Meet the Writers
Agustín Fernández Mallo & friends
Thu 29 Jan 2026 at 7.30 pm
@ Bozar, Terarken Hall
Concert
Suso Sáiz: Inside Sounds
Thu 29 Jan 2026 at 8.30 pm
@ Bozar, Hall M
Saburo Teshigawara & Vox Luminis XL
Sat 31 Jan 2026 at 8 pm
@ Bozar, Henry Le Boeuf Hall Stage
FLAGEY
Place Sainte-Croix / 1050 Brussels
t. +32 (0)2 641 10 20 / flagey.be
Music, Classical
Anja Lechner, violoncelle
Johan Sébastian Bach, Tobias Hume, Carl Friedrich Abel
Wed 28 Jan 2026 at 6.30 pm
Music, Classical, String Quartet
Hagen Quartett
Mozart, Webern, Schubert
Wed 28 Jan 2026 at 8.15 pm
Music, Contemporary, Piano, String Quartet
La Semaine du Son.oor
Part of an international movement under the aegis of UNESCO, La Semaine du Son.oor organises various activities around sound and sound awareness. A wide-ranging programme of workshops, lectures, sound walks, encounters, concerts, performances, listening sessions and screenings highlights various aspects of sound, sound practices and relevant social issues. Sat 31 Jan & Sun 1 Feb 2026
KONINKLIJKE VLAAMSE
SCHOUWBURG
Rue de Laeken 146 / 1000 Brussels t. +32 (0)2 210 11 12 / kvs.be
Theatre
Celebrating Wilfried Westerlinck
Fri 30 Jan 2026 at 12.30 pm
Music, Contemporary, Electronic, Orchestra
Brussels Philarmonic:
Celebrating Luc Brewaeys
Fri 30 Jan 2026 at 8.15 pm
THÉÂTRE NATIONAL
Boulevard Emile Jacqmain 111-115
1000 Brussels t. +32 (0)2 203 53 03 theatrenational.be
Theatre
Dispak Dispac’h - Patricia Allio Thu 22 & Fri 23 Jan 2026 at 7 pm and Sat 24 Jan at 6 pm
@ Halles de Schaerbeek, Rue Royale Sainte-Marie 22A, 1030 Schaerbeek
THÉÂTRE ROYAL DU PARC
Rue de la Loi 3 / 1000 Brussels t. +32 (0)2 505 30 30 theatreduparc.be
Theatre
Une mouette / based on the play by Anton Tchekov Thu 29 - Sat 31 Jan 2026 at 8.15 pm and Sun 1 Feb 2026 at 3 pm
ANTWERP SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAQUEEN ELISABETH HALL
Koningin Astridplein 20-26
2018 Antwerp t. +32 (0)3 213 54 06 antwerpsymphonyorchestra.be
Concert
Pianist Sergei Redkin & Sheherazade Sat 24 Jan 2026 at 3 pm @ Queen Elisabeth Hall, 2018 Antwerp
Chamber music with pianist Sergei redkin with the Principals of Antwerp Symphony and musicians of the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel Sun 25 Jan 2026 at 3 pm @ AMUZ, Kammenstraat 81 2000 Antwerp
Kid concert
De Muziekboom (6+) - family concert from 6 years old, in Dutch Sat 31 Jan 2026 at 4 pm @ Muziekcentrum De Bijloke, Bijlokekaai 7, 9000 Ghent
Sun 1 Feb 2026 at 11 am and 2 pm @ Queen Elisabeth Hall, 2018 Antwerp
Powerplay - Valentijn Dhaenens / KVS Thu 22 Jan and Fri 23 Jan 2026 at 8 pm
For live Jazz concerts in Brussels, visit jazzinbelgium.be
ANTWERP SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA - Kid concert, De muziekboom illustration Mattias De Leeuw
DE SINGEL INTERNATIONAL
ARTS CENTRE
Desguinlei 25 / 2018 Antwerp
t. +32 (0)3 248 28 28 / desingel.be
Biennial creative festival CARTA '26 -
The promise of rain
Thu 22 Jan 2026 – Sat 31 Jan 2026
Dance/Music/Performance
Martha Canga Antonio
Holy
Thu 22 Jan 2026 – Sat 24 Jan 2026 at 8 pm
Dance/Music
Jolente De Maeyer / Michiel
Vandevelde / Bryggen / Max Richter
Four seasons changed
Fri 23 Jan 2026 and Sat 24 Jan 2026 at 8 pm
Theatre/Music
Bashar Murkus / Khulood Basel / Khashabi Theatre
Al Sirah Al Hilaliyah
Fri 30 Jan 2026 and Sat 31 Jan 2026 at 8 pm
Theatre/Music
Brandy Butler
Mitosis
Fri 30 Jan 2026 and Sat 31 Jan 2026 at 8 pm
Music/Electronic music
Didem Coşkunseven
A Strange Place
Sat 31 Jan 2026 at 10 pm
Seasonal Program
Music/Classic/Piano/Great Soloists
Alice Sara Ott In the moonlight of Beethoven Wed 28 Jan 2026 at 8 pm
Music/Early Music/Great Soloists
La Folia Barockorchester
Regula Mühlemann brings Cleopatra to life
Fri 30 Jan 2026 at 8 pm
OPERA BALLET VLAANDEREN
Frankrijklei 1 / 2000 Antwerp
t. +32 (0)70 22 02 02 / operaballet.be
BRUGES
C ONCERTGEBOUW BRUGGE
’t Zand 34 / 8000 Bruges
t. +32 (0)78 15 20 20 concertgebouw.be
Concert
Spem in alium
Saburo Teshigawara & Vox Luminis XL Thu 29 Jan 2026 at 8 pm
Brussels Philharmonic
Debussy, Brewaeys & Janssens Sat 31 Jan 2026 at 8 pm
Wibert Aerts, Arne Deforce & Daan Vandewalle
Brewaeys & Barrett Sun 1 Feb 2026 at 3 pm
LIEGE
OPERA ROYAL DE WALLONIE
Place de l’Opéra / 4000 Liege
t. +32 (0)4 221 47 22 / operaliege.be
Opera
Lady of the camellias
Dance
Rites
Shahar Binyamini / Nacera Belaza / Pina Bausch
Incorporating rituals to the sounds of Ravel and Stravinsky
Thu 22 Jan & Sat 24 Jan 2026 at 8 pm, Sun 25 Jan 2026 at 3 pm
A concert for the whole family through the world of opera, featuring highlights from the repertoires of Gluck, Schubert, Verdi, Mozart, and more.
Sun 25 Jan 2026 at 11.30 am
Trio Nebelmeer - Artist Diploma
Tue 27 Jan 2026 at 8.15 pm
MuCH Surprise with MuCH Soloists
The artists-in-residence will surprise music lovers with a ‘Carte Blanche’ programme of their own choosing.
Thu 29 Jan 2026 at 11.30 am
SHOPPING & TOURISM
BOOKSHOPS
LIBRAIRIE CANDIDE
Place Georges Brugmann 1-2
1050 Brussels
t. +32 (0)2 344 81 94 librairie-candide.be
LIBRAIRIE FILIGRANES
Boulevard de Waterloo 25
1000 Brussels
t. +32 (0)2 511 90 15 / filigranes.be
PASSA PORTA BOOKSHOP
Rue Antoine Dansaert 46
1000 Brussels
t. +32 (0)2 502 94 60 passaportabookshop.be
LIBRAIRIE PEINTURE FRAÎCHE
Rue Lesbroussart 9
1050 Brussels
t. +32 (0)2 537 11 05 peinture-fraiche.be
TROPISMES LIBRAIRES
Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
Galerie des Princes 11
1000 Brussels
t. +32 (0)2 512 88 52 tropismes.com
WATERSTONES
Boulevard Adolphe Max 71-75
1000 Brussels
t. +32 (0)2 219 27 08 waterstones.com/bookshops/brussels
MUSIC STORE
LA BOÎTE À MUSIQUE
Coudenberg 74 / 1000 Brussels
t. +32 (0)2 513 09 65 laboiteamusique.eu
SHOPPING AREAS IN BRUSSELS
From chic uptown boutiques to the cutting-edge fashion scene downtown, Brussels offers a shopping experience as diverse as it is inspiring. Follow the guide.
DANSAERT DISTRICT - DOWNTOWN
A true hot spot of Brussels fashion, the Dansaert district perfectly blends avant-garde creativity with urban energy. The area proudly retains its Belgian soul with independent boutiques, tailor-made pieces, curated vintage, and cutting-edge design.
Don’t miss:
- STIJL – A true fashion institution featuring top Belgian designers like Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, Christian Wijnants, Walter Van Beirendonck, Jean-Paul Knott, and Sofie D’Hoore, and more
- Dries Van Noten Gallery –
A sophisticated space devoted to perfume, beauty, and fashion accessories
- Café Costume – Custom tailoring with a contemporary flair
- ICON – A multi-brand boutique offering effortlessly chic pieces
- Underwear – A treasure trove of bold and unexpected finds - Kat en Muis – A go-to for stylish children’s fashion
Inaugurated in 1847, the Royal SaintHubert Galleries were once the largest and most magnificent shopping arcade in Europe, a masterpiece of architecture and technical innovation. Located just steps from the Grand Place, this beautiful, glass-roofed arcade is home to a variety of elegant boutiques including a fine-glove atelier, a traditional hatmaker, refined leather goods shops, a one-of-a-kind bookshop, restaurants, and an arthouse cinema...
Discover the following shops:
- Maison Delvaux – Belgium’s iconic luxury leather handbag brand
- KAAI Antwerp – Chic and functional work bags designed for modern women
- Roseline d’Oreye – Unique fashion accessories crafted in Brussels
- Les Savonneries Bruxelloises –An exclusive soap brand, handcrafted in Brussels since 1926
Upmarket and authentic. Two neighborhoods, two distinct atmospheres - different yet wonderfully complementary. The vibrant Sablon square is lined with prestigious antique dealers, contemporary art galleries, some of Belgium’s finest chocolate shops, and acclaimed restaurants. Just a short walk away, Les Marolles offers a more bohemian spirit. With its vintage boutiques, second-hand stores, upcycled treasures, quirky furniture shops and the iconic daily flea market on Place du Jeu de Balle, the area promises an inspiring outing.
Marvel at:
- Nathalie Vleeschouwer – Boutique showcasing Belgian designer fashion
- Lunetier Ludovic – Exceptional craftsmanship for bespoke luxury eyewear
- L’Atelier en Herbe – A poetic flower concept store
- Christian Louboutin – Unbeatable luxury shoes with signature red soles
- Mademoiselle l’Ancien (Les Marolles) –Vintage flair and curated charm
LOUISE DISTRICT
Situated in the upper part of the city, the Louise district - encompassing Avenue Louise, Boulevard de Waterloo, and Place Stéphanie - is one of Brussels’ most prestigious shopping areas. Boulevard de Waterloo hosts top international luxury brands such as Balenciaga, Gucci, Prada, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, and more. Nearby, Avenue Louise combines Belgian and global labels, and is also home to Senteurs d’Ailleurs, a must-visit for fine perfumes and niche fragrances.
Belgian highlights include:
- Natan – Royal favourite for couture and prêt-à-porter
- Carine Gilson – Luxurious silk lingerie, beloved by Bond girls
- Essentiel Antwerp – Bold, colorful, and fashion-forward
- Bellerose – Effortlessly stylish casual-chic
PLACE BRUGMANN AND SURROUNDINGS
This trendy, bohemian neighbourhood is a haven for fashion lovers and design enthusiasts. It’s home to a range of exciting boutiques, including Graphie Sud, Natan Atelier II, Kelly, Vintage Items, Bonnie and Jane, and Homepage Furniture. The area truly comes alive in the evening, with lively restaurants that create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Step inside:
- JEANPAULKNOTT – A renowned Belgian designer celebrated for his commitment to quality, originality, and exclusivity.
- Cachemire Coton et Soie – A thoughtfully curated selection of exclusive women’s fashion brands.
TOURIST INFORMATION DESKS
VISIT BRUSSELS
@ BIP (Brussels Info Place)
Rue Royale 2-4
1000 Brussels
@ Town Hall of Brussels Grand-Place
1000 Brussels
t. +32 (0)2 513 89 40 visitbrussels.be
Good to know: The Brussels Card gives you free access to 48 museums, as well as discounts on attractions, guided tours, shops, restaurants, and more. A free app, city guide, and maps (city & museums) are included. For an additional fee, you can add public transport (STIB), Hop-on Hop-off bus access, and fast-track entry to the Atomium.
VISIT FLANDERS
Grasmarkt 61
1000 Brussels
t. +32 (0)2 504 03 90 visitflanders.com
INFO.SHOP VISIT WALLONIA
Rue du Marché aux Herbes 25-27
1000 Brussels
t. + 32 (0)2 899 04 78 visitwallonia.be
SPONSORS & PARTNERS
ORGANISATION
Foire des Antiquaires de Belgique asbl / Antiekbeurs van België vzw info@brafa.be - brafa.art
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- Scènes de Ménage – A one-of-a-kind home décor boutique blending old and new in unexpected and delightful.
BRAFA 2026 / creation: BRAFA Team Brussels / printing: INNIgroup
Registered office: Foire des Antiquaires de Belgique asbl - Antiekbeurs van België vzw Tour & Taxis – Royal Depot/ Avenue du Port 86 C box 2A / 1000 Brussels
“A favourite of true connoisseurs, a well-loved international art event that's equal parts relaxed and sophisticated”
FORBES
“Ce qui fait le charme de la BRAFA c’est la juxtaposition des genres qui titillent le regard, et que les organisateurs, en dessinant leur plan, semblent avoir multipliés à plaisir, sans jamais sombrer dans le mauvais goût"
LE MONDE
“BRAFA nestelt zich nadrukkelijk aan de top van de europese kunst- en antiekbeurzen met een eigen profi el: uitbundig, veelzijdig en kwalitatief.”
TRENDS
“Sophisticated and lively… BRAFA’s DNA has always been defined by its diversity, with curated booths offering an exceptional range of works”
ARTSY
“Um finanzielle Ressourcen ging es auf der BRAFA nie. Ihr Publikum ist interessiert, kennt sich aus und investiert auch hohe Summen. Anders lassen sich weder die lange Lebenszeit der Brafa noch ihre namhaften Aussteller erklären”
TAGESSPIEGEL
"BRAFA è anche un luogo costellato di innumerevoli masterpiece di caratura museale!"
