Europalia


EUROPALIA is a Brussels-based, international biennial arts festival that highlights the cultural heritage and art scene of one invited country. On multiple occasions, the festival has also dedicated editions to a theme rather than a country. EUROPALIA was established with the aim of bringing the arts and culture of European countries to the heart of Europe itself. Although, since 1989 – with Europalia Japan – non-european countries have also featured. The very first festival in 1969 was dedicated to Italy.
The name EUROPALIA is a combination of two words: "Europe" and "Opalia", an ancient Roman harvest festival held in mid-December in honour of Ops, earth-goddess and fertility deity. Her name lies at the root of the Latin word "Opus", that denotes a work of art.
For approximately four months, and in partnership with a wide network of cultural partners, EUROPALIA presents a series of artistic and socio-cultural projects that bring together visual arts, performing arts, film, music, literature and debate. In recent years, newly commissioned projects and artistic residencies have started occupying a central place in the multidisciplinary programme, which focuses on both the heritage and the contemporary art scene of the invited country.
The opening event takes place in the capital, but the programme also unfolds in other cities across Belgium, such as Liège and Antwerp, among others. Other European cities have also hosted europalia events.
The festival expenses are shared between Belgium and the invited country. EUROPALIA is financially supported by Belgium’s national, regional and community governments, among others.
The upcoming festival, starting in October 2025, will be EUROPALIA ESPAÑA.
WWW europalia.eu

History of festivals

Selection of notable events

1971 – Rembrandt and his Time at Bozar, Brussels 1973 – David Hockney at Bozar, Brussels 1980 – Bruegel, a Dynasty of Painters at Bozar, Brussels 2003 – Venus Unveiled at Bozar, Brussels – curator: Umberto Eco2009 – The State of Things at Bozar, Brussels – curators: Ai Wei Wei and Luc Tuymans2011 – Tropicália by Tom Zé & Quintet at VIERNULVIER, DE SINGEL and other venues 2017 – Power and Other Things at Bozar, Brussels 2019 – Brancusi. Sublimation of Form at Bozar, Brussels 2021 – La Ronde by Boris Charmatz/Terrain at Brussels North Station 2023 – Georgian Polyphony: Triple Bill Basiani Ensemble, Gori Women’s Choir & Georgian State Chamber Choir at Concertgebouw and other venues

General and Artistic Directors

1985 – 1993 Martine Baudin, General Director1993 – 1996 Paul Vandenbussche, General Director1996 – 2005 Luc Stainier, General Director2005 – 2017 Kristine De Mulder, General Director2014 – present Dirk Vermaelen, Artistic Director2017 – 2023 Koen Clement, General Director2023 – present Christian Salez, General Director