Bright Brussels Festival returns 12–15 February 2026 with new route and food concept

 

Bright Brussels Festival returns from 12 to 15 February 2026, bringing light art back to the Belgian capital at the height of winter. For its tenth edition, the event will combine a new light route through central Brussels with a dedicated culinary programme under the name Bright Brussels Food, as well as activities for families through Bright Brussels Kids.

The 2026 edition will once again centre on a night-time itinerary through the historic heart of the city, with nearly twenty original art installations from Belgium and abroad. Some of Brussels‘ most iconic locations will be part of the illuminated route. Brussels Park and Mont des Arts will host major light works, while Place Royale – recently renovated by Beliris – will be highlighted. The MIM and neighbouring buildings will benefit from new lighting designed by Beliris, and the facade of La Monnaie opera house will be used for projection mapping that reflects its musical universe.

A key innovation for 2026 is Bright Brussels Food. Alongside the light installations, the festival will include a local farmers’ market showcasing Brussels’ produce. A dedicated village will bring together a number of Brussels chefs, including specialists in shrimp croquettes. Visitors will be able to pause their walk to taste this speciality and other local dishes, integrating food experience into the wider urban route.

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Bright Brussels Kids will again provide activities designed specifically for children. Programming will be adapted to younger visitors so that families can participate in the festival with content suited to different age groups.

In addition to light installations and food, the programme will include museum activities and guided tours. Residents and visitors will be able to discover the streets of the capital by night through a combination of illuminations and cultural content.

The event is organised by visit.brussels in the heart of the city on behalf of the Brussels-Capital Region and the Brussels Public Service for Mobility and Public Works. For travel trade professionals, the festival offers additional content for winter city-break packaging, evening itineraries and family-focused programming in Brussels in mid-February, with clear anchor points in the Royal Quarter and the historic centre.