ARTONOV Festival 2026 brings Belgium and Japan together in Brussels

ARTONOV Festival returns to Brussels from 4 to 23 October 2026 with a programme shaped by the 160th anniversary of cultural and diplomatic relations between Belgium and Japan. The 12th edition brings music, dance, theatre, fashion and visual art into unusual spaces across the Belgian capital, with a strong focus on dialogue between Japanese and Belgian artistic traditions.

For international residents in Brussels, ARTONOV is a useful way to experience the city beyond the standard museum and concert circuit. The programme mixes contemporary performance with architecture, heritage and Japanese cultural references, while many events take place in venues that are worth discovering in their own right.

When and where is ARTONOV Festival 2026?

The City of Brussels confirms that ARTONOV runs from Sunday 4 October to Friday 23 October 2026 at various locations across Brussels.

The festival is inspired by the international Art Nouveau movement and is designed to bring different artistic disciplines together. Its 2026 title, We Do Not Work Alone, comes from Japanese ceramic artist Kanjirō Kawai, a major figure in the mingei folk-craft movement.

The theme is particularly relevant this year because Belgium and Japan are celebrating 160 years of cultural and diplomatic relations. Visit Brussels says the festival invites artists from both countries to explore links between heritage, ritual, collective memory and contemporary creation.

What is happening at the ARTONOV Lab?

One of the main festival hubs is the former Centrale for Contemporary Art building at Place Sainte-Catherine 45, 1000 Brussels.

The City of Brussels says the ARTONOV Lab will host The Gods of the House, an exhibition bringing together Buddhist sculpture and boro textiles from rural Japan, alongside around ten evenings of music, dance and performance.

This makes the Lab a particularly good starting point for newcomers who want to experience the Japan-Belgium theme without trying to navigate the entire festival programme.

A music highlight: Erwan Keravec at UR Square

On Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 October at 8pm, Breton musician and composer Erwan Keravec performs at UR Square, Avenue de la Couronne 227 in Ixelles.

The 60-minute performance, 8 Sonneurs pour Philip Glass & The Life Cycle of a Plastic Tube, pushes the Scottish bagpipe into contemporary and experimental music. UR Square lists tickets at €15 and €20.

This is a strong choice for listeners interested in contemporary music and unusual instruments rather than a conventional classical concert.

A Japanese performance highlight: Asura

On Saturday 10 October at 7pm, the ARTONOV Lab hosts Asura, a dance-and-music performance inspired by the 1,300-year-old Asura figure preserved at Kōfuku-ji temple in Japan.

Visit Brussels describes the work as a collaboration involving Japanese butoh dancer Muku Naomi and percussionist Steve Eto. The performance combines dance, live percussion and Japanese spiritual imagery in a contemporary work centred on peace and conflict.

Why ARTONOV is worth considering for international residents

Brussels has a large international population, but some of its most interesting cultural events can be easy to miss if you rely only on the major concert halls and tourist attractions. ARTONOV is different because it links international artists with Brussels architecture, smaller venues and cross-cultural themes.

The 2026 Belgium-Japan focus also gives the festival a clear identity. It is not simply a collection of unrelated performances. The programme is built around how traditions are passed on, adapted and shared between cultures.

If you are new to Belgium, you may also find our guide to living in Belgium useful, along with Babylon’s Belgium cultural events and festivals guide.

ARTONOV Festival 2026: practical details

• Dates: 4-23 October 2026
• Location: various venues across Brussels
• Main hub: ARTONOV Lab, Place Sainte-Catherine 45, 1000 Brussels
• Programme: music, dance, theatre, fashion, visual art and interdisciplinary performance
• 2026 theme: Belgium-Japan cultural dialogue marking 160 years of relations
• Tickets: prices vary by event; check the official programme before booking
• Official information: Festival ARTONOV, City of Brussels and Visit Brussels

Information last verified: 24 September 2026. Event details can change, so check the official festival or venue page before travelling.

Featured image: Brussels architectural detail, used illustratively for the festival’s city and architecture context. Photo via Unsplash.