MashaaDunya Festival Brussels 2026: dates, venues and what to expect
by Admin
by AdminBabylon Radio
Listen nowMashaaDunya Festival runs in Brussels from Thursday 8 October to Saturday 28 November 2026. The multidisciplinary programme brings together Moroccan, Turkish, Congolese and Belgian cultures through art, music, film and collective creation. Events take place at several Brussels venues, including GC De Markten and Espace Magh.
For international residents, this is one of the more interesting autumn festivals in Brussels because the focus is not simply on presenting different cultures side by side. The programme is built around migration, diaspora, shared memory and cultural exchange.
MashaaDunya Festival 2026 at a glance
The City of Brussels confirms the overall festival dates, venues and multicultural focus. De Markten’s current activity programme lists the MashaaDunya exhibition from 9 to 31 October as free. Espace Magh’s ticket shop lists a separate MashaaDunya event for 28 November at 19:00.
What is MashaaDunya?
MashaaDunya is a Brussels festival about the cultural connections created by migration and diaspora. The City of Brussels describes it as a space for encounter between Moroccan, Turkish, Congolese and Belgian cultures, using visual art, music, film and collective work.
That makes it particularly relevant for people who have moved to Brussels from abroad. Rather than treating multiculturalism as a theme for a single evening, the festival explores how communities influence each other and how personal and family histories shape the city.
Where does the festival take place?
The festival uses several venues across Brussels. Two confirmed anchors are:
- GC De Markten, Oude Graanmarkt 5, 1000 Brussels. The venue is close to Sainte-Catherine/Sint-Katelijne and is served by metro lines 1 and 5.
- Espace Magh, Rue du Poinçon 17, 1000 Brussels. This central cultural venue hosts theatre, concerts, talks, exhibitions and other multidisciplinary work.
Because MashaaDunya runs for almost two months, do not assume every activity is at the same venue or uses the same booking system.
Which MashaaDunya events are free?
There is no single festival-wide ticket price. The clearest free option currently published is the MashaaDunya exhibition at De Markten from 9 to 31 October 2026, which De Markten lists as free.
Other parts of the programme may require a ticket or advance booking. Espace Magh’s current ticket shop lists a MashaaDunya event on Saturday 28 November at 19:00. Check the live ticket page for the current price and availability before booking, as the public programme does not publish one universal price for the full festival.
Why is MashaaDunya worth considering for international residents?
For newcomers and long-term expats, MashaaDunya offers something different from a standard sightseeing event. It is designed around the kind of cultural mixing that already defines everyday life in Brussels.
It should appeal most to people interested in diaspora stories, contemporary art, international music, social history and community-led cultural work. It may also be a useful way to discover two Brussels cultural venues that regularly programme multilingual and internationally focused events.
How should you plan a visit?
- Choose the event first. MashaaDunya is a multi-week festival, not a single-site weekend event.
- Check whether booking is required. Some activities are free, while others are ticketed.
- Confirm the venue. De Markten and Espace Magh are both central, but they are separate locations.
- Recheck the programme on the day. Individual timings, capacity and ticket availability can change.
- Allow time to explore the area. Both principal venues are within central Brussels and easy to combine with other city-centre activities.
Official information and booking
Use the official or venue sources for final details:
More multicultural events in Brussels
If you are looking for more international culture in the city, see Babylon’s guides to the Brussels Diwali Festival 2026, Nyege Nyege MIRROR WORLD Brussels and the broader Belgium cultural events and festivals guide.
Last verified: 23 September 2026. Featured image is an illustrative festival crowd photographed in Belgium, not a photograph of MashaaDunya itself. Photo: Simon Boxus / Unsplash.