It’s the second time that Spain is featuring its country’s cultural heritage, traditions, but also innovations in Belgium, not only in Brussels, but all over the country, even in the neighboring countries with Belgium from the 8th of November 2025 until the 1st of February 2026! The first time it was in 1985 that Spain was invited to be the guest country of EUROPALIA, now it’s is again in the spotlights with 100 events, 170 artists in 80 locations!
We can enjoy exhibitions and installations, music and flamenco dances films and literature, special program for the next generations to the heritage ones! What not to like? But don’t expect a stereotypical one! There are many moments around Goya: from “Luz y somber” to films and performances!
Kings and queens of Spain and Belgium © photo Yelena van Kharitonova
Both curators of this edition of Europalia: Marta Ramos-Yzquierdo and Sam Steverlynck are convinced that the making of their politically resonant new Europalia shows how art confronts history! And that the power of it is to illuminate, resist and remember! There is a lot of all in the programming: from a swimming pool performance in Antwerpen to conversations with Alberto Cortes, who is a known occupation stage director, dramaturgist and performer! The both Royal families opened it!
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes – The sleep of reason produces monsters (No. 43), from Los Caprichos © EUROPALIA SPAIN
In each EUROPALIA Biennial, audiences are invited to explore exchange through art! And in recent years the festival has moved beyond traditional venues in order to activate public spaces, to use nature and collective rituals! With this topic of rituals EUROPALIA ESPANA turns its attention to the thema of one of the most challenging and intimate universal human experiences: death! There is a special program in the program for the next generation and youth, rightly so!
Ballet Nacional de España – Afanador © Merche Burgos
After more than half a century of EUROPALIA’s and the role of cultural diplomacy, which the festival is playing, it’s reach archives will be open to the public! This treasure of the 55 years of cultural history and a legacy at the same time for all! It will be on display via online sources, but also at the State Archive and the Royal Library of Belgium! Let’s use this opportunity and have a back to the future retrospective!
EUROPALIA SPAIN : discover the program
Oostend, Ensor’s only city of love!
