Brussels Bright Festival Unveils Its Programme

From 13 to 16 February, Brussels will be dressed to the nines for the Bright Festival. The programmeinclude s two original routes through Brussels, featuring over twenty artistic installations.

Bright Festival, the capital's festival of lights, will be illuminating its streets from 13 to 16 February 2025. For this year's edition, the unmissable event will be shining the spotlight on a number of districts through two routes: the Royal route and the European route. These itineraries will be punctuated by monumental, immersive and poetic works created by national and international artists. It's a luminous interlude in the heart of winter.

Four exceptional evenings

The public will be spoilt for choice, with illuminated works, museum activities, guided tours and the everpopular Bright Market. This night-time stroll through the streets of the capital promises to be a truly multisensory experience. Visitors will also be treated to a range of original activities, including murals and a light parade.

Works and entertainment by neighbourhood

Here's a sneak preview of the works and installations that the public will discover at this year's show. Other installations will be added to the programme in the coming weeks.

The Royal Quarter

LIGNE AL-HAM-BRU

Collective: Fijne Charcuterie (BE)

Where: Parc/Park metro station & Luxembourg

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Ligne Al-Ham-Bru, a live performance set in a decor exploring every facet of seduction. Ligne Al-Ham-Bru is a socio-artistic and participatory project by the Fijne Charcuterie collective and students from the Information Design programme at LUCA School of Arts' Brussels campus. It was created in collaboration with residents and organisations in the Alhambra neighbourhood of Brussels. In its projects, Fijne Charcuterie always aims to establish a connection between neighbourhoods and their residents while playfully and artistically addressing the themes that animate these Brussels’ districts.

Special thanks to: Sarah Cavenaile, KVS, BNA/BBOT, Het Anker, Job Dignity, House of Compassion, and the City of Brussels – Stadsmakers.

KIOSQUE LUMINESCENT

Artist: Aglaé (FR)

Where: The Kiosk in Brussels Park

Inspired by the natural phenomenon of bioluminescence, Aglaé transcends the boundaries between art and science with an extraordinary innovation: luminescent plants made possible by a unique, biodegradable serum. At Brussels Park, the kiosk will serve as the canvas for an immersive work blending light, sound, and nature. Under black light, the luminescent plants become actors in a visual and auditory narrative that breathes new life into this historic site. A soundtrack, inspired by the whimsical universe and the musical past of the kiosk, accompanies this sensory experience.

CYMOPOLÉE

Artist: Luminariste (FR)

Where: The fountain in Brussels Park

The wind blows through Cinquantenaire Park. A tornado is about to ripple across its fountains… But are we ready to face the storm? This is the question posed by Cymopolée, named after the Greek goddess of storms. This installation showcases a climatic phenomenon which typically occurs far from Belgium… But scientific reports are warning us that tornadoes will soon become more frequent and more powerful. Cymopolée combines artisan craftsmanship with digital virtuosity. At nightfall, this monumental metallic structure comes alive with light, swaying to the winds that compose its ambient soundscape. When civic awareness meets poetry and emotion.

TRIPLE JET

Artist: Ricardo Morcillo (ES)

Where: Palais des Académies

Triple Jet offers an homage to Brussels’ world-famous symbol: Manneken Pis. He stands there peeing, explicitly, in plain sight, easily visible and recognisable from afar. The size of this installation and the choice of symbol is a reference to the authenticity and individuality of our city, which rejects the progressive globalisation and standardisation of design patterns which threaten to make the city banal. Light is not only illuminating, but it is also a mechanism for change for the environment, society and politics. So, take a selfie, let everybody know that you’re here, and give yourself a unique souvenir of this fantastic light festival!

HORIZONS ²

Artist: Ofer Smilansky, avec la collaboration d’Antoine Goldschmidt (BE)

Where: Esplanade du Congrès

HORIZONS² is a long strip of moving, vibrating, and radiating light that traverses the esplanade. The work enhances and reinforces the horizontal perception of the city’s panoramic view. It integrates with the space, elevating it through a play of light and sound featuring sharp contrasts and pronounced breaks. The audiovisual composition is inspired by the tumultuous history of this area, which separates the upper and lower city and has undergone a number of transformations and name changes.

BIG NATURE IS WATCHING YOUWhere: ResetExperience first-hand the creation of a mural produced in collaboration with ephemeral space and veritable cultural and social laboratory, Reset Atelier. This mural takes on a unique dimension under the blacklights, transforming into a luminous piece.

LE RÊVE AILÉ

Artist: Spectaculaires – Allumeurs d’Images (FR)

Where: Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula

For almost 20 years, a pair of peregrine falcons have been nesting at the top of one of the towers of the Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula in the heart of Brussels. This zoological anecdote has been illuminated and staged by Spectaculaires against the mineral backdrop of the Cathedral’s stunning architecturally rich facade. The result is a vibrant tribute to biodiversity! Spectaculaires has created a kind of animated Garden of Eden, inspired by French painter Alain Thomas and his biodiversity-themed murals. His work is wonderfully colourful and features winged creatures in lush landscapes. The 5-minute production travels through the seasons, starting in summer and ending in spring with the arrival of the peregrine falcons in their nests! A meticulous sublimation of the architecture celebrates both the monument and the birth of the chicks.

OASIS

Artist: Andrea Sztojánovits (HU)

Where: Liszt Intitute

In Andrea Sztojánovits’ work, the projection surface and the projected image are completely merged into one. The colours change back and forth and flow into each other on the surface, which appears convex from certain perspectives and concave from others: the mirage of an oasis emerging from the sandy desert is thus transformed into a vision of an island in an endless sea. The viewer’s gaze is bound to rest upon the subtle transformation of the optical illusion created by the slow, meditative waves of colour transitions.

URANOPATIA

Artist: Sárgany (Bence Barta & János Borsos) (HU)

Where: Liszt Institute

Sárgany, a music and art collective named after an ancient Hungarian word for uranium, created its latest work around an object made of uranium glass: a tuning fork used in a fictitious initiation ritual that exposes participants to concentrated radiation. The glass object is set in motion by the striking sound of solenoid motors, controlled by a Eurorack module powered by uranium ore. Using a Geiger-Müller counter, this module measures the intensity of the radiation emitted by the decomposition of the uranium ore and transforms these measurements into random signals. The vibrations generated by the glass object are then picked up by a microphone and transmitted to a resonance box. The uranium oxide contained in the glass gives the object an intense fluorescence under UV light.

RADIANT ROAR

Artist: Hélène Daval (BE)

Where: WOLF

This work, created by Hélène Daval, tells the story of the birth of the Wolf Food Market and how it ties in to the history of the rue Fossé aux Loups, where wolves used to come to drink in the marshes. The projection brings this story to life by combining graphics and light effects. It plunges spectators into a visual journey that links the site’s wild past with its vibrant atmosphere today! With this creation, Hélène celebrates the harmony between nature, heritage and modernity, while highlighting the unique energy of the Wolf Food Market.

DARE TO LOVE

Artist: Julien Bier

Where: Ateliers de la Monnaie

For 300 years, La Monnaie has been one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in Brussels and Europe. Internationally renowned for its operas, concerts, recitals and dance performances, La Monnaie was crowned as the year’s Best Opera House at the 2025 Oper! Awards. On your route through the Bright Brussels festival, enjoy the magic of opera and discover La Monnaie’s Workshops, located in the emblematic Vanderborght art deco building erected in 1935 by architects Léon Govaerts and Alexis Van Vaerenbergh. Get in the mood for Valentine’s Day thanks to the Dare to Love light installation on the rear façade of the Workshops. Take a look behind-the-scenes of opera creation on guided tours, visiting the costume, set and sculpture workshops.Complete your experience on February 14th with the Dare to Sing ❤ Dare to Love singing workshop, where you will learn opera arias by Bizet and Monteverdi.

KIDS ZONEIn addition to the new installations and the multitude of activities on offer over the four days, there will also be a Kids Zone for younger visitors. Located in Brussels Park, it will be open from Friday to Sunday from 17:30 for little ones accompanied by their parents. There, they’ll discover interactive installations designed just for them.

The European Quarter

FOR PEACE !

Artist: sedemminut (SK)

Where: Parc Léopold

The For Peace! installation is a tranquil walk that subtly transforms into a run – a race at the speed of light. The artwork’s slogan is “For peace, for freedom, for art!” Indeed, artist sedemminut expresses his relationship with art, freedom, and peace through the installation. The meaning of this work resonates deeply in these turbulent times, reminding us that peace and freedom are not guaranteed. They must be pursued continuously. In recent months, For Peace! has been featured at various festivals across Europe.

RESONANTIA LUX : BRIGHTNESS OF EUROPEAN LIGHT

Artist: Elektro Moon Vision Studio (PL) in collaboration with the Polish Institute Brussels

Where: The House of European History

This projection by Elektro Moon Vision studio highlights the vibrancy and resonance of European visual art heritage. Utilising the interplay of light, vivid 3D frames and echoes of historical and modern visual art, the piece transforms architecture into a living canvas. By harnessing the power of AI, the creators aim to expand the creative potential of digital technology, intertwining the past with the present. Organised by the Polish Institute Brussels to mark the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

BRIGHT  MARKET

Where: Cinquantenaire Park

Bright Market returns for its fourth edition. This evening market will be held in Cinquantenaire Park. Visitors will be able to have their lights repaired free of charge, or buy refurbished light fittings at discounted prices. Hundreds of vintage lamps will be on display and for sale every evening from 18:30. It’s the ideal place to find the vintage lamp of your dreams!

EVENT HORIZON

Artist: H3 in collaboration with the Romanian Cultural Institute in Brussels

Where: Cinquantenaire Park

Event Horizon is an interactive visual installation that explores the enigmatic nature of black holes and the philosophical questions they raise. Black holes distort space, bend light and twist the magnetic fields around them. They are known for their powerful gravitational attraction, capable of distorting and warping the spacetime that surrounds them. As objects approach, they experience increasing gravitational forces. Physically, black holes can lead to ‘spaghettification’ – a process whereby objects are stretched into long, thin filaments. This physical phenomenon is reflected in the design of the installation, where the visual representation of the black hole becomes increasingly distorted and incoherent as viewers approach it. Event Horizon invites observers to explore the interactive dimension of the installation, where the content changes and evolves in response to their presence.

FOLLOW THE LIGHT

Artists: Thiadmer van Galen, Jasper van Roden & Olav van Enkhuijzen (NL)

Where: Guinguette Maurice (Cinquantenaire Park)

Follow the Light is a kinetic light art installation resembling a giant metal marble track with an infinite loop. The luminescent spheres grab your attention and make you want to follow the light. The excitement rises as a sphere starts its way up on the four-metre-high lift. When it is finally released at the top, visitors are hypnotised by its journey through the dazzling installation. The different spheres together form a unique universe where the light continues to move infinitely, creating a visual mix of colours as they spin trough the track.

PASSIONS HUMAINES – produced with the support of the Loterie Nationale

Artists: Antoine Goldschmidt (BE)

Where: Pavilion of Human Passions

Human Passions invites you to view Jef Lambeaux’s masterpiece in a whole new light. The audiovisual creation, projected onto the work itself, plays with relief, texture, shadow and light. The figures intertwined in the Carrara marble appear to come to life, powerfully and poetically conveying the range of human passions.

MISE EN LUMIÈRE DE LA GALERIE DES DINOSAURES – produced with the support of the Loterie Nationale

Where: Institute of Natural Sciences

The Institute of Natural Sciences is joining forces with Bright Festival to help you rediscover Europe’s largest dinosaur gallery through an exceptional light show. Step back in time and discover dozens of specimens over an area of more than 3,000m². Among the collection – the only one of its kind in Europe – are the thirty or so Iguanodon skeletons discovered in Bernissart in the 19th century. These veritable jewels in the Institute's crown are displayed in a majestic glass cube stretching up three levels. Don’t miss this stunning display, which shines the spotlight on a veritable national treasure.