The unmissable Bright Festival of Lights returns to round off the winter and illuminate our evenings. The programme includes three routes through several Brussels communes enhanced by more than twenty original art installations. This year, Schaerbeek is joining in the event. And that’s not all! Art Nouveau will also be in the literal and figurative spotlight. Lastly, several museums will offer a fringe programme, in addition to these four dazzling evenings.
Bright, the Brussels festival of lights, will illuminate the capital from 16 to 19 February 2023. The latest edition of this unmissable event will put several districts in the spotlight with three routes: Royal, European and Schaerbeek. The different routes will be punctuated by monumental, immersive and poetic works by national and international artists. Something to brighten up four beautiful winter evenings!
What’s new?
In addition to new, original installations, the festival will extend to the commune of Schaerbeek. Visitors from here and elsewhere can (re)discover their district in a whole new light. The Art Nouveau architectural heritage of Brussels will also be literally and figuratively in the spotlight.
A wide range of activities
Four evenings of exceptional programming await. Visitors of all ages will be spoilt for choice, with illuminated works of art, late-night museum visits and guided tours. A night-time discovery of the capital’s streets that promises a truly multisensory experience.
On the initiative of the Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region, Rudi Vervoort, and the Brussels Minister for Transport and Public Works, Elke Van den Brandt, visit.brussels is coordinating the installation of this event in the heart of the capital.
“I’m proud that Bright Festival – produced by visit.brussels – continues to grow in popularity each year and has become an unmissable event for tourism in our region. For ten days – instead of the usual four – the people of Brussels and visitors to our region will be able to explore various neighbourhoods of the capital and admire the works by local and international artists, most of which have never been seen before. I wish them all a wonderful journey through the streets of Brussels as they discover this new edition of the Bright festival,” affirmed Minister-President Rudi Vervoort.
“With the ongoing energy crisis, we all need moments to come together and enjoy ourselves. I would like to thank the Bright Festival for offering the people of Brussels the opportunity to dream again. I am also delighted that we have been able to work hand-in-hand with visit.brussels and the artists on sustainable technologies, enabling us to reduce the energy consumption of this magnificent festival.” added Brussels Minister for Transport and Public Works, Elke Van den Brandt.
“Schaerbeek has a long tradition of illuminated festivities, thanks to the Citizen Light Festival. It was, therefore, natural for it to join forces with the region’s Bright Festival initiative and promote Schaerbeek beyond its borders. The commune also has a rich Art Nouveau heritage. This event is an opportunity to showcase this heritage and I am sure it will leave the public with stars in their eyes,” concluded Cécile Jodogne, mayor of Schaerbeek.
Bright Festival has been an ecologically responsible event for several years now, thanks to a range of initiatives:
- The choice of artists who – for the most part – have an eco-responsible approach.
- The selection of projects which use lighting that is energy-efficient or produced by renewable sources.
- The festival is easily accessible by public transport and encourages the use of alternative mobility and walking to take in the routes.
Since 2021, the Bright Festival has been financing low-carbon projects to neutralise its emissions that could not be reduced (e.g., a hydropower project and a forest protection project).