Horst Arts and Music Festival (Brussels, Belgium) 2026

About

From May 14–16, 2026, the Horst Arts and Music Festival will once again ignite Asiat Park near Brussels with a daring blend of sound, visual art, and architectural experimentation, expanding its reputation as one of Belgium’s most imaginative cultural gatherings. Building on its legacy of transforming former industrial grounds into a vibrant creative ecosystem, Horst will bring together boundary-pushing electronic music, large-scale installations, and community-driven activations across three immersive days that blur the lines between performance, public space, and participatory art. The festival’s dynamic programming reflects its commitment to collective creation, where artists, architects, and audiences all contribute to shaping an evolving cultural landscape that feels alive with possibility and invention.

Music at Horst is not presented as a series of isolated sets but as part of a larger cultural dialogue, where experimental sound intersects with contemporary practice. In recent editions, performances have spanned techno pioneers and genre-defying selectors like Four Tet, Erol Alkan, Helena Hauff, DJ Stingray 313, and Surgeon, alongside acclaimed party starters such as Palms Trax, The Bug, and Verraco, as well as deep underground presences from local talents and emerging voices. This blend of international heavyweights and rising innovators ensures that every stage, whether open-air or nestled among evolving architectural structures, resonates with vibrant energy and uncompromising musical vision.

What truly sets Horst apart is its seamless integration of music with large-scale visual and spatial storytelling. The festival’s site is actively shaped by experimental architectural collaborations and site-specific artworks that unfold throughout the weekend, turning warehouses, open courtyards, and reclaimed outdoor spaces into environments that heighten the senses and invite exploration. From bespoke performance spaces to interactive installations and evocative sculptural forms, each element contributes to an atmosphere that feels both festival and cultural laboratory at once.

Horst’s focus on queer-inclusive programming, diverse artistic voices, and open-ended creative engagement fosters a welcoming environment where seasoned festival-goers and curious newcomers alike can connect, dance, and reflect together. The festival’s progressive ethos extends to its production values, emphasizing intentional design over spectacle, and cultivating a sense of shared purpose that animates every corner of its expansive grounds.

By honoring its roots in electronic music while consistently expanding its cultural remit, Horst Arts and Music Festival 2026 promises a deeply immersive experience that celebrates the transformative power of collective creativity. It’s more than an event — it’s a vibrant cultural ecosystem where sound, space, and community coalesce into a singular weekend of inspiration and discovery.