EUROPALIA ESPAÑA: A JOINT REFLECTION ON OUR SHARED FUTURE

— Brussels, May 20, 2025 

EUROPALIA officially announced its 30th edition: EUROPALIA ESPAÑA. ​ With Francisco de Goya as its pivotal figure, this festival highlights the cultural richness of Spain through visual arts, architecture, theatre, dance, music, performance, film, and literature, featuring both renowned names and ​ emerging figures alike. Exactly forty years after a first edition in 1985, EUROPALIA ESPAÑA will unfold all over Belgium a multidisciplinary programme, from October 8, 2025, to February 1, 2026, uniting heritage and contemporary art forms and providing fascinating perspectives on themes that connect and challenge us all.

The programme was announced today by Dirk Vermaelen, artistic director, and Beatriz Navas, cinema coordinator during a press conference at the Egmont Palace in Brussels, with the special attendance of Mr. Maxime Prévot, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation, and Mr. José Manuel Albares Bueno, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain. The ​ press conference was also attended by Philippe Vlerick (Chairman of EUROPALIA), Max Jadot (General Commissioner of EUROPALIA ESPAÑA), Antón Leis (Director of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation – AECID), Christian Salez (General Director of EUROPALIA) and Santiago Herrero Amigo (Director of Cultural and Scientific Relations at the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation - AECID).

More information on the artistic programme in the press kit below:

Main exhibition: Luz y Sombra. Goya and Spanish Realism at Bozar, Brussels.

The festival will kick off with the main exhibition "Luz y Sombra. Goya and Spanish Realism" at Bozar, Brussels (October 8, 2025, to January 11, 2026). Although not a monography, this exhibition is anchored in the work of one of the grandmasters of Spanish art, Francisco de Goya (1746–1828). He is known for his impressive portraits and colourful folk scenes and at the same time, his oeuvre is characterized by modernity incorporaring ​ socially critical imagery, including indictments against war and the general abuses of his time. Goya and the ‘Goyaesque’ become established in the Western imaginary since the 19th century ​ The exhibition explores ​ the impact of his work on the conception of Spanishness, as well as the universal interpretation of his legacy.

The exhibition thus brings together Goya's paintings, drawings, and engravings with works by his contemporaries and by artists of following generations (José Gutiérrez Solana, Pablo Picasso, Antonio Saura amongst others). In addition, new multidisciplinary creations, such as those by visual artist Asunción Molinos Gordo, sound artist Francisco Lopez, by film maker Albert Serra and by contemporary Spanish and Belgian writers, help to demonstrate the relevance of Goya's oeuvre today. 

Three themes: Caprichos, Disparates and Desastres de la Guerra

Goya lived in a time of crisis - perhaps a time similar to our own. He captured the present, reflecting his time, and created a mirror in which we continue to see ourselves, even if our times are different. Caprichos, Disparates and Desastres de la Guerra [Quirks, Madnesses, Disasters of War] are titles to three engravings series and three terms that imbue Goya's critical and visionary spirit, all of which have inspired the EUROPALIA ESPAÑA programme as a whole and allowed it to connect the past with the present, and the local with the global.

How would Goya's Caprichos, Desastres de la Guerra, or Disparates manifest today? What are our caprichos, our disasters, our absurdities? Here, the ‘our’ seeks to transcend identity, just as Goya did, in order to speak to the broadest possible community. This results in underlying themes that are certainly alive today in Spain, but which, from a broader perspective, concern us all: (Re)presentation; Connectedness, Democracy and Water.

In total, more than 170 artists and over 80 artistic institutions across Belgium are presenting more than 100 events, offering a rich variety of geographical and thematic focuses. From Brussels, Antwerp, Charleroi, and Ghent to smaller or unexpected locations such as the Wezenberg swimming pool in Antwerp — where Dragon, Rest Your Head on the Seabed will be staged — and cemeteries in Leuven and Ostend — home to Rituales — EUROPALIA-ESPAÑA embraces both conventional and unconventional venues.

Artistic highlights span cutting-edge performances by Candela Capitán and a curated selection of contemporary flamenco artists by Pedro G. Romero (e.g. Flamenco at Bozar), as well as large-scale productions such as Afanador and 1936. Equally featured are more intimate and distinctive projects like those from the t e r r i t o r i o festival.

Participating artists hail from all across Spain representing a plurality of regions, generations and perspectives. Many will engage in creative dialogue with artists from Belgium and beyond. These include Suso Saiz collaborating with Echo Collective, the performers of Chapters of Celebrations by Benjamin Abel Meirhaeghe, Wouter Deltour, and B’Rock Orchestra (co-produced with DE SINGEL), as well as the four Spanish dancers and musicians in Pick Up Club (co-produced with Charleroi Danse), who will meet and perform with four Belgium-based counterparts in a unique “blind date” format.

With this programme and broad network of partners, EUROPALIA ESPAÑA aspires to summon Belgian, Spanish and European citizens to take an active part in a joint reflection on our shared future.

QUOTES

Maral Kekejian & Dirk Vermaelen, artistic directors of EUROPALIA ESPAÑA:

“EUROPALIA ESPAÑA represents a unique opportunity to engage deeply with the cultural and artistic heritage of Spain while reflecting on contemporary, global issues through the lens of Goya's work. By intertwining historical narratives with contemporary artistic expressions, the festival invites audiences to explore the complexities of identity, community, and democracy in Spain and beyond. We look forward to the connections and dialogues that will emerge, enriching our understanding of the past while inspiring future generations to continue the conversation."

Maxime Prévot, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation

“Belgium and Spain have woven together centuries of shared history. That legacy lives on today, not only in our strong bilateral relations but also in the deep cultural connections that unite our people.
​EUROPALIA ESPAÑA is more than a festival. It is a way to strengthen our mutual understanding, to celebrate what makes us unique, and to reconnect with the European values we share: freedom, creativity and respect for human dignity.
​At a time when the world feels increasingly divided, culture reminds us of what binds us. It shapes communities, empowers cities, and offers hope. Through the power of art, we reflect not just on the past, but on the kind of Europe we want to build together.”

José Manuel Albares Bueno, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain.

"Europalia España represents a unique opportunity since Culture has this double fold: it is an exceptional instrument for challenging ideas, perceptions and concepts , but Culture it is also what defines us as a people and connect us with our heritage and traditions".

Philippe Vlerick (Chairman of EUROPALIA), Max Jadot (General Commissioner of EUROPALIA ESPAÑA), Christian Salez (General Director of EUROPALIA) and Santiago Herrero Amigo (Director of Cultural and Scientific Relations at the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation - AECID) all emphasize that in an increasingly fragmented geopolitical landscape, cultural diplomacy becomes essential: 

“EUROPALIA stands as a testament to the belief that cultural exchange can succeed where traditional diplomacy sometimes falters. Through shared artistic experiences, the festival creates spaces for empathy and understanding that transcend political barriers. As we mark the 40th anniversary since Spain was first featured at EUROPALIA, we see both continuity and transformation in Spanish culture, celebrating not only Spain's rich artistic heritage but its dynamic contemporary creative scene—a vibrant cultural force that continues to inspire and challenge us,"

About the Spanish partners

The programme is co-organized with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, through AECID, with the main collaboration of AC/E and the support of the Cervantes Institute, the Ministry of Culture and the Commissioner for the celebration of 50 years of Spain in freedom

About EUROPALIA

Founded in 1969, EUROPALIA is an international arts festival held every two years in Belgium, focusing on a different country or theme each edition. The festival presents a multidisciplinary programme spanning visual arts, performing arts, music, film, and literature, creating meaningful cultural exchanges between Belgium and featured countries.