A programme of more than 25 Irish focused cultural events throughout Belgium will mark Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Cultúr 2026: Sharing Ireland’s Culture, an extensive programme of Irish focused cultural events in Belgium, and across Ireland and Europe, has been announced to mark Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which commences on July 1.
Three new commissions in Brussels will herald the programme in the heart of Europe.
They are an opening concert at Flagey, a site-specific installation by Irish artist Richard Malone at the Justus Lipsius building, and an exhibition of photographic works by Irish artist Conor Horgan, presented by Literature Ireland in the European Parliament building.
More than 25 Cultúr 2026 events will take place in locations throughout Belgium, from exhibitions and concerts to performances and screenings, across myriad artforms.
The full programme for Cultúr 2026: Sharing Ireland’s Culture can be found at irelandculture2026.eu with events being added as they are announced.
Réaltbhuíonta | Constellations is the opening concert and event and is an evening of contemporary traditional Irish music, song, spoken word and performance.
The programme features leading figures in contemporary Irish traditional music, including Aoife Ní Bhriain (fiddle), Cormac McCarthy (piano), Sam Comerford (saxophone), Macdara Ó Faoláin (bouzouki/mandola), and Cormac Begley (concertina), alongside internationally acclaimed artists such as Niwel Tsumbu (guitar) and Francesco Turrisi (accordion/percussion).
Their work spans a wide range of influences, from Congolese and Mediterranean traditions to jazz, early music, folk, and roots.
Rhythm and movement are central to the performances through the work of percussive Irish dancers Sibéal Davitt and Stephanie Keane, while spoken word artist Ciara Ní É brings language into the performance as another form of rhythm, texture, and expression.
A spokesman said, “It will be an unmissable night of contemporary traditional Irish song and story.”
Tickets for the July 7 concert at Flagey are priced €20 and are available now from flagey.be.
From July through December, visitors to Justus Lipsius and Europa Buildings will encounter Cuimhne agus Séadchomhartha (Memory and Monument), an ambitious site-specific installation by multi award winning Irish artist Richard Malone.
The artist has also curated a superb collection of contemporary Irish visual art, craft, and photography.
July to December also sees Brussel’s Parliament Building displaying Súil Amach | An Outward Eye, an exhibition that brings together 24 portraits of contemporary Irish writers, commissioned by Literature Ireland and photographed by award-winning Irish photographer Conor Horgan.
The portraits are accompanied by a library of Irish books by the writers in European translations, which can be borrowed and taken home to be read and enjoyed.
Running from September to November, the programme brings together established and emerging voices, the programme reflects a living culture shaped through experimentation, collaboration and exchange, while exploring themes of identity, migration, memory, technology and human connection.
On December 8, Flagey will host Irish Classical Gems and Brahms’ 4th by the Brussels Chamber Ensemble, the Irish Presidency Closing Concert, presented by the Embassy of Ireland in Belgium, and Ireland’s Permanent Representation to the EU.
The evening will celebrate Ireland’s rich musical tradition through a programme that brings together contemporary Irish composition, traditional influence, and European symphonic repertoire. At the centre of the evening is the world premiere of the winning entry from the Brussels Chamber Ensemble’s Sounds of Ireland Composition Competition, an initiative supporting emerging Irish compositional talent and inviting new interpretations of Irish musical identity and tradition.
Further music, literature, film, performance and community events across Belgium will be announced shortly at irelandculture2026.eu.
The spokesman said that Cultúr 2026 “celebrates the wealth of talent among Irish artists working today and aims to share this richness with audiences in Ireland and Europe.”
Featuring exhibitions, concerts, talks, performances and events that represent myriad artforms, the programme, comprising more than 400 projects, will unfold throughout Ireland and across all 27 EU member states and beyond, for the Irish Presidency.
Events will take place in each of the other EU 26 counties, encompassing a diverse array of family-friendly and community events, tours, screenings and workshops.
The spokesman told this site that Cultúr 2026 reflects a “living culture, one shaped through creativity, collaboration and exchange” and presents new exhibitions, concerts, talks and public programmes at Ireland’s National cultural institutions, as well as festivals throughout the country.
Photo credit: Cultúr 2026
