The “ANTE Festival”?
Although often overshadowed by the international renown of Art Nouveau and Art Deco, 19th-century architecture nevertheless forms one of the cornerstones of Brussels’ current urban landscape. With the second edition of the ANTE Festival, the non-profit organisation Explore.Brussels invites the public to rediscover this ‘long 19th century’ (1780–1920), a period of profound transformation that saw the emergence of the neighbourhoods, buildings and urban forms that still define the capital today.
Over two weekends, on 3–4 and 10–11 October 2026, the ANTE Festival will offer an immersive journey into the heart of this vibrant period, from Neoclassicism to Eclecticism, via the major architectural and technical developments that heralded modernity.
Staying true to the formula that has made Explore.Brussels events so successful and renowned, the ANTE Festival will offer high-quality guided tours, led by specialists and heritage enthusiasts, providing an opportunity to explore interiors that are usually closed to the public. The programme will be complemented by architectural walks through several Brussels neighbourhoods, themed talks and activities designed for all ages.
Among the venues opening their doors exceptionally are the former palace of the Count of Flanders (Court of Auditors), the Masonic lodge Les Amis Philanthropes, the Hap House, the former headquarters of the CGER (Hôtel Fleur de Ville), the Hôtel Boël, the former palace of the Marquis Charles Vander Noot d’Assche and the Hôtel Lowenstein (Council of State), the former offices of Jules Waucquez & Cie (Brussels City Archives) and the Hôtel Spoelberch de Lovenjoul (Residence of the French Ambassador).
Through this second edition, Explore.Brussels aims to reveal another side to Brussels’ history: that of a formative century, marked by profound urban, social, architectural and technical changes, which paved the way for the emergence of the major movements of the 20th century. The ANTE Festival thus serves as a reminder that Brussels’ architectural richness is not limited to Art Nouveau, but has its roots in a period of experimentation and transformation that remains largely unknown.
The ANTE Festival will take place from 3 to 11 October 2026 across the Brussels-Capital Region, notably in Brussels City, Etterbeek, Forest, Ixelles, Laeken, Saint-Gilles, Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Schaerbeek, Uccle and Woluwé-Saint-Pierre.
Organisers
The ANTE Festival is organised by Explore.Brussels and its member associations: ARAU, Arkadia, Bruxelles Bavard and Pro Velo. This network of guided tour organisations is joining forces for the occasion with numerous partners active in the field of heritage in Brussels, Belgium and abroad, so that together they can showcase the capital’s architectural treasures in their entirety.
