In Brussels, this former Citroën garage has been transformed into a museum—10 must-see exhibitions for the opening of the city’s new cultural giant.

Inspired bythe history of the canal, this monumental exhibition marks the beginning of the collaboration with the Centre Pompidou. With more than 350 major works, this journey offers a fascinating contrast between icons of modern art such as Picasso, Sonia Delaunay, and Matisse, and the promises of the contemporary Brussels and international scene. Organized in three movements, the exhibition explores the exile of populations, colonial legacies, and the constructivist movement. It is a cultural journey that highlights the perpetual transformation of art in today’s world.

At the Luna Parc site in Brussels, artist duo Deborah Bowmann and musician Maoupa Mazzocchetti have created an immersive experience that asks the question: can a museum entertain? Guided by an ironic narrator through five rooms, you will travel between reality and fiction, where art, light, sound, and performance come together. An exhibition that breaks the mold by paying tribute to the creative energy of Brussels’ cultural landscape.

Inaugurated in 1934, at the height of the colonial period, the Citroën garage, now transformed into Kanal, retraces history with an intense exhibition divided into two acts. The first part explores how the image of Mangbetu women was dismissed by the propaganda of the time. The second part gives a voice to artists from the African diaspora who are breaking free from established norms. It is a moving reflection on the weight of the past and creative resistance.

This militant architectural exhibition traces the tumultuous history between Brussels and modernization. Through exclusive archives and unpublished projects, Le droit à la ville (The Right to the City) allows architects and citizens alike to fight for a fairer city. The museum is transformed into a space for discussion, with the aim of imagining the future of our neighborhoods. An unmissable event for lovers of Brussels.

For its reopening, Brussels artist Joëlle Tuerlinckx takes you deep into the Kanal, right down to its foundations. Within this deep space, she has created a choreography of sounds and lights that plays with your senses. Between construction noises and aquatic melodies, you will discover an immersive and mysterious work that is totally connected to the history of this unique place.

Inspired by the surrealism of Marcel Broodthaers, this unusual experience brings together enigmatic objects from numerous Brussels museums. The concept? Discover the art of deception through the centuries through historical pieces (traps, nets, decoys) and contemporary works (optical illusions). A fun and mental activity aimed at uncovering false appearances and creating your own connections!

In Kanal’s showroom, Turkish artist Banu Cennetoğlu presents the 30 articles of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the form of bouquets of golden balloons. But the aim of this exhibition is to illustrate the vulnerability of these achievements over time. Over the course of the exhibition, the balloons deflate day by day, creating a gradual collapse of human rights. In the city where the European institutions are based, this work stands as a humanist warning.

Take a break fromthe excitement of Kanal’s reopening. Blindsight invites you to settle into a movie theater seat and close your eyes. Artist Manon de Boer plays with your senses by playing the voicesof inspiring artists, from Marguerite Duras to Beyoncé. A unique sensory experience that will immerse you in a state of deep meditation, a unique moment where your hearing will take control of this unprecedented experience.

Filipino artist Joshua Serafin delivers a moving work about his roots. Between his native country and Belgium, the video installation“Murmurs of Eternal Echoes”immerses you in a theoretical cosmology at the heart of a dialogue between ancestors and current generations. Between dance and the discovery of mysterious characters, the artist explores how migration defines our identity. A fascinating quest for belonging that resonates with the history of Brussels.

To end this cultural stopover on a high note, visual artist and performer Otobong Nkanga is transforming one of Kanal’s spaces into a collaborative weaving workshop. Between large looms and personal stories, you will immerse yourself in the unique world of this virtuoso, who has been awarded the highest distinctions. A living, collaborative work that replaces machines with people, a moment of sharing and collective creation.