From July 3 to 5, 2026, Ixelles transforms into an open-air stage with Nayad, a new free street arts festival. Circus, theater, and music take over the squares to kick off the summer in a lively and delightfully offbeat atmosphere.
An urban legend to kick off the summer
Nayad isn’t just another cultural event—it’s a story that winds its way through the streets of Ixelles. Conceived as a grand community celebration, the festival offers an artistic immersion accessible to all ages, where the city becomes a living stage. Behind this project led by the non-profit organization Merci Bonsoir, the idea is simple: to bring the performing arts closer to residents and transform public spaces into venues for free and festive expression.
Ixelles as an open stage, from Flagey to the Ponds
For three days, the festival unfolds between Place Flagey, the Étangs d’Ixelles, Place Fernand Cocq, and Place Sainte-Croix. Fourteen free performances by twelve companies are on offer. They will combine circus and street theater during the day, followed by marching bands and music in the evening. At Sainte-Croix, renamed “Port de Nayad,” there is even a carousel, a bar, and food trucks, serving as a festive hub in the heart of the city.
Between free shows and more socially conscious productions
While most of the program is free, two ticketed shows help support the festival’s balance. Oyez, by the Voilà ce qu’on va faire collective, plays with humor and chaos around an official announcement that goes off the rails. For its part, Nour, by Cie La Désarmante, explores a future beyond 2050 blending circus, dance, and theater. Two very different yet complementary offerings that extend the spirit of the festival. A vibrant, accessible culture that is also committed to contemporary creation. Nayad thus aims to bea poetic gateway to summer, where people come as much to lose themselves in the city as to rediscover it in a new light.
📆 Dates: July 3–5, 2026
