Brussels Photo Festival: The Ultimate 3-Day Guide to PhotoBrussels Festival 2026
With over 50 locations and dozens of exhibitions, the 10th anniversary of the PhotoBrussels Festival (Jan 22 – Feb 22, 2026) is a photography lover’s dream—and a logistical challenge, especially for chaotic artist like me. To help you navigate the "forest" of expos, I’ve curated three distinct routes.
Each route covers a specific neighborhood, allowing you to soak in the art at a relaxed pace.
10th Photo Festival Brussels
Day 1: The Artistic Pulse (Ixelles & Saint-Gilles)
This area is the beating heart of the festival. It’s dense with galleries and home to the festival headquarters. It’s always smart to start at the head office, so you get in contact with the organisers, get a nice map in your hands of the festival and get inspired.
Hangar Photo Art Center: Start at the festival hub. This year’s flagship exhibition, “The HOUSE” by Lee Shulman (The Anonymous Project), transforms the space into a 1950s home. Don’t miss the group show “Family Stories” featuring Belgian talent like Sanne De Wilde.
Contretype: Located in a stunning hidden courtyard (Cité de l'Hulst), this center is a Brussels institution. Look out for Philippe Braquenier’s thought-provoking work.
Tipi Bookshop: Finish your day in Saint-Gilles at this specialized photo-bookstore. It’s the perfect place to discover self-published gems and attend intimate artist talks.
Jill Hotel: Check out this unconventional "hotel-gallery" for fresh, experimental projects by emerging curators.
The Rivoli Building: Just a short walk away, this iconic building houses multiple galleries under one roof. Visit IN-DEPENDANCE & IBASHO Spazio Nobile, Modesti Perdriolle, and Irène Laub Gallery. Inside and around the Rivoli Building there is a concentration of great galleries you can all visit at once. (at least when there open, so plan this visit carefully). I’m curious about Schönfeld Gallery with work of Albert Pepermans, a graphic artist like me using photography in graphic work.
Day 2: The Urban Core (Brussels City Center)
This route takes you through the historic center, blending grand institutions with underground art spaces.
Centrale for Contemporary Art: Located near the Sainte-Catherine fish market, this massive space hosts the festival’s major institutional partner expo. It usually features large-scale installations that push the boundaries of the medium.
L'Enfant Sauvage: A dedicated photography space near the Royal Park. It’s known for its raw, authentic exhibitions and its commitment to the "craft" of the image. Go here every month! And buy books.
Studio Baxton: A must-visit for analog enthusiasts. Located near Place de la Vieille Halle aux Blés, they often showcase vintage techniques and wet-plate collodion works from their studio. They also sell books and cameras, and always have interesting work on show. This time Marat!
Centre Culturel Jacques Franck My favourite cultural center at Saint Gilles with an interesting group show running now.
Day 3: The Southern Treasures (Forest & Uccle)
Head south for some of the most prestigious photography foundations and cultural centers in the city.
Fondation A Stichting (Forest): This is perhaps the most important stop for serious photography fans. Located in a former shoe factory, this foundation hosts world-class solo exhibitions from international masters.
BRASS (Forest Cultural Center): Right next to the iconic Wielemans-Ceuppens brewery, BRASS often hosts community-driven or large-scale photography projects that reflect the city's diversity. The exhibited photographers here are friends of mine, some even member of our collective Co’lab.
Box Galerie: A refined gallery in the south of Ixelles/Uccle that specializes in high-end prints and established international photographers. I love Michael Ackerman’s work!
Tiny Gallery: As the name suggests, it’s a small, intimate space that often surprises with its bold curation and focus on the poetry of the everyday. Here you have to pay small fee but it’s interesting for those liking the history of photography.
Use the map
On the website of the festival you can use a map to plan your walks.
Practical Tips for Your Visit
Opening Hours: Most galleries are open Wednesday through Saturday (14:00–18:00). Major centers like Hangar and Centrale are usually open on Sundays, while smaller galleries are often closed.
The Map: Pick up a physical "Festival Map" at Hangar or any participating location to see all 52 spots.
Transport: The Day 1 and Day 2 routes are entirely walkable. For Day 3, use Tram 82 or 97 to easily hop between Forest and Uccle.
Enjoy your photographic journey through Brussels!
I will visit more locations and share my feedback here. If you have any comments and tips, just share them down here.
