Culture

Far from being set in stone, culture in Wallonia and Brussels is constantly evolving, driven by artists, creators and institutions who are spreading their expertise far beyond the region’s borders. From committed theatre to music festivals and the digital and visual arts, the local cultural scene is a veritable field of experimentation where tradition and innovation meet.

Throughout Wallonia-Brussels Week, the Belgian pavilion and other stages at Expo 2025 will be showcasing folk, musical, gastronomic and literary artists.

For over six centuries, the Namur Stilt Walkers have been thrilling the Walloon capital with a unique spectacle. A genuine tradition rooted in Namur’s history, these spectacular duels on stilts pit two legendary clans against each other: the ‘Avresses’ (yellow and black) and the ‘Mélans’ (red and white).

Each battle, in which agility and cunning take precedence over brute strength, is a veritable aerial ballet in which the stilt walkers attempt to topple their opponents while maintaining their balance. This discipline, which will be included on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2021, is much more than just entertainment: it is a source of pride for Namur, handed down from generation to generation.

Whether at traditional festivals, international events or demonstrations in Belgium and elsewhere, the Namurese Horse Hunters continue to amaze audiences and promote Namur’s cultural heritage with panache and conviviality. A show not to be missed!

You’ll find them every day on the forecourt of the Belgian pavilion around 11am and 2pm.

Toine Thys is a Belgian jazz saxophonist, bass clarinettist, composer and project leader. Born in Brussels into a family of musicians, he took up the clarinet at an early age, inspired by his brother Nicolas. After studying geography and travelling to South America, he devoted himself fully to music. He is a graduate of the Brussels and Dutch Conservatoires. A polyglot, he has performed all over the world, notably in Europe, Africa, Canada and Asia. A highly committed musician, he co-founded the Les Ventistes du Faso school in Burkina Faso, an initiative that has been extended to other African countries. He campaigns for musical diversity and artists’ rights. In May 2025, he toured Japan with his Orlando quartet to present the album Betterland, a committed and poetic work. This project combines jazz, electronica and reflections on a world of greater solidarity and education.

You can catch them

• 28/05 at 5 pm at the National Day Hall
  29/05 at 6 pm at Festival Station

Every four years, Dinant organizes an international classical saxophone competition, considered one of the most prestigious in the world. Created in 1994 by Alain Crepin, the competition is open to saxophonists from all over the world. The 9th edition will be held in 2027, with hundreds of candidates attempting to win the title of 1st Laureate, in what is nicknamed the “Queen Elizabeth” of the saxophone.

Masahiro Maeda, a renowned Japanese professor, is a member of the jury; he directs the Mi-bémol Ensemble and teaches at Osaka’s SOAI University.
Alain Crepin, the competition’s founder, is a Belgian conductor, composer and teacher renowned for his commitment to music and the saxophone.
Morgane Caspers, a young Belgian saxophonist from Bastogne, took part in the competition in 2023 and is already enjoying a promising career.
Simon Diricq, winner of the competition in 2010, is now a professor at the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles and a composer.

The concert by the Mi-bémol Ensemble, conducted by Alain Crepin, symbolises the musical friendship between Crepin and Maeda.
This event also illustrates the worldwide passion for this instrument created by the Walloon-born Adolphe Sax, born in Dinant in 1814.

You can hear them on 28/05 at 7.30pm at the National Day Hall.

Welcome to our Café Littéraire
An open, pop-up library at the Belgian Pavilion of Expo 2025 — with complimentary coffee, tea, and Belgian biscuits!

Are you a book lover visiting the Expo? Don’t miss the opportunity to explore a selection of contemporary Belgian literature in French.
Browse through novels, essays, comics, and children’s books — engage in open discussions, meet fellow readers, and enjoy informal literary mediation with the public.

Come share your passion for books and discover the finest Belgian Francophone authors, all while sipping a warm drink. It’s on the house!

Curated and hosted by Juliette Romero, Belgian bookseller and curator.
 julietteromero.net

Location: Belgian Pavilion – Event Center, 3rd Floor (in front of the restaurant)

Dates & Times:

Tuesday, May 27th

• Session 1: 18:30 – 18:50
• Session 2: 18:50 – 19:10
• Session 3: 19:10 – 19:30

Wednesday, May 28th

• Session 1: 18:00 – 18:20
• Session 2: 18:20 – 18:40
• Session 3: 18:40 – 19:00

Thursday, May 29th

• Session 1: 18:00 – 18:20
• Session 2: 18:20 – 18:40
• Session 3: 18:40 – 19:00

Reservation limit: Due to the limited number of seats, please reserve only one session. If multiple sessions are reserved, only the reservation for the first session will be kept. Thank you for your understanding.

The Belgium pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025 is the work of Louviers architect Cyril Rousseaux (Carré7). The project was selected by BelExpo from a large number of proposals submitted in response to a public call for tenders.

This is the third time in a row that a Walloon architect’s project has been chosen to represent Belgium at a World Expo. So do Walloon architects have the specific qualities of adaptability and projection to meet the challenges of our time and its climatic upheavals?

Christophe Dessouroux, aka Mister Emma, is a Belgian journalist and film-maker with a passion for architecture and urban planning. Known for his ARCHI URBAIN series and his CAVIAR.ARCHI platform, he sheds light on urban issues and the creators of our living environment. His new documentary, Beyond the pavilion, explores the work of four Walloon architects who have designed pavilions for World Fairs and International Expos.

• Patrick Genard: designer of the Belgian pavilion at Milan 2015.
• Vincent Callebaut: designer of the Green Arch at Dubai 2021, a specialist in futuristic and sustainable architecture.
• Cyril Rousseaux: designer of the Belgian pavilion for Osaka Expo 2025.
• Nicolas Godelet: selected for Floriade 2022 in the Netherlands.

Through interviews and immersive images, Mister Emma explores their visions, challenges and daily lives, revealing an innovative and committed Belgian architecture.

Discover this film at a private screening, followed by a debate with the director, in the event centre of the Belgian pavilion on 27/05 at 15:30 (free admission).