Around 200,000 people attended this year’s Bollekesfeest in central Antwerp, with 36 live bands and DJs performing across the Grote Markt and Groenplaats. The three-day festival also offered an extensive selection of food and drinks.
The event attracted large crowds throughout the weekend, with performances by Aaron Blommaert, Dean, Red Sebastian, Kate Ryan, Lady Linn, and many others.
The Bollekesfeest was one of several major events drawing visitors to Antwerp during a busy summer, following The Tall Ships Races, Antwerp Pride and the Rubensmarkt. As in previous years, the festival featured a varied programme aimed at a broad audience.
Friday’s programme opened with DJ DIMI during the summer aperitif, followed by performances from Dean, Red Sebastian, Dave Lambert, Ronny Retro, and Kate Ryan. The Groenplaats hosted The Love Below.
On Saturday, Aaron Blommaert headlined the Grote Markt, alongside Leez and Cookies and Cream. The Groenplaats featured The Jukebox Heroes and Lady Linn.
Sunday’s programme included the Happy Feet Kinderdisco, #LikeMe and Lasgo. MarieLou and Truephonic brought the festival to a close on the Groenplaats, while De Romeo’s performed the final set on the Grote Markt.
‘A real people’s festival’
Antwerp Mayor Els van Doesburg (N-VA) said the Bollekesfeest had become one of the highlights of the city’s summer.
“Antwerp has already had a fantastic summer, and the Bollekesfeest is a highlight: a real people’s festival, right in the heart of our city. While the Bollekes flowed freely, it was three days of atmosphere and conviviality. Brabo and Rubens saw that it was good. As every year, we will only bring the summer to a close with Klassiek aan de Schelde. Against the most beautiful backdrop in the world, among the reeds, you can enjoy Strauss, Verdi, and Vivaldi.”
According to the city, about 200,000 people attended the festival over the three days. A total of 575 kegs of Bolleke beer were tapped, while the 36 bands and DJs provided 2,965 minutes of live music.
Around 1,000 people worked at the event to ensure it ran smoothly, while more than 750 metres of banners will be reused for the next edition.
Antwerp’s summer continues
The Bollekesfeest may be over, but Antwerp’s event-filled summer continues in the coming weeks. Upcoming events include Ekeren Zingt on 28 August and Klassiek aan de Schelde on 29 and 30 August.
The Bevrijdingsdagen will take place from 4 to 6 September, including the Bal van de Bevrijding on 4 September. Other events include Chaos in the City with Amelie Lens on 5 September, the Flanders Darts Trophy and FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup from 11 to 13 September, Car-Free Sunday on 20 September, Students on Stage on 21 September and the Reuzenstoet in Borgerhout on 26 September.
Art and museums in Antwerp
- PHOTOS | Behind The Scenes tour of the Antwerp opera house.
- Medieval Antwerp comes to life with archaeological exhibition at Het Steen.
- ANTWERP | ‘Antony Gormley. Geestgrond’ opens at KMSKA as the most comprehensive solo exhibition of the artist in Europe.
- Opera Ballet Vlaanderen unveils ‘À la flamande’ 2026–2027 season.
- ANTWERP | What if colours could sing? Masterpieces by Ensor, Wouters and Schmalzigaugnsor, Wouters and Schmalzigaug’, from 11 April to 30 August 2026.
- RED STAR LINE MUSEUM | ‘Drifting Belgians’, the incredible journey of the ghost walkers, until 30 August 2026.
- ANTWERP | ‘Martial Arts’: MAS exhibition explores the rich world of combat sports and martial traditions.
- REVIEW | ‘The Antwerp Six’ exhibition at the Antwerp fashion museum MoMu.
- ANTWERP | Museum Plantin-Moretus’ ‘Plantin’s Plants’ exhibition until 2 August 2026.
- FOMU 2026 | Carrie Mae Weems, Diane Severin Nguyen, Families, and Tenderly There by Tashattot.
- ANTWERP | M HKA opens new season with exhibition on censorship and artistic resistance.
- ANTWERP | Climb the Cathedral of Our Lady tower.
- ANTWERP | Rubens House appoints two design teams.
- Antwerp’s municipal museums surpass 2 million visitors in 2025.
- ANTWERP | KMSKA schedules ambitious exhibition programme for 2026, featuring international masters such as Antony Gormley, Philip Aguirre y Otegui and Ossip Zadkine.
- Museums of the City of Antwerp look ahead to 2026.
- REVIEW | ‘La ligne de vie’ René Magritte exhibition at Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA).
- 2028 to be Music Year in Antwerp.
- ANTWERP | Museum Mayer van den Bergh opens exhibition ‘Public Favourites’, from Mad Meg to Delft Blue, look at art through other people’s eyes.
- ANTWERP | Graphics Museum De Reede ft. Francisco Goya, Edvard Munch, Félicien Rops and Albrecht Dürer.
- ANTWERP | Rubens Experience and Rubens Garden at Rubenshuis.
- ANTWERP | Innovations in the Middelheim Museum provide a completely new visitor experience.
- A visit of the Flemish Tram and Bus Museum – Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum (VlaTAM) in Antwerp.
- ANTWERP | Discovering queer(ed) art with the Queer Tour at the KMSKA fine arts museum.
- REVIEW | Illusion Antwerpen, an active and photogenic museum.
- Antwerp museums and sports facilities team up with European Disability Card for accessible leisure activities.
- Museum Mayer van den Bergh.
- ANTWERP | Inside Rubens House.
- Museum Plantin-Moretus in Antwerp.
- ANTWERP | Museum Vleeshuis up for restoration.
- BOOK | ‘Antwerp. An Archaeological View on the Origin of the City’ by Tim Bellens.
- Red Star Line Museum.
- Paleis op de Meir.
- DIVA, Antwerp Home of Diamonds.
- ANTWERP | Red Star Line Museum of (e)migration.
