All 30,000 free tickets for Kanal‘s inaugural exhibitions have been claimed within just 24 hours, ahead of the new Brussels art institution’s opening weekend on 28 and 29 November 2026.
Kanal opened its ticket booking on Tuesday morning, offering visitors the chance to reserve free time slots for its ten opening exhibitions. By Wednesday morning, all available tickets had been booked.
The sell-out comes ahead of the long-awaited opening of Kanal, which will transform the former Citroën garage on Brussels’ canal into a major new cultural venue.
Those without an exhibition ticket will still be able to experience the opening weekend. Kanal will be open to everyone without reservations throughout the 36-hour event, with a continuous programme of live performances, opening rituals, concerts, DJ sets, films, installations and workshops for children and families.
The venue’s restaurants, rooftop bar and bakery will also be open during the weekend. The complete programme is due to be announced at the beginning of October.
Visitors planning further ahead can already buy tickets for live performances and films taking place during Kanal’s first season. Regular tickets for the exhibitions are also going on sale this week.
Kanal director Yves Goldstein said the response had exceeded his expectations. “Wow!! For the past 10 years, I’ve always been convinced that the people of Brussels would turn out to discover Kanal. In just 24 hours, 30 000 tickets were booked to visit our 10 inaugural exhibitions during the opening weekend on 28 and 29 November. That’s simply incredible,” he said.
Goldstein thanked visitors for their trust and stressed that the sell-out of the exhibition tickets would not prevent people from joining the wider opening celebrations.
“And of course, Kanal will also be open to everyone who hasn’t booked a visit to the exhibitions, for 36 hours straight, non-stop. A major moment for Brussels!” he added.
