Despite uncertain weather, the “Namur en Mai” funfair arts festival attracted approximately 250,000 people from Thursday to Saturday in the Walloon capital, according to organisers.
Over the three days, the festival featured 41 performances and 200 shows, offering both paid and free events, turning Namur into an open-air theatre. The diverse programme included acrobatics, music, juggling, dance, and puppetry, catering to all tastes.
Weather was a major concern, yet no severe storms hit Namur. “We were expecting hail and thunderstorms,” said festival director Samuel Chappel. “Fortunately, the sky was on our side, creating ideal conditions for our event. Some shows were relocated as a precaution.”
Chappel noted the attendance was around 250,000 over the three days, based on venue capacities and ticket sales, with more than 1,000 attending certain paid shows.
In its 28th year, the festival expanded to new venues like the School of Trades and Arts of the Province of Namur and the courtyard of the Institut Saint-Louis. Another highlight was a three-act cabaret blending magic, circus, and burlesque for audiences of all ages.
The organisation aimed to provoke thought as well as awe, with the theme “Stir Minds, Stir Carousel.” “We wanted to challenge as well as entertain,” Chappel said. “One show focused on forgotten women who influenced history, while others addressed coexistence, environmental issues, and gender questions.”
This edition also enhanced the festival’s international scope. A partnership with the Réverbère festival in Quebec, Namur’s twin city, brought a delegation to the event and featured Quebec’s Machine de Cirque performing for a Belgian audience, marking the start of further collaborations.
The Namur festival is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary on 14, 15, and 16 May 2026, contingent upon financial backing. Approximately €700,000 is required for the current festival setup. For 2025, organisers await additional funding from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation to match last year’s contribution of over €100,000. “Politically, there’s a desire to keep this venture alive. We’ll do everything possible to ensure the next 30 years are just as bright,” Chappel concluded.
