The opening night of the Gentse Feesten attracted 170,000 visitors on Friday, which is 10,000 fewer than last year, according to Festival Mayor Joris Vandenbroucke.
Vandenbroucke reported a smooth and pleasant start, noting that the evening gained momentum gradually. By comparison, the first night in 2024 drew 180,000 attendees.
The inaugural act, organised for the first time by the square coordinators, filled the Korenmarkt with performances by Isabelle A, Coco Jr., Lisa De Dapper, and Helmut Lotti, accompanied by the Brass Party’s wind musicians.
Other squares also saw high attendance. Goldie’s performance packed the Kouter, while Polé Polé reached full capacity, resulting in night access being closed. The Oude Beestenmarkt, catering to youngsters until tomorrow, started strongly. Friday featured hip-hop, Saturday will see R&B and Afrobeat with an all-female line-up, alongside an "extreme skate jam." Vandenbroucke highlighted the availability of free earplugs and praised the square as an example of how innovation can lead to improvement.
Despite a less promising weather forecast for the coming days, acting Mayor Hafsa El-Bazioui remains optimistic. “We are closely monitoring the situation and have detailed plans for various city areas, but we can reassure everyone for now,” she stated.
