If you thought nothing happens in Brussels in August, think again! One of the highlights of the cultural calendar is returning to the cobblestones of the Belgian capital today, 13 August – and it is not one to be missed.
Dozens of volunteers are currently busily preparing the 2026 Flower Carpet, the beautiful biennial floral artwork which spans Brussels' Grand Place and draws visitors from across the globe.
Preparations began at 05:00 on Thursday morning, when the first teams of volunteers arrived on the city's central square, organisers said on social media.
Covering 1,680 m², it will once again be the world's largest flower carpet, featuring over 700,000 flowers, all grown in Belgium and near the Dutch border. The ephemeral artwork will remain on the square for just four days.
Belgium making waves
This year, the floral display is inspired by the iconic Japanese painting, 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa' by Katsushika Hokusai, created sometime between 1830 and 1832. The collaboration marks the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations and friendship between Japan and Belgium.
Japanese artist and lecturer at Kyoto University of the Arts, Hiro Sugiyama, has reimagined the painting for this edition of the Flower Carpet, putting his own unique spin on it and giving it a contemporary edge with striking colours.
The 2026 Flower Carpet design by Hiro Sugiyama. Credit: Jeroen Willems
"Through this synthesis, I seek to connect the past and the future, the analogue and the digital, Japanese culture and contemporary art," Sugiyama stated in a press release.
"In this pivotal year marking 160 years of friendship between Belgium and Japan, I am delighted to bring this work to life in the form of a Flower Carpet."
The decision to make Japan this year's guest of honour comes ten years on from the two countries' first collaboration in 2016.
"A love of flowers is a universal language. In Japan, as in Belgium, flowers hold a special place, deeply rooted in our cultural and social lives," said Takeshi Osuga, the Japanese Ambassador to Belgium.
The finishing touches are put to the 50th edition of the Flower Carpet in 2022. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
The Grand Place will remain freely accessible on Thursday morning, and visitors will be able to watch 'The Great Wave' gradually come to life. It will be completed at around 14:00.
The Flower Carpet can be viewed for free until Sunday 16 August at 22:00 (final entry at 21:30). A light and audio show will also take place every 30 minutes in the evening, between 21:00 and 23:00. The first will be at around 22:00 on 13 August.
Visitors can also buy tickets to admire it from both the City Hall balcony and the building's tower, offering an even more impressive view of the artwork. All tickets for the tower are now sold out. Tickets for the balcony will be available on the day at the Flower Carpet reception desk for €9. Under-10s go free.
Second flower carpet
For the first time in the event's history, a second display will also be laid outside the Bourse building from 13 to 16 August.
Inspired by hops, a symbol of Belgium's brewing heritage, it will create a floral trail linking the capital's two iconic sites and extending the event's reach beyond the Grand Place.
