Royal Festival Spa

Royal Festival – 67th Edition

Eyes Wide Open

Once again this year, the Festival presents a rich, vibrant and diverse programme. Theatre, circus, music and comedy: more than 40 performances, each offering unique forms, voices and perspectives to reflect the world we live in. From intimate stories to large-scale collective works, from festive performances to more thought-provoking creations, every show is an invitation to feel, reflect and share.

But the Festival is also an atmosphere.

Places that come alive. Artists and audiences crossing paths. Evenings that stretch into the night. Unexpected moments that become lasting memories.

An atmosphere woven together with the city of Spa—inseparable from the Festival itself—which becomes its living backdrop and open-air stage.

Open to everyone, attentive to diverse backgrounds, sensitivities and imaginations, the Royal Festival is a space for encounter, inclusion and freedom.

A place to discover, to be surprised, to laugh, to be moved.

A place to remain, together, with our eyes—and our hearts—wide open.

The Royal Festival Team

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For 65 years, the Royal Festival has been a showcase of the diversity and excellence of Belgian French-language theatre.

Established by the esteemed Théâtre National de Bruxelles in 1959, it has evolved and adapted to the changing cultural landscape over the years.

Each summer, the festival brings together a curated selection of top-notch performances from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.

These shows are complemented by presentations from internationally acclaimed companies hailing from countries such as Canada, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Sweden, France, and more, as well as exclusive premieres.

Since 2018, the festival has expanded its scope to encompass a wide array of performing arts, including circus, musical performances, new magic, object theatre, puppetry, theatre for young audiences, stand-up comedy, mentalism, visual performances, and more.

Closely tied to the heritage of Spa, the festival is fortunate to host its events in venues that are predominantly listed, adding to the cultural richness of the experience.

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History

1959

The Spa Theatre Festival was inaugurated in 1959 by the Théâtre National de Belgique, under the direction of Jacques Huisman. As part of the institution's decentralization initiative, it primarily featured productions from TNB's previous season, along with previews of upcoming season's new works.

1988

In 1988, under the leadership of Billy Fasbender and André Debaar, the Festival underwent a transformation. It evolved into a platform for showcasing French-speaking community theatre productions, attracting participation from numerous theatres during the two-week event. Both revivals and new creations were featured in the repertoire.

1999

In 1999, Armand Delcampe assumed the festival's general management responsibilities.

2002

Subsequently, on October 29, 2002, the Festival entered into a program agreement with the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, a commitment that has been renewed ever since.

2017

Armand Delcampe and Cécile Van Snick jointly oversaw the artistic and administrative direction of the Festival until the end of 2015. Following this, Cécile Van Snick continued in the role alone until 2017.

2018

In 2018, Axel De Booseré assumed leadership of the event, ushering in a significant change: the Spa Theatre Festival transformed into the Royal Festival, embracing all forms of performing arts, with a particular emphasis on circus and musical performances accessible to a broad audience.