Ireland takes over the presidency of the EU Council on 1 July, marking the occasion with a major cultural programme of Irish-focused arts activities across Belgium. Cultúr 2026: Sharing Ireland’s Culture offers more than 25 events that showcase the best of the country’s traditional and contemporary arts and culture, from exhibitions and concerts to performances and screenings. The programme launches with an opening concert at Flagey on 7 July. Réaltbhuíonta | Constellations offers an evening of contemporary traditional Irish music, song, spoken word and performance.
It is an opportunity to discover leading figures in current musical scene, including Aoife Ní Bhriain (fiddle), Cormac McCarthy (piano), Sam Comerford (saxophone), Macdara Ó Faoláin (bouzouki/mandola) and Cormac Begley (concertina). These artists perform alongside internationally acclaimed musicians such as guitarist Niwel Tsumbu (pictured above) and accordion and percussionist Francesco Turrisi. Together, their work spans a range of influences, from Congolese and Mediterranean traditions to jazz, early music, folk and roots. On the dancing front, rhythm and movement are central to the performances of percussive
Irish dancers Sibéal Davitt and Stephanie Keane. Spoken word artist Ciara Ní É shows how language is another form of rhythm, texture and expression. Tickets for the concert at Flagey are priced at €20 and available from flagey.be. Also heralding the six-month long cultural agenda is a site-specific installation by Irish artist Richard Malone at the Justus Lipsius and Europa buildings. Cuimhne agus Séadchomhartha (Memory and Monument) is an ambitious work by the award-winning Irish artist, who has also curated a collection of contemporary Irish
visual art, craft and photography for the occasion. Meanwhile an exhibition of photographic works by Irish artist Conor Horgan at the European Parliament is presented by Literature Ireland. Súil Amach | An Outward Eye brings together 24 portraits of contemporary Irish writers. They are accompanied by a library of Irish books by the writers in European translations, which can be borrowed and taken home to be read. Bozar participates in the programme by delving into the richness and diversity of contemporary Irish artistic practice. From
September to November, music, literature, cinema and digital installation highlight established and emerging voices that explore themes of identity, migration, memory, technology and human connection. They include the contemporary visual artist Gerard Byrne (pictured above), who talks to curator Padraic E Moore on 27 October. The cultural programme returns to Flagey on 8 December for the Irish Presidency Closing Concert. Irish Classical Gems and Brahms’ 4th by the Brussels Chamber Ensemble celebrates Ireland’s rich musical tradition, blending contemporary Irish composition, traditional influence and European symphonic
repertoire. It includes the world premiere of the winning entry from the Brussels Chamber Ensemble’s Sounds of Ireland Composition Competition, an initiative supporting emerging Irish compositional talent and inviting new interpretations of Irish musical identity and tradition. Cultúr 2026 is a celebration of the wealth of talent among Irish artists working today and aims to share this richness with audiences in Ireland and Europe, underlined a spokesperson. More events will be announced shortly for the upcoming programme that is also staged in other EU countries.
Photos: ©Cultúr 2026; Niwel Tsumbu Matthew ©Hurrel O’Conor; courtesy Gerard Byrne
Cultúr 2026, Ireland EU Council Presidency, Flagey, Réaltbhuíonta, Irish traditional music, contemporary Irish culture, Richard Malone, European Parliament, Literature Ireland, Bozar, Gerard Byrne