RendezVous – Brussels Art Week returns from 10–13 September 2026 with a city-wide programme bringing together galleries, museums, artist-run spaces and studios across Brussels for a collective celebration of the city’s vibrant and diverse art scene.
Building on last year’s collaboration with the Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux and Frame Contemporary Art Finland, RendezVous once again invites Finland-based cultural professionals to explore Brussels’ artistic landscape. This year, Ilari Laamanen, Curator of Exhibitions at Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva, and Arvid van der Rijt, Senior Advisor for International Networks at Frame Contemporary Art Finland are participating in the programme.
The Institute is also an official partner of RendezVous Salon Encounters, hosting Teo Ala-Ruona’s performance Play Overlay on Sunday at Salon de RendezVous.
RendezVous – Brussels Art Week
Wednesday, 9.9, 19:00–23:00 – Official opening of Salon de RendezVous
Thursday, 10.9 to Sunday 13.9 – Collective Gallery Opening Night, 17:00-21:00
Discover the full programme.
Learn more about last year’s curator visit with Sakari Hannus and Max Tervo.
Ilari Laamanen
Ilari Laamanen is a Curator of Exhibitions at Malva, Museum of Visual Arts in Lahti, Finland. Through his interdisciplinary projects he explores communication and body-mind relation in a technologically driven world.
His most recent curatorial work at Malva includes the group exhibitions Strange Attraction (2025) and Transformations (2025). Earlier curatorial work includes Trance, the main exhibition of Tallinn Photomonth Contemporary Art Biennial (2023) and Alienation, the ninth Momentum Biennial in Moss, Norway (2017).
« I’m excited to explore the dense program of RendezVous. My Friday highlight will be the Art Anderlecht Artist-Run tour & Hangout with Gilbard, Janitor and Komplot. The following day, I’m attending a Japanese Tea Ceremony by Master Matsubayashi Hosai XVI at Spazio Nobile. I’ll also definitely catch Teo Ala-Ruona‘s performance at the Salon de RendezVous on Sunday.
In between all this I’ll be checking out shows and entering impromptu conversations with artists and colleagues. The main motivation for the trip is to be inspired and find new works and ideas for future projects. »
Arvid van der Rijt
Arvid van der Rijt works for Frame Contemporary Art Finland as the Senior Advisor for International Networks and is responsible for Frame’s core programmes for art professionals, such as expert visits to Finland, curator residencies, and international study trips.
Prior to joining Frame, Arvid has worked for over two decades as an artist and cultural worker, engaging in international collaboration and network-building across the contemporary art field in Finland and abroad. After relocating to Finland from the Netherlands, he co-founded artist-run initiative Filmverkstaden in 2010 and acted as a board member and chairperson for Platform artist residency, both located in Vaasa, Finland.
“My last visit to Brussels was more than 20 years ago and I’m looking forward to experiencing Brussels as a major contemporary art hub. RendezVous has put together quite an extensive programme, so I’m ready to be immersed. To mention some specific things: I’m curious to see the exhibition Casual/Tease (The Memorial for Those Who Did Not Fall at War) at Cloud Seven and excited that they paired the show with Muslimgauze: Chasing the Shadows of Bryn Jones, a DJ set by Bader Shashit and Lennart Thienpont in collaboration with Ruq’ah art space.
In addition to RendezVous, I will meet with representatives from our Belgian peer organisation Kunstenpunt, visit the Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux and Bozar. I see my visit as an investment to strengthen the Finnish-Belgian connections and collaborations.”
RendezVous – Brussels Art Week
RendezVous is an annual celebration of Brussels’ vibrant art scene, bringing together galleries, public institutions, private foundations, auction houses and artist-run initiatives across the city for four days of exhibitions, events, and discursive programs. Every year in September, explore over 95 venues, discover new artistic voices, and connect with the cultural heartbeat of Brussels.
Ilari Laamanen’s visit is supported by the Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux.
Cover images, left to right: Ilari Laamanen by Diana Luganski and Arvid van der Rijt by Juliana Irene Smith.