Events, Festivals and Exhibitions

The Bruges Triennial (Triennale Brugge) is a contemporary art and architecture event held every three years in the city of Bruges, Belgium.

This summer will see the third version of the current iteration of the Triennial.

History of the Bruges Triennial

The first Triennale Brugge was held in 2015, followed by a second in 2018, thus 2021 will see the third in the series. However the Triennial has built on a previous triplet of triennials held in 1968, 1971 and 1974.

Bruges Triennial 2021

The theme of Triennale Brugge 2021 will be TraumA. The intention of the curators, Till-Holger Borchert, Michel Dewilde, Els Wuyts and Santiago De Waele, is to convey you to parts of the city that hover between dream and reality.

Some 13 artists and architects – three from Belgium – will present their new installations around the wonderful UNESCO World Heritage Site medieval city.

The chosen artists and architects are: Nadia Naveau, Amanda Browder, Joanna Malinowska & C.T. Jasper, Nadia Kaabi-Linke, Nnenna Okore, Jon Lott, Henrique Oliveira, Laura Splan, Hans Op de Beeck, Gregor Schneider, Héctor Zamora, Gijs Van Vaerenbergh and Adrián Villar Rojas. Further information about the artists can be found here.

Their installations can be found in hidden parts of the city, beside waterways, along cobbled streets and in places of worship.

Wander into Belgian architect, Gijs Van Vaerenbergh’s thought-provoking maze at Bruges’ Baron Ruzettepark. Artist Nadia Naveau will create a series of decorative and folklore masks beside water. While Hans Op de Beeck will manifest a monochrome carousel on thhe façade of St Wallaburga.

The curators wish to stimulate the senses and imagination, as well as provoke discourse, claiming that the event “treads a balance between the present and the concealed, between private and public, between dream and nightmare”.

Participants can follow a freely accessible contemporary art and architecture trail through the ancient city.

A Porous City

There will also be a group collection entitled A Porous City of 40 sculptures, videos, paintings and photographs at the Poortersloge (Porter’s Lodge), including works by Willem Boel, Daan Gielis, Ronald Ophuis and Ana Torfs.

In addition to the route and exhibition there will be a series of debates, lectures and film screenings to highlight the Bruges Triennial. The full programme will be made available here. Group or individual tours can be reserved via [email protected].

Commissioned by the City of Bruges, the Bruges Triennial is a collaboration between Musea Brugge, Brugge Plus, Cultuurcentrum Brugge and Kenniscentrum vzw.

When is the Bruges Triennial 2021?

Bruges Triennial 2021 will be held from 8 May to 24 October 2021.

Where is the Bruges Triennial?

The city centres of Bruges and Zeebrugge.

Things to Do in Bruges

For inspiration on what to do in Bruges during your visit, try the Visit Bruges website.

Travel to Bruges by Train

Travelling to Bruges by train is simple. From the UK take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels-Midi/Zuid from where you take the connecting train to Bruges. Details can be found here.

For more information on the Triennale Brugge

Visit the event website: https://www.triennalebrugge.be/en/. Forinformation on contemporary art in Bruges, visit www.visitbruges.be/en

Main image Triennale Brugge 2018, SELGASCANO PAVILION © JAN D-HONDT. All images provided by Visit Flanders.