After the successful editions PLAY, Paradise, and After Paradise, Kortrijk is preparing for the fourth edition of its Triennial for Contemporary Art. This edition will take place from June 26 to October 3, 2027. Following in the footsteps of West Flanders’ major art festivals — such as the Bruges Triennial and Beaufort — Triennial Kortrijk can now also announce its curatorial team.
Patrick Ronse, the artistic face of the Triennial since its inception, will once again take on the role of curator. As artistic director of Be-Part, Platform for Contemporary Art in Waregem and Kortrijk, and a long-standing partner of Triennial Kortrijk, he helped shape the festival and define its DNA.
This time, he is joined by Barbara De Coninck, who will contribute as co-curator, bringing with her extensive experience in artistic production, conceptual guidance, and international collaboration. Her literary background and distinctive authorial voice will be a clear asset. Together, they aim to further develop the Triennial into a leading international art festival, as envisioned in Kortrijk’s current cultural policy plan.
The Kortrijk Triennial offers opportunities to artists, guided by a belief in the artist as a beacon within society, someone who invites us to see the world differently.
Through images that celebrate life — humorous, poetic, or rebellious — that protest, encourage, or move us, artists protect us from losing our imagination.
Anke D’Haene will once again take on the role of project coordinator. With her experience and engagement in the previous edition, she and the Triennial team will ensure a strong and thoughtful organizational framework for the festival.
The curators will begin preparations this fall, taking time first to explore which theme or approach this fourth edition requires. It is impossible to ignore that Triennial Kortrijk is being prepared in an era of major societal upheaval. When defense turns into war, ecosystems falter, and the planet heats up relentlessly, art might just be what saves our imagination — and perhaps, imagination might save our world. Triennial Kortrijk believes that art strengthens democracy and ultimately offers us the tools for a better and happier life — together.
The DNA of the Kortrijk Triennial remains unchanged: an open and accessible festival featuring new productions and loans by both Belgian and international artists. Accessibility is key — through dynamic, visually powerful artworks and educational additions that provide deeper engagement. The program unfolds in public spaces and unique heritage locations, both familiar and surprisingly undiscovered. As always, the route invites visitors to explore new parts of the city and ongoing urban renewal projects.
The team hopes that the 2027 edition will surpass the impressive results of Triennial 2024, which recorded 492,008 visits across 14 locations.