La Centrale, Brussels’ Contemporary Art Center, to Close in 2026

La Centrale for Contemporary Art, the flagship visual arts center of the City of Brussels, will close its doors in February 2026, just a year after its much‑celebrated reopening following major renovations. The decision was announced on Wednesday, sending shockwaves through the local art scene and raising concerns about the future of contemporary art in the Belgian capital.​

The news came as a devastating surprise to the center’s roughly fifteen staff members, who learned of the closure earlier this week. The announcement is all the more symbolic as the institution was preparing to celebrate its twentieth anniversary in 2026, while also running a new programme of exhibitions, including projects scheduled until 22 February 2026. Team members say the closure abruptly halts plans for future exhibitions and projects already in development, and stress that La Centrale has served as a vital platform for emerging artists, particularly those coming from Brussels art schools.​

A budget‑driven political decision

Brussels Mayor Philippe Close has confirmed that the decision is primarily financial, pointing to the current budgetary crisis affecting the city. He explained that the municipality had to make tough choices to preserve the remaining cultural institutions and indicated that efforts would be made to reassign La Centrale’s staff within the city’s cultural services where possible.​

The Ecolo‑Groen opposition group has condemned the closure as a major step backwards for culture in Brussels and has called for the decision to be immediately postponed. In a statement, the party highlights La Centrale’s role as a key venue for local culture, inclusion and equality, noting that the center has showcased a near‑parity of male and female artists in its recent programming according to its latest activity reports.​

A widely supported institution

The announcement has triggered a wave of reactions in the Brussels cultural sector, with many expressing disbelief and anger at the loss of a public contemporary art space in the heart of the city. Within a single day, La Centrale received numerous messages of support from artists, curators, cultural workers and institutions, underlining how deeply embedded the venue has become in the city’s artistic ecosystem.​

Until its closure, La Centrale will maintain its current programme, including exhibitions such as “Michel Couturier – la friche la galaxie”, which is scheduled to run until 22 February 2026, the announced final date of operations. The art community, meanwhile, is mobilising both online and offline, hoping that political pressure and public support might still change the fate of this emblematic Brussels institution.​

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