{"id":51103,"date":"2026-01-13T09:57:34","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T08:57:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ket.brussels\/?p=51103"},"modified":"2026-01-13T09:57:36","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T08:57:36","slug":"mons-en-lumieres-turns-the-city-into-a-luminous-queer-friendly-wonderland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ket.brussels\/nl\/2026\/01\/13\/mons-en-lumieres-turns-the-city-into-a-luminous-queer-friendly-wonderland\/","title":{"rendered":"Mons en Lumi\u00e8res turns the city into a luminous queer\u2011friendly wonderland"},"content":{"rendered":"

From 22 to 25 January 2026, Mons en Lumi\u00e8res is back to flood the historic city centre with colour, emotion and light. Over four nights, the Walloon city transforms into a 3 km open-air light trail, where heritage buildings, intimate courtyards and iconic squares become stages for luminous art.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In just two editions, Mons en Lumi\u00e8res<\/a> has established itself as one of the region\u2019s must\u2011see winter events, drawing over 260,000 visitors and boosting both tourism and local nightlife. Entirely free and open to everyone, the festival is a natural fit for LGBTQIA+ audiences looking for a safe, shared, after\u2011dark experience that is both cosy and spectacular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A theme that speaks to queer lives: \u201cEnter the light\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The 2026 edition revolves around a deeply poetic and resonant theme: \u201cEnter the light. A need to enlighten the world.\u201d It is an invitation to cross a threshold, step out of the shadows and rekindle an inner flame \u2013 a powerful metaphor for many queer journeys from invisibility to pride, from silence to visibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born from a collaboration between the City of Mons, the University of Mons (UMons) and MUMONS around the exhibition \u201c\u00c9lectrique\u201d, the festival reflects on light as more than a visual phenomenon. Here, light becomes energy, warmth, movement, knowledge and connection \u2013 everything that fuels community, chosen families and the desire to stand together in public space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Art, science and a city that glows<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mons en Lumi\u00e8res 2026 offers 15 major light installations scattered along a 3 km route weaving through streets, squares and landmarks such as the Grand-Place, the Belfry, the Jardin du Mayeur, Sainte-Waudru and Maison Losseau. Nothing is simply repeated from previous editions: each work is conceived as a new encounter, a surprise or a suspended moment, inviting visitors to slow down, look up and reclaim the city together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The festival also dialogues with another major cultural highlight: the closing weekend of \u201cDavid Hockney. The Song of the Earth\u201d at the CAP. The conversation between Hockney\u2019s colour\u2011saturated, queer\u2011coded landscapes and the city\u2019s light installations offers a layered experience where painting, light and emotion echo each other \u2013 perfect for culture\u2011hungry queer visitors planning a full weekend in Mons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A queer\u2011friendly urban night out<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For LGBTQIA+ people and allies, light festivals can be more than pretty backdrops for selfies. They create temporary, low\u2011threshold, open\u2011air \u201csafe zones\u201d where couples can hold hands in the crowd, groups of friends can wander late into the night, and families \u2013 chosen or biological \u2013 can share a gentle, collective experience. Mons en Lumi\u00e8res explicitly frames itself as accessible \u201cto all\u201d, and the festival\u2019s ambition is to help revive the historic centre, support local bars, restaurants and venues, and encourage people to rediscover Mons after dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The route alternates between monumental shows and intimate pieces, between busy squares and quieter gardens. It\u2019s an ideal setup for queer groups who want both the buzz of big public moments and quieter corners to catch their breath, talk and simply be visible together in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A sustainable glow, not a power binge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The festival also commits to a more sustainable approach: low\u2011energy technologies, careful use of resources and an eco\u2011conscious organisation. In a context where many queer and allied communities are deeply engaged in climate justice and environmental questions, Mons en Lumi\u00e8res positions itself as a festival that takes its ecological footprint seriously while still delivering sensory impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mons en Lumi\u00e8res extends to SPARKOH!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The journey doesn\u2019t end in Mons. From 12 to 14 February 2026, the spirit of Mons en Lumi\u00e8res moves to SPARKOH! in Frameries, a former industrial site turned science and discovery centre. For a second weekend, the venue will be transformed into a more intimate, exploratory light experience, ideal for couples\u2019 getaways around Valentine\u2019s Day or a queer friends\u2019 road trip mixing science, play and night\u2011time atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At SPARKOH!, the connection between light, electricity and knowledge becomes even more explicit, echoing the \u201c\u00c9lectrique\u201d exhibition and inviting visitors to think about how energy circulates through our bodies, cities and social networks \u2013 including queer communities that keep reinventing ways to be visible and connected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practical info & useful links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n