About Ars Musica

Founded in 1989, today Ars Musica is Belgium’s leading festival for contemporary music creation. It presents a rich annual programme of dozens of concerts in Brussels and beyond and brings together Belgian and international artists and organisations. It’s ambition is twofold: to champion contemporary creation of the highest quality, and to share it with a diverse and curious audience.

Throughout its history, the festival has supported numerous artists, commissioned works and premiered new creations by artists such as Philip Glass, Philippe Boesmans, Laurie Anderson, Thierry De Mey, Gérard Grisey, Jean-Luc Fafchamps, Jacqueline Fontyn and many others. Ars Musica also develops lasting partnerships with ensembles such as Fractales, Musiques Nouvelles, Sturm und Klang and Hopper; orchestras including the Belgian National Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic and the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège; and institutions across Belgium, including BOZAR, Le Botanique, Le Senghor, the Salle Philharmonique de Liège, Namur Grand Manège Concert Hall, Concertgebouw Brugge and PBA Charleroi.

Since 2023, Ars Musica has alternated each year between a music edition in even-numbered years and a multidisciplinary vocal edition, Next Opera Days, in odd-numbered years.