CSBF26
reconciliations: war & peace
A Festival Where Heritage Meets Creation
The Coudenberg Sound Box Fest transforms our historic palace ruins and the Church of Saint-Jacques into a living laboratory where early music speaks as a contemporary language. Through the immersive artistry of ClubMédiéval and the evocative power of DionysosNow!, we bridge the gap between centuries to rediscover history through the power of sound. We believe heritage is not a static relic, but a vital catalyst for modern creativity. Join us for a unique experience where history is not just remembered, but urgently heard anew.
2026 Edition:
War and Peace
Our sixth season explores the dichotomy between conflict and harmony. The festival opens with InAlto Ensemble and Alice Foccroulle, juxtaposing the sacred works of Schütz and Theile with the visceral, theatrical percussion of AkroPercu. We then delve into themes of memory and resistance through Sephardic traditions and 20th-century voices like Klein and Gubaidulina. The festival culminates in an intercultural synthesis between East and West, featuring Elias Bachoura and BeraadGeslagen—a testament to music’s enduring power as a bridge for reconciliation.
What’s New?
The 2026 edition pushes boundaries, launching an "off-site" series in collaboration with Bozar that transforms Brussels into a multi-sensory landscape. We are nurturing the next generation of early music talent through the NextGencompetition, while fostering intellectual curiosity through our new lecture series with ULB and IHEB. As a vibrant hub of international exchange, the festival reaches a global milestone by co-hosting the 2026 REMA Summit alongside the Irish Embassy, celebrating culture as a bridge for European unity and artistic innovation.
17 November '26
NextGen 2026
Workshops & talks
10 am - 6 pm / Comics Strip Museum, Brussels
Day one of the NextGen program focuses on two pillars: professional training in essential career and legal skills to foster economic autonomy (Ambitus & PlayRight), and international networking, connecting ensembles with artistic directors from institutions like BOZAR and Concertgebouw Brugge to accelerate their global careers.
22 November '26,
Opening Concert
Rumbling before Peace
In Alto + AkroPercu
6.30 PM - 8.30 PM / Coudenberg palace, Brussels
The festival opens its sixth season by juxtaposing historical resilience with contemporary energy. InAlto Ensembleperforms sacred Baroque works by Schütz and Theile, evoking hope in the aftermath of the Thirty Years' War. This is paired with AkroPercu, a percussion trio blending physical theater and virtuosity to transform the site into a "mythical combat" of sound. Together, they explore the power of music and gesture as instruments of renewal and gathering.
29 November '26, Concert
Exiled Voices, Censured Truths
Ensemble Matica de Flor + Trio Satellite
6.30 pm - 8.30 pm / Coudenberg Palace, Brussels
Ensemble Matica de Flor (France), 2025 NextGen winners, present a rare program of Sephardic traditions from the Mediterranean, celebrating resilience and cultural memory. In a powerful historical parallel, Ensemble Satellite explores 20th-century suppressed voices, including Gideon Klein and Sofia Gubaidulina. Together, these programs offer an intense reflection on exile, resistance, and music’s universal power to transcend historical trauma.
13 December '26,
Closing Concert
Fault Lines Across East and West
Elias Bachoura + BeraadGeslagen
6.30 pm - 8.30 pm / Coudenberg Palace, Brussels
The festival concludes with a focus on cultural dialogue, featuring Belgian-Syrian oud player Elias Bachoura. His album Biharayto blends Eastern modal depth with Western classical harmony, offering a meditation on peace and coexistence.
This is followed by the experimental duo BeraadGeslagen (Lander Gyselinck and Fulco Ottervanger), who will preview their upcoming album. Their high-energy jazz and electronic improvisation continue the evening's theme, exploring the tensions and harmonies between tradition, memory, and contemporary resistance.
18 November '26
NextGen 2026
Masterclasses & Final Concert
10 am - 8 pm / Comic strip museum, Brussels
Day two focuses on international networking with key artistic directors (BOZAR, Concertgebouw Brugge) and artistic mentorship through masterclasses with Lambert Colson and Nicolas Achten. The program culminates in a Creation Prize: a collaboration with composer Andreas Moulin to co-create and record a new work. This project, premiering at CSBF 2027, directly promotes the artists' international careers and the evolution of the early music repertoire.
24 November '26
REMA Reception
Private Event in Collaboration with the Embassy of Irland
7 pm - 9 pm / Coudenberg palace, Brussels
On the occasion of the Irish presidency of the European Union, the event will include a focus on Irish Early Music, including a concert by members of the Irish Baroque Orchestra.
We would like to make this focus stronger by organising an opening reception for our Board members and partners (European cultural networks and Belgian institutions) on 24 November evening, on the proposal of the Coudenberg Sound Box Fest, showcasing the Irish Early Music repertoire and performers. We would be honoured to connect with the Irish Embassy in Brussels on this occasion.
6 December '26, Concert
(in co-production with Bozar)
Sacred and Profane in the Lost Palace
Dinosyos Now! + Club Medieval
5.30 pm - 6.30 PM / Coudenberg Palace, Brussels
7 pm - 8 pm / Church of St. James on Coudenberg, Brussels
8.30 pm - 9.30 pm / Coudenberg Palace, Brussels
In collaboration with Bozar, the festival debuts its "hors les murs" series with a unique, immersive double concert. Audiences will journey between "below" and "above," experiencing secular music by ClubMédiéval in the archaeological underground and sacred music by Dionysos Now! in the Coudenberg Church. This rotating "in situ" format, featuring music linked to the courts of Charles V and Mary of Hungary, maximizes capacity while offering a quadrupled, immersive experience across these historic spaces.
With the support of
