Laughing through history: Heritage Day 2026 celebrates humour
The 25th edition of Heritage Day places humour centre stage this Sunday, with 737 activities across 552 locations in 247 cities and municipalities. Traditionally held on the first Sunday after the Easter holidays, the event once again opens up the richness of Flemish and Brussels heritage to the public free of charge.
Marking its silver jubilee, this year’s theme, “HAHA Humor”, offers both lightness and reflection. “We invite people to take laughter seriously: not as an escape from reality, but as a way of looking differently at heritage, society and each other,” says Seppe Van Pottelbergh of Heritage Day. While humour may seem universal, the programme highlights how it is shaped by time, place and context.
Across the regions, the theme takes many forms. In Knokke-Heist, the HEY Museum hosts caricaturists, cartoons and stand-up, while nearby the For Freedom Museum and Comic Strip Festival add to the offering. Aalst’s Academy of Carnival Arts opens its doors with workshops and lectures on satire, and in Assenede, Lof der Zotheid brings together the absurdist worlds of Herr Seele and Kamagurka. Leuven sees comedian Roosje Perts delve into city archives, while in Diest, Kamiel De Bruyne introduces playful interventions in the museum De Hofstadt.
In Brussels, Manneken Pis is explored as a symbol of satire at the Broodhuis, while the KBR highlights medieval humour through manuscripts and creative workshops. Antwerp’s comedy café The Joker marks its anniversary with a live recording featuring Alex Agnew and Yasmine Van Suetendael, and in Hasselt, a digital exhibition revisits historic April Fools’ jokes.
Beyond the day itself, the anniversary is also marked with a retrospective publication and a sector-wide celebration in Ghent. Even after 25 editions, Heritage Day continues to demonstrate how the past can still make society smile and think.
Erfgoeddag © PHOTO SMOELENTREKKER
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