So you've planned a trip to Ghent, but discovered you're visiting right during our yearly Ghent Festival (Gentse Feesten). First you are pleased, because it's cool to experience a city during a special event. Then you start panicking, because you read about how chaotic and dirty the city can be at that time. And you start doubting: should I skip Ghent during the festival?

My name is Arn, I'm a professional tour guide in Ghent and a born and raised Ghentian.

In this blog, I will try to give you a sense of what to expect and you can make an informed decision.

What is the Ghent Festival?

The Ghent festival is a yearly cultural festival in the medieval city center of Ghent, Belgium. It lasts a total of 10 days and takes place mid July, around our national holiday. In 2026, it starts on July 17th and ends on the 26th. 

What to expect:

• A podium on every major square with free concerts by Belgian artists

• Every day is a party that starts in the afternoon and ends when the sun rises the morning after.

• Theatres will do special shows and performances.

• Art exhibitions, circus acts, street performers.

• And so much more.

During our most recent editions, we have about 1.5 - 1.7 million visitors during those 10 days. It happens that on certain nights, especially during the weekend and on the night before our national holiday, that we have more visitors on the festival than people living in the city. So you can expect large crowds!

Is the Ghent festival fun for tourists?

Truth be told, the festival is not aimed at international visitors. It started as the yearly carnival for the workers of Ghent, and today it is mostly intended for the locals and the Belgians. We generally don't invite international artists, because then the city would explode, so we focus on Belgian and local bands. They often perform songs in Dutch. Most of the theatre plays are also in Dutch, and many of them even in the local dialect.

But, that doesn't mean you can't have fun! 

You'll find that there's many things to participate in as an international visitor. From free concerts to comedy shows. And there's no better time to connect with actual locals by sharing a Belgian beer in the middle of the night!

What are fun activities for tourists during the Ghent festival? 

• Polé Polé (on the Graslei) focusses on latin vibes. You'll dance next or even on the water to exotic music. 

• Mardi Gras (at the City Pavillion) is inspired by New Orleans. Expect exotic dancers, burlesque and even circus acts! 

• A small comedy club called AMAI has some stand-up and improv shows in English.

• See international circus acts at MIRAMIRO, a circus festival within our festival.

• Enjoy folk music from all over the world at the Baudelo park!

What are the cons of visiting Ghent during the festival? 

If you go with the flow, I'm certain you'll enjoy the Festival. But I'll be honest and tell you the downsides too.

• Dirty. The city is certainly not as nice looking as usual. Expect trash, loads of temporary scaffolding, toilet containers. When it's dry and warm, the city can also smell a little bit funky.

• The monuments are hidden behind temporary constructions. So forget about making that perfect pictures of our medieval architecture.

• Noisy! Definitely choose your accomodation wisely. You do not want to be close to the Vlasmarkt, where the party goes on until the late morning.

• Chaos. Trams and busses get diverted. Taxi's are banned from the city center. It's dificult to get through some of the streets when it's busy. Restaurants won't take reservations.

How to escape the chaos of the Ghent Festival?

But even if you're not interested in the festival, you can enjoy yourself in the city. This might even be the perfect excuse to get away from the typical highlights and discover more different sides of the city.

During the festival, I offer a specific "escape the chaos" tour, where I show you some calmer neighborhoods, away from the noise and the chaos of the Gentse Feesten. If you're interested, contact me! 

Other options:

• Bicycle around the city and discover some other parts.

• Go discover street art around the old trade dock.

• Walk through the student district. Very calm, because there's no students in July!

• Explore the Millionairs Quarter behind the Saint-Peter's Station.

• Go kayaking downstream from the city center.