Opening Weekend

Programme

The opening weekend programme has three sections: Inside, Outside and Offside

When: Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 February 2025
Where: Various KU Leuven buildings and locations in the city

Zicht op het Arenbergkasteel in de zomer
Arenbergkasteel / Arenberg castle

Inside

An exclusive look behind the scenes of KU Leuven's faculties and patrimony

Experience the latest scientific discoveries up close during our festive opening weekend. Want to know about the role of justice in the climate crisis or what it feels like to walk with an exoskeleton? How media affect our identity or what happens in a star billions of miles from here? Create your own itinerary based on your interests.

When:

Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 February 2025, from 10:00 to 16:00

Where:

There are three meeting points where you can start and create your own itinerary:

Are you especially interested in a particular scientific field or in the findings from the faculty you graduated at? Go straight to the faculty of your choice:

Price:

Free

Outside

An impressive temporary pavilion and piece of art will appear on the Ladeuzeplein. This 4-story high pavilion allows you to experience Leuven's most famous square from a completely new perspective.

As you rise to new heights, get carried away by soundscapes and an enchanting interplay of light and reflection. Above the artwork floats a shimmering sky of unique balloons: more than 600 reflective and inflatable objects, handmade by Leuven residents from recycled materials.

When:

Saturday 15 February 2025, from 16:00 to 23.30

  • Festive opening ceremony with bar at 18:30

Sunday 16 February 2025, from 16:00 to 23.30

Where:

Ladeuzeplein

Price:

Free

Accessibility:

Ladeuzeplein is accessible for wheelchairs. Unfortunately, the floors of the pavilion are not accessible for wheelchairs.

Festive program on 15.02.2025

16:00: Help us build a sky full of glitter
You are welcome to join the designers of the artwork to build the shining sky of balloons and get the party started .

18:30: Grand opening ceremony
Get ready for a magical moment: the artwork is festively lit, marking the start of the festive year.

Following some inspiring words of the Mayor of Leuven and the Rector of KU Leuven, a garland of hundreds of balloons is pulled into the air. Get ready for a spectacle!

19:00 to 23:30: Live act
You can admire the work of art in all its glory until midnight

To make the experience complete, we have invited the collective Affair, known for their high-quality open airs and club nights in Leuven. They will perform an electronic live act that seamlessly complements the artwork, making for a unique dance experience that stimulates all your senses.

Concept and production

Studio Sandy

Offside

At midnight the lights go out on Ladeuzeplein, but the night is far from over. Parties will erupt at various locations around town, and Leuven night life takes over.

When:

Saturday 15 February 2025, starting at 22:00

Where:

The Leuven collectives Chora and gemak! join forces: 2 rooms, 2 styles, 1 party!

Relive the atmosphere on the legendary dance floor where generations of Leuven citizens and students have danced and laughed for countless hours. An evening of nostalgia, music and fun awaits you.

Tickets:

More info to come

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