Namur hosts the annual meeting of UNESCO Creative Cities in the field of Media Arts

From October 21 to 25, 2025, the City of Namur will welcome representatives of UNESCO Creative Cities in the field of media arts, on the occasion of the KIKK Festival, international festival of creative and digital cultures. Namur, the first Walloon city to be recognised as a UNESCO Creative City in 2021 and the only Belgian city recognised in this field, is establishing itself as a major player in digital creativity.

Nearly 20 cities from around the world will be represented by their cultural and institutional delegates, with strong European representation (Germany, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Portugal, Serbia), as well as Asian (China, South Korea) and American (United States, Colombia) delegations.

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network currently brings together over 350 cities in about 100 countries, all committed to placing creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their sustainable urban development strategies. Among them, only 25 are recognized in the field of digital arts, including Namur. This network provides a privileged platform to exchange best practices and support innovative projects internationally.

The official opening of the meeting will be marked by a ceremonial session organized by Wallonie-Bruxelles International (WBI) at the Parliament of Wallonia, as part of the 20th anniversary of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. This founding text reminds us that culture is a cornerstone of social cohesion and sustainable development.

The programme will combine working sessions, field visits, and networking opportunities at the heart of the KIKK Festival. It will open with the Wake! Tour by Digital Wallonia, a road trip in Brussels or Charleroi to explore other digital creative ecosystems, before diving into the world of the KIKK Festival. Delegates will meet artists and curators, discover the city’s art trail composed of 30 immersive works, and visit the KIKK Market, a space for encounters and discoveries showcasing a wide range of technological innovations, set up under a marquee on the Place d’Armes. A workshop on Horizon Europe funding, organized by WBI – NCP Wallonia, will complete the programme.

Namur aims to be a creative, innovative, and sustainable city—a true urban laboratory where cultural, technological, and social initiatives intersect. It stands out for its rich and diverse creative ecosystem, bringing together academic actors (University of Namur, Higher Education Institute Albert Jacquard (HEAJ), Royal Higher Institute of Musicology and Pedagogy (IMEP)), the center for reflection and experimentation for the city of tomorrow (NID – Namur Intelligent and Sustailable), institutions and economic hubs (the Economic Office of the Province of Namur, BEP), as well as a wide network of festivals and cultural events (Namur in May, Namur in Light, Namur International Francophone Film Festival, FIFF). The city also benefits from iconic venues such as the Grand Manège – Namur Concert Hall, Delta, Theatre of Namur, and Cultural Centre of Namur, as well as innovation spaces like Pavillon and TRAKK. This synergy gives Namur international visibility and strengthens its position within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

This meeting is more than just a gathering: it will allow Creative Cities to share expertise, develop new partnership initiatives, and strengthen international cooperation, affirming creativity as a strategic lever for sustainable urban development.

Key Figures:

• 25,000 visitors annually at the KIKK Festival, from over 40 nationalities.

• Nearly 20 UNESCO Creative Cities in the field of digital arts will be represented.