MUSIQUE FEMMES FESTIVAL #4
From October 15th to 17th in Saint-Gilles
Cellule 133A - Maison du Peuple
From 15 to 17 October 2026, the Musique Femmes Festival will celebrate its fourth edition, continuing its mission to showcase women composers of the past and present through a programme that we have sought to make ever more diverse, ambitious and inclusive. Bringing together a conference, classical music, jazz, slam and open-stage performances, this new edition reaffirms our commitment to creating dialogue across disciplines, generations and musical traditions.
Ahead of the festival, a conference dedicated to Belgian women composers of the nineteenth century, organised in partnership with the Université des Femmes and the Arthur De Greef Academy of Music in Saint-Gilles, will explore the place of women in Belgian musical history while drawing connections with contemporary issues. The festival concerts will then highlight major figures such as Toshiko Akiyoshi and Henriette Van der Boorn-Coclet, while also giving a prominent platform to a new generation of performers and composers.
True to its identity, the festival also continues its commitment to supporting emerging artists. The now well-established Compositrix Showcase (Scène Tremplin) will introduce four composers from a variety of musical backgrounds, while an open stage featuring students from Brussels music academies will shine a light on the work of young performers. This fourth edition will also expand into new artistic territory with the introduction of slam poetry, through a slam evening hosted by the Slameke collective.
By bringing together women's musical heritage, contemporary creation, transmission and discovery, this fourth edition reaffirms the mission of the Musique Femmes Festival: to give greater visibility to women composers, to bring their music to wider audiences, and to contribute to a musical landscape that better reflects the diversity of artistic talent.
We already wish you many inspiring discoveries!
The MFF Team
Monday, October 12
In partnership with the Université des Femmes and the Arthur De Greef Music Academy of Saint-Gilles
Ahead of the fourth edition of the Musique Femmes Festival, a conference dedicated to Belgian women composers will bring together researchers and the public to explore the place of women in Belgium's musical history.
Organised in partnership with the Arthur De Greef Music Academy of Saint-Gilles and the Université des Femmes, the event will be led by three PhD researchers in musicology and sociology, including Fauve Bougard, a specialist in the work of Juliette Folville. The conference will examine the role of women in Belgian musical life during the nineteenth century while drawing connections with the present day, addressing issues such as representation, visibility, and the place of Belgian women composers in today's musical landscape.
With Fauve Bougard, Margaux Sladden, Cyrille Thoulen, and Claire Lafon (Université des Femmes).
Thursday, October 15
Henriette Van den Boorn-Coclet (1866-1945) /
Johanna Staruch-Smolec et Krzysztof Potocznik
Toshiko Akiyoshi (1929) / Natasha Vew
At the first edition of the Musique Femmes Festival in 2023, Johanna Staruch-Smolec and Krzysztof Potocznik brought back to life the first movement of a work that had long remained in the shadows: the Violin Sonata by Liège-born composer Henriette Van den Boorn-Coclet, who was then almost completely forgotten. This year, they return to perform the work in its entirety, continuing their work of rediscovering and bringing to light a precious musical heritage.
Jazz in the second half!
Winner of the 2025 Scène Tremplin, Natasha Vew will introduce audiences to the world of Toshiko Akiyoshi, the Japanese jazz pianist, composer and arranger whose prolific international career helped reshape the language of jazz.
Friday, October 16
SLAMEKE Collective
For its fourth edition, the Musique Femmes Festival welcomes slam poetry into its programme. Hosted by the Slameke collective, this women-centred open mic invites artists to share their voices, their poetry, and their inner musicality. A space for freedom, creativity, and connection, where words come alive in all their power.
Saturday, October 17
Join us for a musical morning as students from Brussels' music academies celebrate the work of women composers in a lively and welcoming open stage performance. Over coffee, croissants, and music, audiences are invited to discover rarely performed works brought to life by a new generation of talented young musicians.
Now a highlight of the Musique Femmes Festival programme!
Each year, the Compositrix collective shines a spotlight on four women composers from diverse musical backgrounds. Two come from the world of classical music, one from jazz, and one from the singer-songwriter tradition.
Over the years, this showcase has introduced audiences to artists such as Nue, Mervie, Natasha Vew, Cornelia Zambila, Mona Mio, Juliette Recasens, and Giulia Barbero.
This year, the four selected composers are Anne de Boysson, Laurence Cousseau, Hélène Cambier and Johana Leroy. We can’t wait to introduce you to these wonderful artists!
