Save the date: WONDER Creativity Festival 2025

From 16 October to 2 November, the inner city of Kortrijk, UNESCO Creative City of Design, will once again transform into a vibrant hotbed of hopeful ideas and creative energy. WONDER is an initiative of Designregio Kortrijk, which has been allowing creativity to flourish in the city and region for 20 years. And we celebrate this anniversary with extra gusto, ideas and wonder. Together with a broad group of designers, creatives, companies and artists, we explore how imagination, enthusiasm and guts can contribute to a more human and greener future; how, in the wake of nature, projects are increasingly emerging that care for people and planet. At various locations in the city, stimulating exhibitions and interactive installations invite you to dream, discover and connect.

WONDER 2025 focuses entirely on the city centre for the first time. Visitors are taken along an inspiring and free trail, spread over more than 20 unique locations. There they will discover exhibits, installations and events that show how creativity offers answers to tomorrow's challenges. WONDER connects young talent, companies, artists and schools with the general public.

"We are very proud of what we have achieved with Designregio Kortrijk over the past 20 years. With WONDER, we welcome more visitors every year and see the quality of the exhibitions grow. WONDER has become a well-known and valued event within Flanders and the Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai Eurometropolis. Not only is it an inspiring meeting place for makers, thinkers and doers, it also showcases the economic fabric of innovative companies in the region. It is proof that with the past 20 years Designregio Kortrijk stands there within the design landscape with a unique creative ecosystem and that thanks to its collaboration with partners Howest, Imog, Kortrijk Xpo, Leiedal, Stad Kortrijk and Voka West-Vlaanderen."

Mieck Vos, President Designregio Kortrijk

For the third year in a row, WONDER launched an open call, inviting designers, artists, companies and collectives to submit their project or idea. The response was impressive: more than 200 entries from home and abroad poured in. After a thorough selection by a professional jury, a first part of the programme is now being launched.

WONDER 2025 spreads over the city centre of Kortrijk, which this autumn will once again be the setting for a stimulating creative trail. At various locations in the city centre, visitors will discover more than 40 exhibits, from both young talent and established names.

• WE ARE THE NEXT GENERATION is the place to discover young Belgian talent. This annual expo brings together emerging designers ready to break through with innovative work.
• Artecetera & Brut are also present. Including sculptural work by Bram Vanderbeke, they bring a powerful dialogue between art and design to the city.
• At Textirama, you step inside an immersive installation exploring the future of textiles. A sensory experience that gives you food for thought.
• Cohousing projects will soon breathe new life into two beautiful, listed mansions on Groeningestraat. During WONDER 2025, you will already get a glimpse behind the scenes of this future-oriented cohousing project, with fascinating exhibitions and creative installations spread across both properties.
• On the Leie, Kaai City will open its doors for the first time. This new WONDER location is on a site in full development. You will have the first opportunity to discover this part of town in a surprising, creative way.
• The international expo 5X5® Connected by Innovation shows how companies and design teams from Flanders, Kaunas and Bilbao are rethinking products and processes together. A powerful encounter between industry and creativity.
• Finally, there is the WONDER CLUB HOUSE, where 10 design-focused companies will dialogue with young, experimental talent. The artistic direction will be set by Dutch Instagram phenomenon Berry Dijkstra, who, supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Belgium, will give the whole thing a distinctive direction.

WONDER will be free to visit between Thursday 16 October and Sunday 2 November, from Thursday to Sunday each time. During the week from 9:00 to 18:00, on weekends and autumn holidays from 10:00 to 18:00.

WONDER is organised by Designregio Kortrijk, with the support of main sponsors Stad Kortrijk, Nationale Loterij, Caaap and sponsors Cohousing projects, Fedustria, Omer and Zorggroep Heilig Hart, and partners Howest, Imog, Kortrijk Xpo, Leiedal, Stad Kortrijk and Voka West-Vlaanderen.

Read the full press release HERE.

For all your other questions, please contact Designregio Kortrijk info@designregio-kortrijk.be