70th edition of BRAFA attracts over 72,000 visitors

For the 70th time, no less than 130 art dealers and galleries from 16 countries came together at Brussels Expo, the exhibition centre at a stone’s throw of the Atomium, with some of their finest paintings and sculptures on display. From antiques to Art Deco to contemporary art, the variety was as rich as the quality people have come to expect from BRAFA. A true feast for the eye. That said, there was room to feed not only the eye but also the mind, with daily art talks featuring all kinds of experts in their respective fields. 

This year, the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage was also on the scene showcasing the work they do to conserve and protect some of Belgium’s finest heritage. For example, the institute helped restore the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, by the Van Eyck brothers, in Ghent. 

Did you know that BRAFA began in 1956 and was initially known as the Foire des Antiquaires, or the antique dealers’ fair? It has grown over the years into an unmissable and unrivalled event in the art world. At the time, only two other major international art fairs existed – one in Delft and one in London. 

BRAFA is one of the longest running art fairs in the world, and it is showing no sign of stopping. You can be sure that the art world already has the 2026 dates pencilled in in their agendas, and so do we. 

We guess you could say they’ve...turned this type of fair into an art.