Brussels 22.01.2026 An anniversary celebrated through masterpieces and stories
Two reasons to celebrate for the King Baudouin Foundation: the Foundation is not only turning fifty in 2026, but was also invited to be the guest of honour at the 71st edition of the prestigious BRAFA art fair.

A remarkable accolade for the King Baudouin Foundation and its philanthropists, who have been dedicated to preserving Belgium’s heritage for decades, and the crowning glory of the Foundation’s long-term partnership with BRAFA.

Guest of honour at BRAFA 2026
The King Baudouin Foundation is deeply honoured to be featured as the guest of honour.
BRAFA is the ultimate forum where private collectors, art dealers, museums, and public and private actors from the cultural sector gather to explore their shared passion for heritage and art. Together, we preserve, protect, and pass on our heritage to future generations.

As the guest of honour, the King Baudouin Foundation will be organising a series of
lectures that zoom in on masterpieces from its collection and a series of short afternoon concerts by musicians who received support from one of the patronage Funds managed by the Foundation.

These lectures and concerts will take place in the area behind the Foundation’s stand (n° 151), the KBF Forum, where visitors will also get to explore additional inspiring stories and some of the Foundation’s transversal projects. A wonderful opportunity to experience how philanthropy, heritage and cultural preservation, and social welfare are intrinsically connected. Visitors will also get a behind-the-scenes look at the restoration of a recently acquired work: a painting by the Antwerp master Willem Key.

BRAFA is the perfect occasion for the King Baudouin Foundation to honour 50 years of giving. Since its creation in 1976, the Foundation has been working to strengthen solidarity and improve society. For decades, it has also been supporting donors who are passionate about heritage.

The King Baudouin Foundation currently manages no fewer than 154 philanthropic Funds that are focused on heritage, art, and culture. We should cherish philanthropists and donors that wantto safeguard art and heritage: their donations are gifts for everyone, for the next generation, for the future.

Thanks to these people generosity, the Foundation was able to acquire a sizeable and diverse collection these past decades, encompassing more than 29,000 works of art – from archaeological treasures to modern art, from lace and jewellery to paintings and design – and 31 archive funds.

Through its Heritage & Culture programme, the Foundation preserves and protects these exceptional works of art, documents, and objects. All of the Foundation’s pieces are on long-term loan to over a hundred museums and public custodial institutions, to make them accessible to each and every one of us.

Highlights of BRAFA 2026
The King Baudouin Foundation’s stand at the fair will offer visitors unique insight into the
Foundation’s multi-facetted collection. To mark its anniversary, the Foundation will not
only be showcasing some of its most recent acquisitions (as it usually does at the fair), but also a selection of masterpieces that became part of its collection at an earlier point
and that are now part of Belgium’s public heritage.

Practical info:
BRAFA 2026
25 January, 27 January – 1 February
2026
Brussels Expo – Heizel (Halls 3 & 4)
Open from 11:00 to 19:00
Nocturne on Thursday 29 January
King Baudouin Foundation: Stand
151
http://www.brafa.art