The KIKK Festival 2026 is currently lighting up the streets of Namur with its vibrant energy. As an international festival dedicated to the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI), it explores the intersections between art, science, and technology. The programme includes creative coding, web and UX design, AI, data visualisation, storytelling, interactive experiences, graphic and motion design, as well as VR and XR.
For the past 15 years, the KIKK Festival has transformed Namur every October into an open-air museum, showcasing interactive and immersive artworks across the city's iconic locations. In 2025, the event attracted more than 23,000 visitors (professionals and enthusiasts) from nearly 50 nationalities. KIKK in figures for this 2026 edition: a trail of 40 artworks scattered throughout he city, 48 conferences dedicated to the sector, 368 accredited professionals from 22 countries, and 18 international delegations from Europe, North Africa, and North America. Decision-makers, creatives, investors, and entrepreneurs from the creative and technology industries gathered together, many of whom are not easy to meet throughout the year. So, who is there? Mainly creative-tech studios and companies, cultural institutions and curators, ecosystem players and public stakeholders, artists, and creators.
KIKK Connect
For its 15th anniversary, KIKK Festival launched the KIKK Connect concept for the 2026 edition: an entire day dedicated to business development within the creative and technology sectors. This new format was designed to create connections between Walloon companies and international delegations visiting Namur to discover our region and its ecosystems. Twelve countries and regions took part in KIKK Connect this year: representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain, Catalonia, Quebec, Estonia, Lithuania, Switzerland, Morocco, Tunisia, and the United States. The programme featured targeted matchmaking, numerous B2B sessions, networking opportunities, business-oriented conferences and panels, and meetings with international delegations. It was an opportunity to meet the right people, start new conversations, and experience the festival from the inside.
Invited Walloon companies
Ten companies representing the Walloon CCI ecosystem were invited by the Walloon Export and Foreign Investment Agency (AWEX) and Wallonie-Bruxelles Design Mode to attend KIKK Connect. Following a call for expressions of interest, the selection was made in collaboration with the KIKK team. Representatives came mainly from graphic design studios, the tech industry, animation, motion design, and digital services: Zeiko, Futurewave – Hardware Product Design & Engineering Studio, Ekta, Dreamwall, Kidnap Your Designer, Design with Genius, Lapino Albino, Daft Music Studios, and Daft Creative Agency. Two investment funds were also present: Noshaq and Leansquare.
We asked each Each company what they hoped to gain from meeting the international delegations.
Zeiko: Specialised in interactive document solutions. “We want to expand our smart interactive document internationally and find new partners.” – Rémi Raimondi.
Futurewave: Designs and develops innovative hardware products for the technology sector. “Our presence at KIKK Connect fully aligns with our growth strategy. We see opportunities for sector synergies, network expansion, business development, broader international visibility, and enhanced trend monitoring and market intelligence.” – Joachim Froment.
Ekta: “As a graphic design studio embracing multidisciplinary practices, we are here for networking, meeting people, sharing ideas, observing trends, supporting our international development, and above all seeking projects to which we can bring real value.” – Flore Figuière and Guillaume Deman.
Dreamwall: “The international ecosystem brought together at KIKK Connect provides significant exposure for a studio like Dreamwall. Our main motivations are visibility, market observation, and internationalisation opportunities, particularly for the development of our LED boarding solutions for sports events.” – Alice Gorissen.
Kidnap Your Designer: “We are looking to connect with curators and project managers from cultural venues in order to create new opportunities for our graphic design studio.” – Camille Circlude.
Design with Genius: Active in the cultural and design sectors through scenography, interior design, and furniture design. “I am here to meet foreign delegations and understand where the opportunities lie.” – Jean‑François Bodson.
Lapino Albino: “We hope to meet creative minds from all backgrounds.” – Erwin Quinzin.
Noshaq: Investment fund. “We are interested in meeting international delegations to develop business opportunities across the entire Noshaq portfolio. We are also looking for opportunities for TUMO Liège, an innovative and 100% free learning centre dedicated to digital and creative technologies for teenagers aged 12 to 18.” – Héloïse Devaux.
Leansquare: Investment fund. “We hope to meet local and international stakeholders from the entertainment and digital creativity sectors, while also strengthening our deal flow.” – Laurent Burton.
Daft Studio and Daft Agency: “Our company operates at the crossroads of music, innovative technologies, and creative communication campaigns. Most of our business takes place internationally. An event like the KIKK Festival enables us to showcase what we can achieve, expand our network, and identify partners working with innovative technologies.” – Stijn Verdonkt.
A unique opportunity to increase the visibility of the strengths of the Walloon ecosystem and expand opportunities for international partnerships. The festival takes over the streets of Namur until 25 October, offering a unique opportunity for enthusiasts, curious visitors, and families to discover a trail of 40 light and sound installations designed to inspire and provoke reflection.
