Fêtes du 15 août en Outremeuse
Liège's identity folk festival: week of flea markets, concerts, the Black Virgin procession, giants and fireworks.
Activate local and regional tourism during Liège's iconic August festival week with heritage-focused experiences, flea market promotions, and cultural event sponsorships.
- Discover Liège's 200+ year tradition: giants, processions & fireworks during Fêtes du 15 août
- Local flea market treasure hunt: what will you find at Outremeuse's week-long markets?
- Experience Belgian folk culture: concerts, parades & community celebration in historic Liège
Belgium's largest August festival runs Saturday 8–Sunday 16 August 2026, drawing an estimated 200,000+ visitors to the historic Outremeuse district of Liège. The festivities rassemble Liégeoises for multiple days of celebration, with dozens of activities over a week: fairs, concerts, games, flea markets and religious processions. A blend of sacred and popular celebration: Mass is said in Walloon and processions honour the Assumption, with the Black Virgin of Outremeuse at its heart.
Saturday 8–Sunday 16 August (full run)
Festivities span the full 9 days; flea market on preceding weekend
Sunday 14 August (evening)
Official opening: crowds in streets, folk bands, concerts on Place Delcour and Auberge Simenon; pèkèt flows freely
Monday 15 August (core day)
09h45 Procession of Black Virgin from Église Saint-Nicolas; Walloon Mass; 14h30 Grand folklorique cortège with Giants; concerts and street celebrations all day/evening
Tuesday 16 August (closing)
17h00 Burial of Mâti l'Ohé; farewell bal and fanfares
- Procession of the Black Virgin of Outremeuse on 15 August morning, followed by Mass and sermon in Walloon
- Grand folklorique cortège at 14h30 featuring Outremeuse Giants, allowing visitors to discover Liège heroes
- Puppet theatre (Tchantchès), folk dances, fireworks (campes), folk games (mât de cocagne) and popular concerts throughout
- Burial of Mâti l'Ohé on 16 August—a burlesque funeral with fanfares and costumed mourners closing the festival
- Procession of the "Bouquet"—a 6-metre-high metal structure decorated with 3,000 silk flowers and old-trade emblems
- Flea markets, torch-lit parades and children's entertainment including fair games
- false