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day · range · Tournai (Centre-ville de Tournai) BE

Kermesse de Tournai - Grande Procession et 4 Corteges

Vermoedelijk oudste processie van Belgie (11e eeuw) met de 4 Corteges, reuzen, middeleeuwse reliekschrijnen, braderie en erfgoedweekend.

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Position Kermesse de Tournai as Belgium's oldest heritage procession to attract cultural tourists and local heritage enthusiasts during the festival weekend.

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  • Discover 11th-century tradition: Belgium's oldest procession comes alive with medieval reliquaries and giant floats
  • Heritage weekend in Tournai: immerse yourself in centuries of Belgian cultural history
  • From sacred procession to street market: experience the full Kermesse experience
  • Giant characters and medieval treasures: what makes Tournai's Kermesse unique
Programmetypical · 2026 TBC

The Kermesse de Tournai runs September 11–14, 2026 as a 4-day festival combining the Grande Procession (historic and religious), 4 Cortèges, Concile des Chevaliers de la Tour, and a large annual flea market. The multifaceted programming showcases local identity through historical floats, giants, costumes, and group performances against the backdrop of the city's 5-spire cathedral.

  • Grande Procession: 70+ costumed groups and ~1,000 participants presenting medieval treasures and reliquaries from Tournai's churches, with 19 musical ensembles
  • the tradition dates to 1092
  • 4 Cortèges: Parades of giant figures, flower-bedecked floats, and musical groups animating the city's main axes
  • Concile des Chevaliers de la Tour: Annual ceremony honouring personalities as ambassadors pledged to promote cultural, social and heritage values of the city
  • Grande Braderie: ~200 street vendors and antique dealers filling the city centre
  • Free event weekend