Belgian Motorcycle Sales Hit 15-Year High; Dhont Opens Fest

Belgium’s new motorcycle market has surged to its highest level in 15 years, with 16,368 registrations in the first half of 2026 — a 13.2% increase year-over-year — while internationally acclaimed director Lukas Dhont prepares to open the 53rd edition of Film Fest Gent with his award-winning war drama “Coward.”

Motorcycle Sales: A Market in High Gear

The first six months of 2026 marked the strongest performance for new motorcycle sales in Belgium since 2011, when 17,327 units were registered, according to data from mobility umbrella organization Mobia. Growth was recorded across all engine displacements except the heaviest class (over 1,000cc), which saw a 3.3% decline.

“After an excellent first quarter, the new motorcycle market also experienced a strong second quarter,” said Christophe Dubon, spokesperson for FEBIAC. “Growth over the first six months stands at +13.2% compared to the first semester of 2025. With 16,368 new units, this is the highest level in fifteen years.”

125cc models are the standout performers, largely because they can be ridden with a standard B driving license, making them accessible without a separate motorcycle permit. Honda, BMW, and Yamaha lead the market, followed by Kawasaki and CF Moto, while Chinese brands posted spectacular percentage gains.

The Brussels Motor Show in January gave the year a strong start, and the introduction of new models and updates continues to fuel consumer interest. Regionally, Flanders accounts for 57.2% of new motorcycle sales, followed by Wallonia at 37.1% and Brussels at 5.8%. Walloon Brabant was the strongest-growing province at +17.6%, while Brussels grew 8% despite its declining market share — likely driven by restrictions on older, more polluting motorcycles in the capital.

Second-Hand Market Slows

Unlike the new market, the second-hand motorcycle sector declined 2.0% to 35,242 registrations, with a sharp 7.2% drop in the second quarter alone. Heavy motorcycles over 1,001cc saw the steepest decline at -8.5%, while 125cc models remain the largest second-hand segment with a 32.9% market share.

Adding to the uncertainty, the long-awaited abolition of the mandatory second-hand inspection in Flanders — first planned for July, then postponed to September — has now been delayed until early 2027. The sector is closely monitoring geopolitical tensions, oil prices, and declining consumer confidence as potential headwinds for the remainder of the year.

‘Coward’ by Lukas Dhont to Open Film Fest Gent

In cultural news, “Coward,” the third feature film by Belgian director Lukas Dhont, will serve as the opening film of the 53rd Film Fest Gent on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at Kunstencentrum VIERNULVIER. This marks the third time Dhont has opened the festival, following “Girl” (2018) and “Close” (2022).

The film had its world premiere at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in May 2026, where lead actors Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne jointly won the Best Actor award. Neither actor had formal training — Macchia, who plays the young soldier Pierre, had no prior acting experience and was discovered by Dhont at a school in Gembloux where he was studying landscape architecture.

Set during World War I in 1917, “Coward” follows Pierre, a young Belgian soldier eager to prove himself at the front, who meets Francis, tasked with boosting troop morale through improvised shows. As the Film Fest Gent program director Wim De Witte described it: “‘Coward’ is an ambitious new step in Lukas’s cinematic universe: a war film, a genre rarely seen in Belgian cinema, through which Lukas further deepens his own visual language. The film tells the story of the search for solace in the beauty of art amidst the horrors of war.”

Dhont received a standing ovation of nearly 15 minutes at Cannes and also won the Prix du Cinéma Positif. Speaking about the festival, Dhont said: “Film Fest Gent is of crucial importance in my development as a filmmaker. A place that allowed me to discover the many faces of cinema. The team behind ‘Coward’ and I are incredibly honored to open this new edition of the festival.”

Tickets for the opening screening are currently sold out, with a new wave available from September 17, 2026. The film will be released in Belgian cinemas from October 21 and in the Netherlands from October 22.

Outlook

Belgium’s motorcycle sector faces an uncertain second half of 2026, with geopolitical risks and consumer sentiment posing potential challenges to the strong momentum. Meanwhile, Dhont’s “Coward” continues the director’s remarkable trajectory — following “Girl” (Caméra d’Or, 2018) and “Close” (Grand Prix, 2022; Oscar nomination, 2023) — and positions Film Fest Gent once again as a launchpad for world-class Belgian cinema.