Libramont Fair Turns 100: A Century of Agricultural Heritage
The Libramont Agricultural Fair, one of Belgium’s most cherished rural traditions, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this week with a historic royal visit, ambitious sustainability initiatives, and a powerful visual retrospective of a century of farming history. Running from July 24 to 27 in the Walloon province of Luxembourg, the centenary edition marks a milestone for an event that has grown from a modest gathering of Ardennes draft horse breeders into the largest open-air agricultural fair in Europe.
From Humble Beginnings to European Landmark
Founded in 1926 by Ardennes draft horse breeders who formed the Libramont Coopéralia cooperative, the fair was initially a small trading post for local farmers. The first official edition in 1927 featured just 160 horses, three exhibitors, and 10,000 visitors. Today, according to RTBF, the fair attracts over 220,000 annual visitors and nearly 800 exhibitors across a sprawling 300,000 m² site.
The fair’s evolution mirrors the transformation of European agriculture itself, surviving two world wars, economic crises, and the shift from labor-intensive family farms to a capital-intensive, technology-driven industry. What began as a horse-focused trading event now encompasses machinery, livestock, forestry, agri-food, horticulture, research, education, and culture.
Royal Recognition
In a historic first, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium visited the fair on July 22 as its first guests — the first time a reigning Belgian monarch has attended the event. According to L’Avenir, the royal visit underscored the fair’s national significance and provided a moment of recognition for Belgian agriculture.
Sustainability at the Forefront
The 2026 edition has placed environmental sustainability at the center of its programming. As the official fair website details, organizers have planted a centenary orchard, vineyard, hop field, and vegetable greenhouse on-site, while a crowdfunding campaign supports further greening efforts. The ambition is clear: to make Libramont “the most sustainable fair in Europe.”
A reinforced focus on local sourcing means that all beers served at the fair must use Belgian ingredients, and a special centenary brew called “La 26” has been produced by Brasserie Nationale (Battin) using local barley and malt. Partnerships with local producer cooperatives ensure that dozens of farmers benefit from direct contact with the public.
Innovation and Youth Engagement
Beyond its agricultural roots, the fair is positioning itself as a laboratory for the future of farming. The “Connected Agriculture” platform promotes precision farming techniques that reduce pesticide use through data-driven practices. A new agri-tech startup accelerator, Scale Me Up Agro, launched this year in partnership with Mind & Market, offering workshops, investor speed meetings, and pitch competitions.
The 2026 theme, “Cultive ton flow” (Cultivate your flow), places young people at the heart of the program. A new Education, Training and Careers hub showcases opportunities in agriculture, livestock, and forestry, complete with an escape game, a CV wall, and a dedicated app to help young visitors find their ideal career path.
RTBF’s Exceptional Media Coverage
Belgium’s French-language public broadcaster RTBF has mounted an exceptional media operation for the centenary. As reported by Antoine Binamé, the RTBF Village on-site features journalism workshops, Auvio Kids activities, a Farming Simulator gaming experience, and a photo exhibition. Radio channels VivaCité and Tipik are broadcasting live throughout the event, with a special 52-minute episode of “Quel Temps pour la Planète” airing on July 25.
A Century of Connection
As Claire Verstraete of RTBF wrote in her historical retrospective, the fair’s mission remains to “connect the children of the earth to spark questioning, to bring out and share innovative and sustainable solutions for agriculture, forestry and the environment.”
From 160 horses in a field to 220,000 visitors across 30 hectares, the Libramont Fair has grown far beyond its founders’ imagination. As it enters its second century, the challenge will be balancing its traditional agricultural identity with the urgent demands of sustainability, technology, and a new generation of farmers. The next chapter of this century-old story promises to be as dynamic as the first.