Brussels Flower Carpet Returns with Hokusai-Inspired Design
The 24th edition of the Brussels Flower Carpet has transformed the Grand-Place into a spectacular floral tribute to Japan, featuring a design inspired by Katsushika Hokusai’s iconic woodblock print “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.” The biennial event, which opened on Thursday and runs through 16 August, celebrates the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Belgium and Japan.
The massive floral display, measuring 70 meters long by 24 meters wide and covering approximately 1,680 square meters, was assembled by more than 100 volunteers in under six hours. According to Nippon.com, some 750,000 dahlias were used to recreate the legendary wave on the cobblestones of the UNESCO World Heritage site.
A Modern Reinterpretation of a Masterpiece
The 2026 design, titled “Neo Hokusai,” was created by Japanese artist Hiro Sugiyama and his collective “Enlightenment.” Sugiyama, an artist and lecturer at Kyoto University of the Arts, reimagined Hokusai’s 19th-century masterpiece through a contemporary lens, fusing traditional motifs such as waves, Mount Fuji and mystical beings with digital techniques and bold compositions.
“Through this synthesis, I seek to connect the past and the future, the analogue and the digital, Japanese culture and contemporary art,” Sugiyama said, as quoted on the official Flower Carpet website. “In this pivotal year marking 160 years of friendship between Belgium and Japan, I am delighted to bring this work to life in the form of a Flower carpet.”
For the striking border pattern, Sugiyama chose his country’s traditional Kumiko motif, evoking the notion of infinite continuity, as The Bulletin reported.
Dahlias Chosen for Heat Resistance
This year’s edition arrives during a severe heatwave in Belgium, and organizers made a notable shift in floral selection. Dahlias were chosen over the traditional begonias because they are more resistant to high temperatures and offer a wider range of colors, from dusky pastels to intense vivid hues.
Dahlias represent approximately 80% of the floral display, thanks to a collaboration with the Bloemencorso Loenhout association. The flowers, all grown in Belgium and near the Dutch border, are expected to maintain their splendor despite the blazing temperatures.
A Celebration of Belgium-Japan Friendship
This is the second time Japan has been the guest of honor at the flower carpet, following the 2016 edition for the 150th anniversary of Belgium-Japan relations. The diplomatic ties date back to the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation of 1866, and bilateral trade is now estimated at approximately 14 billion euros per year, with around 250 Japanese companies active in Belgium, as RTL Info noted.
Japanese Ambassador to Belgium Takeshi Osuga emphasized the cultural significance of the event. “The love of flowers is a universal language,” he said, according to La Libre. “In Japan as in Belgium, flowers occupy a special place, anchored in our cultural and social lives.”
New Features and Visitor Experience
For the first time in the event’s history, a second, smaller flower carpet has been installed at the Bourse (Stock Exchange) in Brussels, inspired by hops as a symbol of Belgian brewing heritage. Visitors can follow a floral trail linking the Grand-Place with this new installation, as The Bulletin reported.
Sound and light shows enhance the experience every evening from 21:00 to 23:00, casting a dreamy glow over Hokusai’s Great Wave rendered in colorful flowers. The carpet can be viewed for free from the Grand-Place, or from the panoramic balcony of the City Hall with tickets available at the entrance.
The event, which attracts approximately 200,000 visitors from around the world, is part of the Brussels Region’s intangible cultural heritage, a status it has held since October 2020. The tradition dates back to 1971, when landscape architect Etienne Stautemas created the first flower carpet on the Grand-Place, and has been held every two years since 1986.
A Timeless Tradition in a Modern World
As visitors marvel at the intricate floral design against the backdrop of the medieval square’s baroque facades, the flower carpet continues to demonstrate the enduring power of cultural exchange. The Euronews coverage captured the scene of the giant floral wave sweeping across the historic square, a vivid testament to how art, tradition and diplomacy can bloom together in spectacular fashion.
The flower carpet remains on display through Sunday, 16 August, offering visitors a fleeting but unforgettable glimpse of a masterpiece reborn in petals.