The Smell of Grass is Changing

“If grass smells like concrete, a village will lose the authenticity needed to survive. The balance will shift.”

– Koen Vanmechelen

For the 2026 edition of the art festival, we aim for a Watou shaped by collectives and collabs, celebrating collaborative creation’s diversity and strength. The theme of the open call was “The Smell of Grass is Changing”. It represents the adaptation, transformation and renewal we seek in the arts, inviting reflection on our changing world and its impact on our creative process and interactions.

More than 250 collectives signed up. And in the end, more than 100 collectives submitted a project proposal.

In spring 2025, the jury will select the participants for the festival edition 2026.

The jury consists of Koen Vanmechelen, Michaël Vandebril, Jelle Van Riet, Loes Vandromme, Bart Lodewijks, Tom Bogaert, Liesbet Billiet, Sara Weyns and Tamara Beheydt.