Why is Ghent's Wintercircus staging its technology festival again?
Ghent's Wintercircus — the redeveloped former circus building that now houses a technology and innovation community — will once more host a technology festival, according to Het Nieuwsblad.
In 30 seconds
- Het Nieuwsblad reports that Ghent's Wintercircus will again organise a technology festival.
- The Wintercircus is a redeveloped former circus building in central Ghent now used as a technology and innovation hub.
- The reporting available did not specify dates, visitor numbers, participating companies or financing for this edition.
- The event functions as a public shop window for Ghent's start-up and knowledge economy.
The Wintercircus is a redeveloped former circus building in central Ghent (East Flanders) that has been converted into a hub for technology companies, start-ups and innovation programmes. According to Het Nieuwsblad, it will again host a technology festival. Named entities in the wider ecosystem include Ghent University, the Flemish start-up scene and research institutes such as imec; the specific organisers, corporate participants and financing of this particular festival were not detailed in the available reporting.
Background
The Wintercircus began as a circus hall, later served as a garage and stood empty for years before a redevelopment turned it into a home for technology firms and innovation activity. Reusing decayed heritage buildings as working innovation hubs — rather than restoring them as static monuments — has become a recognisable model in Flemish cities, betting that a daily commercial function and occasional public events can make expensive restorations financially sustainable.
What to do
Local founders and job-seekers get a nearby, low-cost venue for recruitment and partnerships; nearby businesses can plan for event-driven demand; the reader should treat unpublished figures with caution until organisers confirm them.
Impact
Regional — Directly relevant to Ghent and East Flanders: the event uses a restored city-centre building as a shop window for the local tech and start-up economy, with practical spillovers for nearby hospitality and for graduates entering the local labour market. It fits the wider Flemish policy of anchoring prosperity in innovation districts.
EvidenceDeveloping · 1 primary source · some details remain unconfirmedExplore evidence →Hide evidence ↑
- Publication date unavailable
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 10 Aug 2026
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This story was assembled from verified evidence, with its sources and reasoning recorded as it was written.