2026WOMEN
2026WOMEN is an international cultural project and a women-led movement that aims to raise awareness about violence and injustice against women worldwide. Representing the rich diversity of both the European and global community, women’s groups from four major port cities such as Antwerp, Rotterdam, Marseille and Barcelona join forces to reflect on the past 50 years since the first International Tribunal on Crimes against Women.
Since 2023, locally, bi-monthly discussion groups and artistic workshops take place in each harbour city, where the women participants explore and express their reflections and experiences. Women present their testimonies in various artistic forms, including spoken word, dialogues, manifestos, songs, musical pieces, plastic arts, photos, and videos. Internationally, the groups exchange regularly, and gather once per year to share their artistic and personal testimonies during a workweek, with a public performance, exhibition and exchange programme. This way, they elevate the emancipatory exchange from each local trajectory to an international level.
OUR MISSION
Our work enables women from all social and cultural backgrounds to make their voices heard in cultural, academic, and political forums. By educating and empowering them, we work towards developing strong and inclusive local and international networks and safe spaces, stimulating support and solidarity.
Our goal with these events is to develop participatory public debate, civic engagement, and social change. By prioritising the voices and experiences of women, we aim to foster opportunities for co-creation and collaboration with decision-makers, stakeholders, and others on the issue of violence and injustice against women.
OUR PLAN
From 25 to 28 March 2026, across Brussels and Antwerp, a large-scale public event will be organised to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Tribunal on Crimes Against Women (see background here). Hosted in Antwerp at the Arenberg theatre, it will offer opportunities for a broad network of women, and their organisations, to exchange and participate in a diversity of women-led activities such as workshops, debates, exhibitions, performances, concerts and more.
The Tribunal26 will also include a public performance of the 2026WOMEN initiative, involving 40 women performers from Antwerp, Rotterdam, Marseille and Barcelona. A collective of organisations, from Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Spain and beyond, will collaborate on the organisation of the Tribunal26 event, led by Madam Fortuna. Together they will develop a full program of ARTivist and ACTivist interventions, focused on the issue of violence against women.
A detailed schedule will be shared closer to the date. Stay tuned for the full programme via our the Tribunal26 page.
Check below the presentation of our project in different languages:
2026WOMEN en het Tribunal26 (Nederlands)
2026WOMEN et le Tribunal26 (Français)
2026WOMEN y el Tribunal26 (Español)
2026WOMEN and the Tribunal26 (English)