Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The 14th M‑IDZOMER festival (31 July–3 Aug 2025) at M Leuven blends music and art, featuring Arooj Aftab, Trixie Whitley, Gabriel Ríos, emerging LOOF talent, and exhibitions by Sigefride Bruna Hautman and Grace Schwindt.
According to VRT News, M‑IDZOMER will be 14th edition festival, from 31 July – 3 August 2025, is set to bring music and arts to M Leuven’s courtyard. It will begin Thursday, July 31, 2025, with Arooj Aftab, a Pakistani singer, someone who won a Grammy, and was noted by The Guardian.
Her mix of jazz, Sufi music, indie pop and electronic sounds will open the event. On Friday, Aug 1, 2025, Belgian‑American singer Trixie Whitley will perform songs from her new EP The Dragon of Everything. It is her first new work in 5 years.
What does the M‑IDZOMER festival in Leuven offer in its 14th edition?
On Saturday, August 2, 2025, Gabriel Ríos will perform songs from his new album Playa Negra, his first record sung fully in Spanish. On Sunday, August 3, 2025, the festival will end with The Tallest Man on Earth, the project of Swedish artist Kristian Matsson. Beyond the main shows, M‑IDZOMER will also fill the museum with art displays, exhibitions, and performances by new talents.
According to officials, M‑IDZOMER will also give space to new talent. Singer‑songwriters from the LOOF program, a project by Het Depot and VI.BE will play in the museum galleries.
“Last week, we held a songwriting camp with ten young artists. They worked hard together on new songs. These are all names to keep an eye on,”
says Mike Naert, the artistic director of Het Depot and the festival planner.
During the 4 days, M Leuven will show work by artists like Sigefride Bruna Hautman and Grace Schwindt. A special project called “Art that Enters” will display pieces from private collections that the public rarely sees. Visitors can also look through the “Collection of M,” which holds art from many centuries. In 2024, it drew 5,700 visitors, and the organisers expect even more people for this 14th edition.
“M-IDZOMER isn’t a traditional city festival. It’s an artistic statement in the heart of Leuven, where music and visual arts complement each other,”
says Bert Cornillie (Vooruit), chairman of M Leuven and Leuven’s alderman for culture and events.
M‑IDZOMER first began in 2010 as a small local initiative to bring music into the courtyard and galleries of M Leuven. Organised by M Leuven, Het Depot, and 30CC, its goal was to offer a unique “cultural total experience”, combining concerts, art, performance, and readings in an inspiring museum setting.
