Fire breaks out at future Kanal-Centre Pompidou in Brussels, threatens opening

A fire broke out on July 6, 2026, at the construction site of the future Kanal-Centre Pompidou in Brussels, less than five months before its scheduled opening. The blaze started in a technical room under the roof, producing a large column of gray smoke. Firefighters quickly brought it under control, and no injuries or damage to artworks were reported, as exhibition spaces were still empty. However, part of the roof and technical equipment were affected. The fire occurred in the wing that will house Kanal Architecture, a future center for architectural archives. An assessment of the damage is underway to determine potential delays to the opening, set for November 28, 2026. The project, a partnership with the Centre Pompidou in Paris, transforms the former Citroën garage (1930s) into a 40,000 m² museum of modern and contemporary art and architecture. Acquired by the Brussels-Capital Region in 2015, it has undergone over ten years of renovation. The museum will present French national collections alongside its own programming. The fire threatens the already-delayed opening date.