The Crystal Ship 10th Edition Transforms Ostend with Over 20 Murals

In spring 2026, Ostend, Belgium, hosted the 10th anniversary edition of The Crystal Ship, featuring more than 20 large-scale murals and public artworks throughout the city. Curated by Matthias Schoenaerts, a Belgian actor and artist known as Zenith, the festival showcased a diverse group of international talents in graffiti and street art. Notable contributors included Queen Andrea (New York), Adrian Iurco (Romanian-born, Antwerp-based), and ROA (Belgium), among others. Schoenaerts characterized public art as "oxygen" that transforms passersby into witnesses and fosters dialogue. The artworks, which included monochrome animals and politically themed pieces, seamlessly blended into urban life. ROA replaced his original rodent pyramid with seabirds, reflecting Ostend's coastal heritage, solidifying the city’s status as a premier open-air museum for contemporary urban art in Europe.