The FTI Festival Innovates… with OVAL!
Antwerp, 8 May 2026 – FTI - Festival '26, an initiative by VLAIO and the Flemish Government, aims to bring together citizens, businesses and researchers, stimulate entrepreneurship, and showcase solutions to societal challenges. Brand experience agency OVAL will take charge of the overall organisation of the central event in Mechelen, immersing visitors in an 18,000 m² innovative experience for three weeks…
“We are incredibly excited about this assignment, it will be a challenge on a grand scale. But above all, what drives us is the content: the opportunity to make innovation tangible and accessible to a broad audience.”
– Annick Nees, Client Service Director at OVAL
Major ambitions, powered by innovation and technology
In addition to the seven regional festivals, the central FTI festival at Nekkerhal in Mechelen is targeting 95,000 visitors. Starting from October 19th, they will ‘get interactively lost’ among the most innovative technologies Flanders has to offer. From curious students to ambitious entrepreneurs, everyone will be taken through a whirlwind of wonder and discovery.
Virtually everyone involved in innovation and technology in Flanders will be present. More than 200 organisations are joining forces to demonstrate that opportunities are abundant right here on our own doorstep. Study STEM, dare to invest in innovation, embrace the right technologies and, above all, collaborate. Learn from one another. Help each other move forward. And it is precisely this vision - bringing people together - that perfectly aligns with OVAL’s core competency: ‘We connect. For Real.’
“At Flanders Technology & Innovation, we are very much looking forward to a creative collaboration with the OVAL team. Thanks to their expertise and creative proposal, we aim to transform the central venue in Mechelen into a total experience for young and old alike, right in the heart of Flanders, over the course of several weeks. During the selection process, we were particularly impressed by their professional approach, their content-driven vision, and their innovative ideas for the programme and the venue experience.”
– Dries Mahieu, Festival Director, Flanders Technology & Innovation
About FTI-festival
FTI – Flanders Technology & Innovation Festival – is Flanders’ largest technology and innovation festival. From 16 October to 15 November 2026, visitors across various Flemish cities will discover how technology, innovation and entrepreneurship are shaping our future. Through a dynamic mix of inspiring exhibitions, interactive experiences, talks, workshops and networking events, FTI brings together citizens, businesses, researchers, students and policymakers to explore the societal challenges of tomorrow. Discover the full programme at https://www.ftifestival.be/
Contact:
press@weareoval.eu