Every year on 21 February, International Mother Language Day is celebrated. This UNESCO initiative highlights the linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism of the world. The Faculty of Arts is also joining in the celebrations, one day earlier on 20 February 2026, with an extensive programme on mother tongues and multilingualism, in poems and conversations.

Programme

12:00 - 12:30: Welcome! Welcome! Wilkommen! Bienvenue! (multiple languages).

12:30 - 12:40: Launch of competition on the use of foreign languages in the streets of Antwerp via the Lingscape app by Emmanuelle Labeau. (language: English) There are two ways to participate in the Multilingual Antwerp project (see: MeerAnt on Lingscape):

• Quantitative competition: whoever uploads the most photos of foreign languages in Antwerp wins!
• Quality competition: send a photo of a text in Antwepren in a language you speak to emmanuelle.labeau@uantwerpen.bewith the subject line “Mother Language Day competition”. Translate the text and explain in a maximum of 100 words what the text is about and how we should interpret it in the Antwerp context.
  

12:40 - 14:00: Poetry afternoon: students and lecturers from the faculty recite their favourite (or self-written) poems. Campus poet Vince Noens opens and closes the afternoon (multiple languages).

14:00 - 15:00: Linguapolis organises a conversation table (multiple languages).

15:00 - 16:00: Philippe Vanhoof gives an introduction to the translation exhibition Éloignez-vous de ma fenêtre/Ga weg bij mijn raam (Move away from my window) in the foyer of the Brantijser, followed by a free visit (language: Dutch).

16:00 - 18:00: Alumna Joke Prinssen presents her poetry debut Het Proefkonijnencarnaval (The Guinea Pig Carnival). The collection will also be on sale during the reception after the performance (language: Dutch).

Practical information

Friday, 20 February 2026, starting at 12:00 noon

UAntwerp City Campus, Het Brantijser, Sint-Jacobsmarkt 13, 2000 Antwerp, room s.KS.203

Participation is free of charge, and you can register for each part of the programme separately using the button below.