Day of the French Community – September 27, 2026

History of Day of the French Community

The Day of the French Community holiday was first celebrated in 1975. This day commemorates a significant event during the Belgian Revolution in which the royal army was unsuccessful in recapturing Brussels from the Walloon revolutionaries.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Belgians were unhappy under the rule of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. On August 25 of the year 1830, a riot broke out after, amongst other things, a performance of Daniel Auber’s patriotic opera “La muette de Portici.” This led to an uprising in which crowds rushed to the streets and took control of government buildings while shouting patriotic slogans.

Back then, the Estates-General convinced Crown Prince William, who represented the monarchy in Brussels, that the administrative separation of north and south was the only solution to alleviate the crisis. However, the crown prince’s father, King William I, rejected the proposed terms of accommodation. Later, the royal army could not retake Brussels and a provisional government was declared in Brussels after which the Dutch troops retreated.

When we talk about the French Community of Belgium, it refers to the French-speaking populace that resides in the Walloon Region. They constitute about 41% of the country’s population and about 80% of the Francophone Belgians reside in Wallonia. In fact, this community, also known as the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, has its own parliament, government, administration, and flag.

In June 1975, the French Community chose the date of September 27 as French Community Day. On Day of the French Community, all schools are closed, however, some businesses remain open. People celebrate the holiday with concerts, theatrical performances, and sporting events.