Manneken-Pis – Bright Brussels 2026

Since the 17th century, the Manneken-Pis has regularly been dressed in costumes donated by institutions and personalities from around the world. Today, his wardrobe includes more than 1,000 outfits, carefully preserved by the City of Brussels.

But some of these pieces have become too precious or too fragile to be worn by the famous statue.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Bright Brussels Festival in 2026, visit.brussels and the Manneken-Pis Wardrobe Museum came up with a different way to bring this heritage back to life: projecting historical costumes directly onto the statue using video mapping.

Following a competitive tender involving several studios, waaaw.studio was selected to bring this extraordinary fashion show to life.

A project where Brussels’ heritage, digital creativity and technical innovation would have to strike the perfect balance.

Creating a video mapping experience on a statue just 55 cm tall? Quite a different challenge from a traditional large-scale projection!

With its dark, shiny bronze surface, the Manneken-Pis wasn’t exactly ideal for direct projection. Add a narrow street, a protected monument and large crowds to the mix, and we needed a solution that was as precise as it was discreet.

The technical solution relied on two complementary elements.

First, a neutral, matte white costume, specially made in Binche, to provide a surface perfectly suited to projection.

Then, two projectors installed 3.5 metres above the ground on compact technical towers, allowing us to work around the constraints of the protective railings and the presence of spectators.

On our side, everything began with a 3D scan of the Manneken-Pis and its surroundings, essential for accurately reproducing the shapes and anticipating projection constraints.

We then developed a 3D video mapping template, allowing us to adapt the animations to the statue’s contours with great precision.

The selected historical costumes were also 3D-scanned, with the museum curator’s approval, to faithfully reproduce their details and distinctive features.

A meticulous process, from modelling to content production, completed in just two weeks, including on-site technical alignment and adjustments.

Small monument, big challenge!

At waaaw.studio, we didn’t just want to project clothes onto a statue. We wanted to tell a story through each costume.

So we imagined a genuine fashion show made of light, combining 3D animation, graphic design, visual environments and sound.

Each outfit came to life in a world inspired by its era and history, transforming the Manneken-Pis into a miniature open-air stage.

To accompany the animations, minimalist labels displayed the name and year of each costume, with a presentation designed for three languages.

In total, 13 historical costumes took turns in the spotlight, each appearing for around 20 seconds, in a looping video mapping experience created for festival visitors.

The result? An original light experience bringing together Brussels’ heritage and creative technologies.

Thanks to this visual staging, the Manneken-Pis could once again wear outfits that were too fragile to be worn physically, without risking damage to a single stitch.

The project was ready for the press evening on 12 February 2026, leading to several interviews, including appearances on Notélé and RTBF VivaCité’s Les Ambassadeurs with Pascal Laroche.

A wonderful opportunity to demonstrate how video mapping can help showcase cultural heritage and allow audiences to discover it in a whole new light.

Who says you need to be tall to make a big impression? Even at just 55 cm!

Curious to see what went on behind the scenes? From the first preparations to the final on-site adjustments, join the waaaw.studio team for an exclusive look at this project!

Technical challenges, team moments and unexpected anecdotes: discover our adventure before, during and after the Bright Brussels Festival in our YouTube vlog!