access-i.be, the platform on accessibility in Wallonia-Brussels

This audit and certification project was made possible thanks to the invaluable support of visit.brussels.

The Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria Brussels is a fully renovated historic 5-star hotel, situated in the heart of Brussels within a Belle Époque-style building. It combines architectural prestige with modern comfort in a central location close to public transport and the city’s main attractions.

General accessibility

• The hotel offers assistance for guests with specific needs and adapted facilities for guests with reduced mobility in certain communal areas.

• A lift facilitates access to the floors and various levels of the building.

• The toilets are accessible.

Adapted rooms and facilities

• The hotel has 7 rooms for guests with reduced mobility.

• The rooms are designed to offer more space for wheelchair users, with accessible showers, washbasins and toilets fitted with folding seats and grab rails on both sides.

Access to the hotel

• The main entrance is accessible via steps at ground floor level; however, an alternative entrance is available. It is recommended that you contact the hotel before your arrival or inform the staff at the entrance to gain level access via this alternative entrance.

• The lift is available for moving between floors.

Common areas

• The hotel includes public areas (reception, lounges, restaurants, bar, spa/pool) where wheelchair access is available throughout.

Practical advice

• It is strongly recommended that you book an accessible room in advance and specify any specific requirements.

• You can ask the hotel for dedicated assistance on arrival or departure, from the street or a parking area.

Photo credits for Corinthia : © Booking, © Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria

Photo credits for the technical gallery : © Plain-Pied - Laurent Duquesne

⚠️ Following an inspection of all the festival’s facilities by the consultancy firm Esenca, a temporary access arrangement for people with reduced mobility has had to be put in place to provide access to the ticket office or the village’s Agora. This arrangement should remain in place for the duration of the festival, despite the roadworks and building works taking place. You may ask for assistance from any volunteers who may be in the village courtyard, as the entrance to the building for people with reduced mobility is at the far right of the façade, facing the Parc Royal (see technical photo).

Various Voices is an international choral festival that takes place in a different country every year.

In 2026, in Belgium – and specifically in Brussels – more than 120 international choirs will be performing a series of concerts from Wednesday 24 June to Sunday 29 June. These concerts will take place in the following venues: the Salle Henry Leboeuf or M at Bozar, Auditorium 490 (Magritte Museum), the Royal Circus, La Madeleine, and on Sunday at the ING Arena.

Other activities are planned in Brussels city centre (free street concerts at the Bourse, Place Sainte-Catherine, Mont des Arts, City Hall… (see website for further details).

A festival village is planned in the courtyard and within the BIP Meeting Centre building. The courtyard is cobbled, but the building is accessible. Food trucks and a bar will be there to welcome you. Toilets will be available inside the BIP building. You can find more information on the BIP’s accessibility on the following page : BIP Meeting Centre.

Apart from Auditorium 490, bars will be available to festival-goers during the concerts, but these may not always be accessible as their operation depends directly on the venue managers.

Practical information :

• For the Access-i certification, only the following six concert venues were assessed: Bozar, Auditorium 490, La Madeleine, the Cirque Royal, the ING Arena and the C12. Access on foot or by public transport between these venues was taken into account.

• The accessibility assessment applies only to audience members and not to choir members.

• It is more difficult for choir members to access the stages at the Cirque Royal, the Auditorium 490 or the Bozar rehearsal rooms. Alternative entrances are being considered on festival days, with support from dedicated volunteers.

• Outside the festival period, rehearsal spaces have been identified. These rehearsals will be scheduled in venues that meet the specific accessibility requirements of the choirs. (Venues not accessible: Rainbow, Marsha, P Johnson, Stade Room).

• Tickets for the festival must be purchased online.

• A cycle taxi service will be available upon booking.

• All access information is available on the event website : Practical Information – Various Voices. ⚠️ The event website is not accessible.

Various Voices photo credits : © Various Voices, © Esenca – Christine Bourdeauducq

Technical gallery photo credits : © Esenca – Christine Bourdeauducq