We can’t wait to welcome you to the 16th edition of Dataharvest in 2026!
From 28-31 May, we’ll once again gather Europe’s journalists in the historic market town of Mechelen. In this small, multi-cultural city of around 90,000 people, that sits halfway between Brussels and Antwerp, Arena for Journalism in Europe will host #Dataharvest26: 4 days of training, networking, collaboration and celebration.
While our European Investigative Journalism Conference is popular, and sees many repeat attendees (some who have been to almost every edition!), we know some of you will be attending for the first time.
If that’s you, here’s a short guide on how to make the best of your Dataharvest trip — especially if you’re attending on a budget!
Food
The first thing to know is that during the two full conference days, Friday and Saturday, the conference team provides a complimentary lunch for all Dataharvest attendees.
In addition, coffee and juice are available throughout each day on the ground floor and the top floor. All food served during the conference will be vegetarian or vegan, and accommodations are made for all allergies.
Above and beyond the lunch provided, self catering can be a great way to save money – there are a number of mini supermarkets in the centre of town, just a short walk from the conference venue. And the Kruidtuin botanical garden across the street from the conference venue makes a great place for a picnic.
Throughout the centre of Mechelen, you will find restaurants in all price ranges. Some examples of good value or low cost menus are:
- The food court Vleeshalle, which, with a bar and many stalls to choose from, allows you to eat together with a group even when you all desire a different cuisine. (Huidevettersstraat 7)
- Ronda is a Moroccan restaurant with many options. Look out for specials written on the boards in and outside the restaurant; it’s a good option if you want a vegetable-heavy homecooked tagine! (Vismarkt 11)
- A couple of plant based options now: a good-value vegan burger place is Funky Jungle, just opposite the cathedral (Onder-den-Toren 7)
- Také is a Thai and Japanese street food restaurant which serves 100% plant based meals (Befferstraat 12)
- If you’re happy to spend a little more, and you want to share food among a group, Sava on the Grote Markt is a lovely Tapas restaurant that has some set menus for sharing. (Grote Markt 13)
- Finally, if you’re looking for fast food then Cook Mazi, just off the Grote Markt, is a kebab bar that stays open late! (Steenweg 30)
Travel
The vast majority of Dataharvest attendees will arrive via the nearest major transport hub: Brussels. It’s a 20 minute train ride from there to Mechelen, and tickets are reasonable.
If you’re travelling by train, be aware that the main station in Brussels has a dual name: Brussels Midi/Zuid. (Midi is French, and Zuid is Flemish). It may be named one or the other, or both, depending on the signage. You can plan your journey and buy your tickets in advance via Belgian Rail.
If you’re flying, Brussels Airport (BRU) is the closest and has trains directly to Mechelen, taking around 10 minutes.
Google flight data shows that, while prices fluctuate constantly based on a number of factors (such as availability and days of the week), the best time to buy a short-haul air ticket is around 2 months ahead.
If you’re driving: Nearby car parks include ‘Parking Zandpoortvest‘ at Zandpoortvest 70, and Q-Park Bruul at Hendrik Speecqvest 1000.
Hotels
Conferences usually result in local hotels becoming booked up quickly. So sort your accommodation as soon as you can for the best rates.
There are plenty of private and holiday lets that may provide a great, affordable alternative to a hotel in Mechelen, but if you’re looking for a central hotel the following have reasonable rates and decent reviews:
It’s also possible to find hostels, and/or cheaper stays in other towns if you choose. Brussels and Antwerp are only around 20-30 minutes away by train.
To wrap up
If you want to do a deep dive on things to see and do in the city, here is the city’s guide to Mechelen, and some travel guides from Cultural Wednesday and Emma’s Roadmap.
Plus, every year our team at Arena gets together with members of the Dataharvest community to put on side events — there will be a quiz, a walk, and some new events to be confirmed! Look out for these in the programme when it goes live.
For more information on the conference, see our Practicalities page, or just ask one of our friendly team (you can spot us wearing orange lanyards) once you arrive.
We can’t wait to welcome you to Dataharvest once again!