This year’s event hosts 62 stands representing 55 different countries, turning LuxExpo into a “global village.”
The Bazar is one of Luxembourg’s most anticipated annual events, drawing around 35,000 people last year. It officially opens on Friday at 6pm at LuxExpo, with an opening ceremony attended by Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and Princess Stéphanie.
Running until 10pm on Friday and continuing from 11am to 7pm on Saturday and 11am to 6pm on Sunday, the event features an array of national stands, live music, folkloric dances, and food from around the world. In addition to the entertainment, visitors can purchase unique gifts from across the globe, with all proceeds going to charity.
The charitable mission of the International Bazar is central to the event. Last year, it raised over half a million euros, benefiting more than 40 charities both locally and worldwide.
Each national stand can suggest charities, and these are carefully reviewed by a dedicated team to ensure funds are distributed responsibly.
The process is thorough, with each charity proposal undergoing financial checks and screenings for any negative news. Following this, the Bazar board and the stand heads approve the final allocation of funds.
Ulrik Møller, a volunteer with the International Bazar, shared insights in a recent radio interview on The Sam Steen Show about what attendees can look forward to this year. The event will span from Friday evening through to Sunday, offering something for everyone.
To manage crowds, organisers recommend using public transport, with tram and bus stops near the venue. The stands accept cash and card payments, and attendees can also purchase official Bazar merchandise to further support the charitable cause.
For added fun, RTL Today and Today Radio will be on-site Saturday with music, games, and prizes for visitors, giving everyone a chance to meet some of the people working behind the scenes
For those planning to attend, more details about the schedule, participating stands, and supported charities can be found at bazar-international.lu.
Our colleagues from RTL Infos went through the archives of the Centre for Audiovisual Content (CNA) and dug out footage from 1964 and 1980, which immediately takes you back to a bygone era.
The footage from November 1980 is particularly interesting, because it was shot when a certain Maria Teresa made one of her first public appearances – if not the first – in Luxembourg!
At the time, the future Grand Duchess was enrolled at the University of Geneva, where she obtained a degree in political science in 1980. And it was at the university where she met her future husband, Prince Henri of Luxembourg. Their engagement was announced at the end of their studies on 7 November 1980. Their wedding took place a few months later, in 1981, on Valentine’s Day. And the rest is history.
