The National Convention JCI Belgium 2026 (NCN 2026) took place from 18 to 20 September 2026 at C-mine in Genk. Hosted by JCI Genk, the three-day congress brought around 300 young professionals and entrepreneurs to the former Winterslag coal mine for a programme on leadership, innovation and change management in times of AI, with keynotes by Johan Thijs (KBC Group), Peter Croonen (KRC Genk) and Katleen Vandersmissen (Heran).
This page is for members who want to look back on the weekend, for young entrepreneurs and professionals who are curious about JCI, and for chapters preparing a future edition. New to JCI? Discover how JCI Belgium started, the national projects our members run, and the upcoming events where you can experience JCI yourself.
National Convention JCI Belgium 2026 at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | Friday 18 – Sunday 20 September 2026 |
| Venue | C-mine, former Winterslag coal mine, Genk (Limburg) |
| Host chapter | JCI Genk, active since 1973 |
| Participants | Around 300 JCI members from all over Belgium |
| Theme | From coal to bang |
| Languages | English, Dutch and French sessions |
| Side event | Matched by JCI golf edition, Friday 18 September, Spiegelven Golf Club Genk |
| Preparation | More than 18 months, fully run by volunteers |
What is the NCN of JCI Belgium?
The National Convention (NCN) is the yearly national congress of JCI Belgium, where members from local chapters in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels meet for a weekend of keynotes, training, the national General Assembly and the national awards. Each year a different chapter hosts it. JCI Belgium is the Belgian branch of Junior Chamber International, a worldwide network for young professionals and young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 40. In Belgium, the network counts more than 1,200 members and senators in some 40 local chapters. The 2026 edition followed the National Convention 2025 in Aalst.
Why Genk and C-mine?
Genk reinvented itself from a mining town into a city of new industry and creativity, which made it a natural host for a congress about change. For national president Bart Van Proeyen, it was also personal: “Thirteen years ago, my own JCI story started here, at JCI Genk. A city that reinvented itself from its mining past into new energy is the perfect place to show what JCI stands for: getting people moving and helping tomorrow’s leaders grow.”
The programme: change management in times of AI
The programme of the National Convention JCI Belgium 2026 combined keynotes, workshops in three languages, a company visit and cultural tours across Genk. See the full weekend programme on the event page.
Friday 18 September: Matched by JCI golf edition and ‘Getting Acquainted Party’
Before the congress started, JCI Belgium hosted theat Spiegelven Golf Club in Genk on Friday afternoon. Matched by JCI is the business matchmaking format of JCI Belgium, which connects members with entrepreneurs and business leaders. This edition traded the meeting room for the fairway, as a separate event outside the NCN ticket. In the evening, the Getting Acquainted Party at M-Hotel Genk officially opened the weekend and gave members from all regions a first chance to reconnect.
Saturday 19 September
Morning: General Assembly and founders’ stories
After breakfast in the Barenzaal, local presidents, senators and interested members of the local chapters met for the General Assembly of JCI Belgium in the C-mine Theater. In parallel, Limburg founders shared how they grew their companies, a group visited the Port of Limburg and a drop-in mine expedition took participants underground.
Afternoon: keynotes, workshops and Labiomista
After a culinary street experience inspired by the multicultural Vennestraat, Peter Croonen, Katleen Vandersmissen and Johan Thijs took the stage, followed by the panel “Unfiltered Conversations”. Other participants joined a French workshop on communication plans or explored art and nature at Labiomista.
Keynote speakers. Photo: Jeroen Olaerts (EXID)
Evening: awards and gala
The JCI Belgium awards 2026 ceremony was followed by the gala “Dine & Dance in the Mine” in the Barenzaal, the historic power plant hall of C-mine.
Sunday 20 September
An optional brunch at Genk City Hall closed the weekend for those who stayed on (not included in the NCN ticket).
Speakers and sessions
| Speaker | Organisation | Session |
|---|---|---|
| Johan Thijs | KBC Group (CEO) | Keynote |
| Peter Croonen | KRC Genk (chairman) | Keynote |
| Katleen Vandersmissen | Heran | Keynote |
| Mathia Palaia | Troom | Scaling a mobility start-up (EN) |
| Vanessa Morini | TRU | Scaling cleanrooms (NL) |
| Kristof Beckers | Ventureleap | Make your business exit-ready (NL) |
| Ruben Donné | – | Solo across the ocean (EN) |
| Laurence Schuurman | – | Joy as your compass, workshop (FR) |
| Pauline Zuberbuhler | – | Rock-solid communication plan, workshop (FR) |
Browse the brochure JCI Genk made
JCI Genk bundled the story of the weekend in a digital brochure: the programme, the speakers and the people who made NCN 2026 happen. Swipe through it below, or download the JCI Genk brochure (PDF).
Built by volunteers, after working hours
JCI Genk prepared the National Convention JCI Belgium 2026 entirely with volunteers. Organiser Thomas Van Boven: “More than eighteen months of preparation went into this, all after our regular working hours. We visited almost every local chapter in Belgium, from Virton to Veurne, to promote the congress. Teamwork makes the dream work.” Roel Mulders, president of JCI Genk, adds: “At JCI, the focus is fully on personal and professional development, and that is what we have been putting into practice in Genk since 1973, with projects such as the Battle of Thor and Swingin’ Genk.”
The effort was noticed beyond JCI: on 23 September 2026, Het Laatste Nieuws and Made in Limburg both reported on the weekend, describing C-mine as the epicentre of young entrepreneurship in Limburg.
Curious to see all event pictures? Head to the website of our photographer Jeroen Olaerts (EXID) where he will upload all pictures.
Next JCI events for young entrepreneurs
The next National Convention of JCI Belgium takes place from 24 to 26 September 2027 in Virton, organised by JCI Gaume. Follow the preparations on the NCN Gaume 2027 website or read more on our event page. Looking for a JCI experience before then? Belgian members are welcome at the National Convention 2026 of JCI Nederland, the JCI European Conference 2027 in The Hague and the JCI World Congress 2027 in Nagoya. See all dates in the JCI Belgium events overview.
Frequently asked questions
When and where was the NCN 2026?
The National Convention JCI Belgium 2026 took place from 18 to 20 September 2026 at C-mine in Genk, Belgium, hosted by JCI Genk. The main congress day was Saturday 19 September.
What was the theme of NCN 2026?
The theme was change management in times of AI, with keynotes by Johan Thijs (KBC Group), Peter Croonen (KRC Genk) and Katleen Vandersmissen (Heran).
Who can attend the National Convention of JCI Belgium?
The NCN is for members of JCI Belgium, young professionals and entrepreneurs aged 18 to 40, and for JCI senators. Interested guests can contact a local chapter.
Where and when is the next National Convention?
The next National Convention of JCI Belgium takes place from 24 to 26 September 2027 in Virton, organised by JCI Gaume. After touring Belgium from Virton to Veurne to promote NCN 2026, the national congress now moves to the south of the country.
How do I become a member of JCI Belgium?
You join through one of the local chapters in Flanders, Wallonia or Brussels. Start on the become a JCI member page.
Be part of the next National Convention
The National Convention JCI Belgium 2026 showed what young leaders achieve when they take ownership: a volunteer team turned a former coal mine into a national stage for leadership and entrepreneurship. Next stop: Virton, where JCI Gaume hosts the 2027 edition from 24 to 26 September. Want to experience it from the inside? Become a member of JCI Belgium, or visit the Jeroen Olaerts his website (EXID) for photos and more.
