Anyone who’s ever watched a cat knows this: sitting still is, at best, a temporary state. One moment she’s stretched out dozing, the next she’s darting across the room with a wild leap. She stretches all the way to her paws, sneaks silently around the corner, twists herself into an impossible position, and comes to give headbutts whenever it suits her. Sometimes graceful, sometimes completely crazy—but always in her own way.
That’s why we chose MOVEMENT as the theme for the 2027 Cat Parade. Because the parade itself never stands still either. Behind the scenes, people come together to build, sew, apply makeup, dance, make music, and bring scenes to life. Clubs and groups from Ypres are getting moving for something they’re creating together.
And then comes the Cat Parade weekend. People flock to Ypres from all directions. Along the streets, they find a spot, look forward to what’s to come, and let themselves be carried away by music, color, and theater. The parade moves by, but something also happens to those watching: a smile, a look of surprise, a foot tapping to the beat.
That is the power of a parade. It sets not only floats and participants in motion, but people as well. A cat arching its back. A dancer taking a leap. A group daring to create something new together. An entire city sharing the same moment.
This year, movement is in every cat’s leap, in every wave of the parade, and in everyone who lets themselves be moved by the Cat Parade. So watch, listen, move along—and let yourself be surprised by where the cat takes you.
