Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Cinema Sphinx in Ghent, co-owned since 2021, will undergo major renovations from March 2027 to October 2028, modernising 5 screens, expanding the café, and preserving its historic arthouse cinema role.
As VRT News reported, major renovations will begin at Cinema Sphinx in Ghent in March 2027.
“We’re preparing this building for the future, so that many generations of filmgoers can experience unforgettable moments,”
says Bruno Lowagie.
The cinema has been co-owned since 2021. At that time, the venue was struggling, but it was relaunched. Now, renovations are planned across all 5 cinemas. The project aims to modernise the facilities while keeping the historic character of the cinema.
What are the plans for Cinema Sphinx’s major renovation in Ghent?
The work is expected to take a year and a half, with the cinema scheduled to reopen in October 2028.
“We are planning a pop-up cinema so that we can continue to offer the best films even during work,”
a press release states.
The project will modernise all 5 screening rooms and expand the existing Sphinx café into a full-service restaurant. A multipurpose hall will also be added for receptions, lectures, and events. The exact design of the new spaces is still being finalised.
“Plans are currently being developed,”
the press release states.
Officials mentioned that Sphinx remains one of the few cinemas in Ghent showing arthouse films, alongside Studio Skoop. It programs both new arthouse releases and major titles, unlike smaller initiatives such as KASK Cinema and Ciné Rio, which focus on classic or older films.
The cinema’s operator will close at the end of this year, and no buyer has been found yet, meaning Sphinx could become the city’s only independent cinema. Meanwhile, the city is renovating Cinema Rex near Ghent-Sint-Pieters station to create the “House of Cinema,” which will include a museum and screening facilities.
Cinema Sphinx in Ghent has a long history dating back to 1912, when it started as a ballroom for the Liberal Party. In the late 1920s, it was converted into a cinema under the name Ciné Palace. Over the years, the venue operated under several names, including Patria, Plaza, and Calypso, before reopening in 1986 as Cinema Sphinx. The cinema shifted to focus on arthouse films in 1995 and expanded into a five-screen venue with its own café. A feasibility study conducted between 2022 and 2024 laid the plans for the upcoming renovations.
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