Absence, Returned
C A S S T L presents *Absence, Returned*, a new exhibition by Antwerp-based artists Yves de Brabander and Cedric Jacquemyn, opening during Antwerp Pride.
Yves de Brabander and Cedric Jacquemyn have lived and worked side by side for many years. Their practices have evolved in close proximity, shaped by a shared focus on material, transformation, and the relationship between presence and disappearance.
"Absence, Returned" explores what remains after something has disappeared: a garment without a body, an image removed from its original context, a fragment that carries the presence of something incomplete. The exhibition traces these shifts between absence and presence, and the ways in which objects and images continue to change over time.
In *E/Motion of a Garment*, Jacquemyn views clothing as a form that outlives its wearer. Coats, jackets, canvas works, and textile constructions retain the suggestion of a body that has withdrawn, while continuing to respond to movement, gravity, and time.
De Brabander’s new installation, *Ancestral Inferno*, draws on inventories of looted and missing cultural heritage. Taking the form of a fictional lost altarpiece divided into fragments, the work explores how images are transformed through loss and displacement. The fragmented panels become the remains of a work of art that never existed, raising questions about how histories are constructed and passed down.
Together, the works reveal two different ways of addressing what is absent: through the body’s imprint on material, and through the survival of images beyond their original form.
"Absence, Returned" is part of TOGETHER, a citywide initiative supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, launched by Carla Arocha and developed in collaboration with Stéphane Schraenen, Vanessa Van Obberghen, Jesse Siegel, Tom Sanders, Philip Huyghe, Lieven Segers, Luc Tuymans, and Clara Lissens, through which a network of Antwerp art spaces come together in the context of Antwerp Pride.
C A S S T L is a nonprofit artist initiative founded and run by Carla Arocha, Stéphane Schraenen, and Luc Tuymans since 2017. Our goal is to offer an experience that is not limited by the traditional and practical constraints of an institution or commercial space. We organize project-based events, including exhibitions, performances, readings, screenings, and publications by local and international artists.
Where: C A S S T L, Braziliëstraat 27, 2000 Antwerp
When?
Thursday, August 6, 2026, 6:00 p.m. – Friday, September 11, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
Where?
C A S S T L, Braziliëstraat 27, 2000 Antwerp
AQAF x Merhaba x BelGeo
We’re always in a collective mindset. So join us for an evening where AQAF teams up with Merhaba and BelGeo. Food - Expo - Performance - Open mic - DJs
6:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. Exhibition “
” by Lika Kalioras -- Tender Ruins
6:00 PM Community Kitchen by Queer Chef Miranda Okujava
8:00 PM Performance - Andro Dadiani
8:30 PM Open Stage - AQAF X MERHABA X BelGeo
9:30 PM Henna Night Reimagined - Can Bora
10:30 PM DJs by Merhaba
Practical Information
When?
Friday, August 14, 2026, 6:00 p.m. – Saturday, August 15, 2026, 1:00 a.m.
Where?
Het Bos, Ankerrui 5-7, 2000 Antwerp Time: 6:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
With Love @ Bonaparte
We’re wrapping up Antwerp Pride the way it should be: with love. On Sunday night, the community will come together one last time at Bonaparte for a warm, exuberant closing party filled with DJs, drag, and dancing.
Let's celebrate together, up close and fearless, before the weekend is over.
When
Sunday, August 9, 2026, starting at 10:00 p.m.
Where
Bonaparte, Grote Markt 21, 2000 Antwerp
Pride Party + La Tash & Friends
For more than 30 years, the Hessenhuis has been a staple of our community—a place where everyone is welcome. During Antwerp Pride, the Hessenhuis is the place to be from August 2 through 9. From Tuesday through Thursday, it’s the spot to meet up for a relaxed and fun evening; on Friday and Saturday, top DJs will be spinning; and on Sunday, there’s a fantastic drag show featuring the best queens. Enjoy the atmosphere inside the cozy café or outside on the large terrace. Location: Cafe Hessenhuis, Falconrui 79, 2000 Antwerp. Happy Pride!
When?
Sunday, August 9, 2026, starting at 7:00 p.m.
Where?
Café Hessenhuis, 79 Falconrui, Antwerp, Flanders, 2000
slower, softer, closer
"slower softer closer" transforms the exhibition space into a soft, intimate counter-space within Antwerp Pride. For one day, BURO_ASAP becomes a haven of rest, dedicated to tenderness, vulnerability, and queer kinship. Queerness as radical slowness, as radical softness.
Join us on Sunday, August 9 for a day centered on small moments and quiet encounters. There will be a reading corner, a place to sit, space to linger, and a chance to just be. This is a gentle form of pride—quiet and romantic. A space to connect, offering a respite from the fast pace of daily life.
We are pleased to present artists whose work explores the intimacy of queerness, inviting the audience to experience moments of shared vulnerability and care through performance.
Participating artists
Ella Schöning
Günther De Beuckelaer
Liana Geysen-Rymenants
Zlata Ziborova
Curated by Ilva Ieva.
When
Sunday, August 9, 2026, 4:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
Where
BURO_ASAP, Eikelstraat 9, 2600 Antwerp
About TOGETHER
"slower softer closer" is part of TOGETHER, a citywide initiative supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, launched by Carla Arocha and developed in collaboration with Stéphane Schraenen, Vanessa Van Obberghen, Jesse Siegel, Tom Sanders, Philip Huyghe, Lieven Segers, Luc Tuymans, and Clara Lissens. Together, a network of Antwerp art spaces comes together in the context of Antwerp Pride.
Participating galleries and art spaces
AAIMACHINE · Annie Gentils Gallery · BURO_ASAP · C A S S T L · Kunsthal Extra City · Pizza Gallery · Melis & Piron · Studio Palermo · TICK TACK
Non-Binary Electronic
Workshop: Non-binary Electronics is a collaborative, playful, and hands-on learning experience where we’ll collectively explore the creative possibilities of electronics by experimenting, making mistakes, sharing, playing, and challenging hegemonic notions of technology and gender. We’re going to build a small synthesizer and create electronic oddities using some of the main CMOS 40XX integrated circuits. During the workshop, we’ll learn about basic electronic components, how to read circuit schematics, and how to use a breadboard to build our own handmade synths. The goal of the workshop is to embrace a more inclusive approach to electronics, to “queer” technology, to make noise, and to short-circuit binary systems. No prior knowledge is required—just come and have fun!!
Where: Morpho, Provinciestraat 112, 2018 Antwerp
When: August 9, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
When?
Sunday, August 9, 2026, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Where?
Morpho, Provinciestraat 112, 2018 Antwerp
The Grote Markt Dances
This weekend, Bonaparte will have you and the Grote Markt dancing. The beating heart of the city will turn into one big open-air dance floor, with DJs, drag performers, and dancers who’ll turn the square upside down.
It's free, open to everyone, and full of love and celebration. Come celebrate with us at Antwerp Pride. Be fearless, be you.
Lineup
Alles Kapot
Ashley Foxx
Chatteloe
Dimi
Endtone
Haus of Grace
Heisa Jynx
Kroescontrol
Lauwers
Rednax
Ruby Rouge
Zillyss
Closing Festival
Closing Festival
This Sunday, it's time to say goodbye to Antwerp Pride. But not without one last party. Are you up for it? Because we have some special treats in store for you. Check out the lineup on our website.
It’s going to be an afternoon of singing, dancing, and swaying along to great songs—including a few guilty pleasures. Doors open at 2 p.m., and the party goes on until 11 p.m., when we’ll wrap up this edition. Admission is free!
DeLux Pink Sunday
Locks flowing in the wind, glitter in your heart, and love on the dance floor. Welcome to Cafe DeLux, where your hair always looks great and love is never far away. During Antwerp Pride, we invite you to four days filled with lush locks, voluminous curls, and danceable disco hits, from Thursday, August 6, through Sunday, August 9. Come. Dance. Dream. Enjoy. Location: Cafe DeLux, Antwerp.
When?
Sunday, August 9, 2026, starting at 1:00 p.m.
Where?
Café DeLux, Melkmarkt 18, Antwerp, Flanders, 2000
Walk-in Tour | Queer Tour
KMSKA aims to be a safe space and work toward a more inclusive society. On this tour, you’ll explore the museum’s collection alongside a guide and a pair of pink glasses. How do we view old art from a queer perspective? Which artists played with gender norms? Which paintings show us what was considered modest or immoral? How does the queer community reclaim certain representations of the past?
On this tour, let yourself be inspired to look at art from a different perspective and just be yourself! After all, why be normal when you can be fabulous?
Practical Information
Duration: 1.5 hours
Where: meeting point in the central hall, Level 0
Places: limited to 18 participants per tour, so be sure to book early
Price: admission ticket + €10 for the guided tour
Language: English
When?
Sunday, August 9, 2026, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where?
KMSKA, Leopold De Waelplaats 1, 2000 Antwerp
Splash This Pride
Five days of parades, parties, outdoor cafes, and streets packed with people. Wonderful. And somewhere between day two and day three, your body starts craving something else.
Gay Sauna Herenhuis is open all weekend during Pride. Sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and quiet lounge areas—all within walking distance of where the action is. The perfect getaway between activities: warm up before the parade, unwind after the festival, or just take a dip until you’re ready to go again.
No dress code, no formalities, no explanation needed. You walk in just as you are, and you walk out just as you feel.
When
Sunday, August 9, 2026, 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Where
Gay Sauna Herenhuis, 63 De Lescluzestraat, 2000 Antwerp
Access
22 euros, 18 euros for those under 30, 15 euros for those under 25, upon presentation of ID. Admission for ages 18 and older.
Buggytour | Playful Birds on a Journey
To celebrate Antwerp Pride Week, the Red Star Line Museum is organizing a special buggy tour that lets the youngest visitors explore the museum. The guide will spark their curiosity with playful activities: listening to soft sounds, feeling unique materials, and gazing at the boats on the water. A first museum experience tailored just for the little ones.
Want to take a break from the party buzz with your toddler or godchild? Location: Red Star Line Museum, Antwerp. For the exact time and more information, visit redstarline.be/nl/buggytour.
When?
Sunday, August 9, 2026, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Where?
MAS, Hanzestedenplaats 1, 2000 Antwerp
Play On Non-Stop
Play On
Get ready for one of the wildest and most unforgettable weekends of the year. Club Random returns for Antwerp Pride 2026 with a non-stop celebration you won't want to miss.
As Antwerp’s leading LGBTQ+ dance and cruise club, Club Random offers the ultimate all-in-one nightlife experience. Dance the night away on our energetic dance floor, enjoy live DJ sets, relax in our comfortable lounge areas, explore the video zone, use our secure lockers, or discover our vibrant cruising area. Whether you’re here to dance, connect, cruise, or simply soak up the atmosphere, Club Random is the place to be.
Expect an electrifying lineup of renowned national and international DJs, surprise performances, and an unforgettable atmosphere that celebrates freedom, diversity, and self-expression.
Opening Hours – Antwerp Pride Weekend 2026
Thursday, August 6 | 11:00 p.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Friday, August 7 | 11:00 p.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Saturday, August 8 | Open nonstop from 11:00 p.m. until Monday, August 10 – 8:00 a.m.
Tickets
Tickets are now available at clubrandom.be/antwerppride.
Advance booking is highly recommended. Tickets are limited, and once we're full, we're full.
Admission
1-Day Entrance Ticket – €15
Includes one complimentary drink.Weekend Entrance Ticket – €25
Includes one complimentary drink.Party Truck Ticket – €25
1-Day Admission + Party Truck Combo – €38
Includes one complimentary drink.Weekend Entrance + Party Truck Combo – €50
Includes one complimentary drink.
Join us for an unforgettable Pride weekend filled with music, connection, and celebration. Dance until sunrise, meet new people, and experience the unique energy that makes Club Random one of Antwerp Pride's most iconic destinations.
WOODPOP Pride
WOODPOP is Antwerp’s monthly pop music celebration where everyone is welcome just as they are. For over 10 years, we’ve been bringing together pop lovers of all ages, identities, and backgrounds for a night filled with sing-alongs, iconic anthems, and pure joy.
For our Antwerp Pride Edition, we're turning the volume all the way up with extra glitter, bigger pop moments, and an atmosphere where everyone is a work of art.
When?
Saturday, August 8, 2026, 11:00 p.m. – Sunday, August 9, 2026, 5:00 a.m.
Where?
Cargo Club, Lange Schipperskapelstraat 11-13, 2000 Antwerp
Lineup
11:00 PM – 1:00 AM PÆDAR
1:00 AM – 3:00 AM YELLANT
3:00 AM – 5:00 AM DJ DR. T
Love. Peace. Pride. Pop Music.
Oh Honey x Radar x Pride
OH HONEY is Antwerp’s queer safer-space dance floor, created by and for the LGBTQIA+ community. More than just a party, it’s a place where everyone can be exactly who they are, connect with their chosen family, and celebrate queer joy through music.
For Antwerp Pride, we’re back with our biggest event yet. Together with RADAR, we’re taking over Club Traum for 12 hours of non-stop dancing, featuring a mind-blowing lineup of international queer icons alongside the very best local talent.
Expect two dance floors, an inclusive playroom, an incredible atmosphere, and a musical journey ranging from hypnotic techno to uplifting house, featuring artists such as NENE H, DAMIANA, BEN MANSON, CLARISA KIMSKII, PERRA INMUNDA, DANA MONTANA, MARIONA, and TWEEMAN.
Because chosen family is the best family. 🖤🏳️🌈
When?
Saturday, August 8, 2026, 11:00 p.m. – Sunday, August 9, 2026, 11:00 a.m.
Where?
Club TRAUM, Verversrui 15, 2000 Antwerp
H.I.M.
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
Step into an unforgettable Antwerp Pride experience. Lose yourself in the jungle for 12 hours across 3 unique rooms, featuring an international lineup of world-class DJs: Mario Beckman, Fran Albuquerque, Sakalem, Juanse, and Andrei Stan, as well as a POP & Techno Room 💥💥💥
Expect a spectacular show, an incredible atmosphere, and one of the liveliest crowds of Pride weekend.
Tickets are selling fast—get yours now before this event sells out. 🌿🔥
When
Saturday, August 8, 2026, starting at 11:00 p.m. on
(Runs for 12 hours into Sunday, August 9)
Where
Ikon, Kotterstraat 3, 2000 Antwerp
Sexy Saturday
On Saturday night, Bonaparte will really turn up the heat. Sexy Saturday is the Pride party of the night, featuring DJs, drag performers, dancers, and a steamy dance floor in the heart of Antwerp.
Put on your boldest outfit and dance the night away until the sun comes up. Be fearless, be you.
When
Saturday, August 8, 2026, starting at 10:00 p.m.
Where
Bonaparte, Grote Markt 21, 2000 Antwerp
Female Boyfriends x MAS Darling
Lesbians, dykes, butches, trans people, and enbies: this is for you! Female Boyfriends and Mas Darling are joining forces for a FLINTA Pride afterparty at the iconic MAS. Dance the night away until the wee hours and discover all the other fun things to do.
When?
Saturday, August 8, 2026, starting at 8:00 p.m.
Where?
MAS, Antwerp. More info: mas.be/nl/node/7154. Tickets: visit.mas.be. Instagram: @female.boyfriends.
All Queers to De Nor
On August 8, we’re letting loose. Electropunk collides with spoken word and clashes with techno. One night you won’t want to miss.
Lineup: Vlinder Verouden, Corazon De Robota, N E N A, MUOVIPUSSI, and JUNA. Utrecht, Brussels, Chile, Berlin, Finland. It’s all here for you, for one night only.
When?
Saturday, August 8, 2026, starting at 8:00 p.m.
Where?
De Nor, Middelheimlaan, 2020 Antwerp
Pride Party with DJ Leroy Sendar
For more than 30 years, the Hessenhuis has been a staple of our community—a place where everyone is welcome. During Antwerp Pride, the Hessenhuis is the place to be from August 2 through 9. From Tuesday through Thursday, it’s the spot to meet up for a relaxed and fun evening; on Friday and Saturday, top DJs will be spinning; and on Sunday, there’s a fantastic drag show featuring the best queens. Enjoy the atmosphere inside the cozy café or outside on the large terrace. Location: Cafe Hessenhuis, Falconrui 79, 2000 Antwerp. Happy Pride!
When?
Saturday, August 8, 2026, starting at 7:00 p.m.
Where?
Café Hessenhuis, 79 Falconrui, Antwerp, Flanders, 2000
BE YOURSELF: Resident Night ft. DJ Bubba
Saturday is Resident Night at Cafe Au Lait, featuring a unique mix of old-school and new-school hip-hop, R&B, Afro, and dancehall. DJ Bubba spins Afrobeats and Amapiano, mixed with smooth hip-hop, R&B, and dancehall, and keeps the dance floor moving all night long. Part of Cafe Au Lait’s BE-YOURSELF campaign promoting diversity and inclusion.
Saturday, August 8. Open from 6 p.m., DJs starting at 10 p.m., ends at 3 a.m. Location: Cafe Au Lait cocktail bar, Oude Beurs 8, 2000 Antwerp. Free (no cover charge, but drinks are required). Just be yourself.
When?
Saturday, August 8, 2026, starting at 6:00 p.m.
Where?
Cafe Au Lait, Oude Beurs 8, 2000 Antwerp
The CAS Comes Out Party
Join us in coming out and hitting the dance floor at the CAS Comes Out Party! 🌈
From 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., DJ Lee Dua will be spinning a festive mix of music at Café Aan de Stroom (CAS). Between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., you can also take advantage of our happy hour special: buy one, get one free—even on spirits.
Whether you're part of the LGBTQIA+ community, a proud ally, or just looking forward to a fun evening: everyone is welcome.
Be proud. Be yourself. Be at CAS. 🏳️🌈
When
Saturday, August 8, 2026, open continuously starting at 12:00, party starting at 18:00
Where
Café Aan de Stroom (CAS), Amsterdamstraat 41, 2000 Antwerp
The Grote Markt Dances
This weekend, Bonaparte will have you and the Grote Markt dancing. The beating heart of the city will turn into one big open-air dance floor, with DJs, drag performers, and dancers who’ll turn the square upside down.
It's free, open to everyone, and full of love and celebration. Come celebrate with us at Antwerp Pride. Be fearless, be you.
Lineup
Alles Kapot
Ashley Foxx
Chatteloe
Dimi
Endtone
Haus of Grace
Heisa Jynx
Kroescontrol
Lauwers
Rednax
Ruby Rouge
Zillyss
Love United Festival
This year, the main festival grounds are located on Cockerillkaai, in the southern part of the city along the river. This will be the official and central venue for Antwerp Pride during the Love United Festival on Saturday and the Closing Festival on Sunday.
So, do we have a party planned for Saturday? In Antwerp, we say: “Amai, not yet!” Two stages invite you to show off your best dance moves and party until midnight. Check out the lineup below. You’re welcome to join us starting at 3:00 p.m., and best of all: admission is completely free!
Those line breaks come from the source: a PDF or a
La Bamba - Kiss Dance
You know the feeling. The lights go out, the song starts, and suddenly everyone is dancing. For anyone who’s ever stood sweating in Zaal Jakob with a cheap beer and the person you’d been watching all night finally within reach: this one’s for you. On August 8, we’re doing the kissing dance. We’ll provide the slow songs. Pull your Pride sweetheart close. Hold them there. Together, in public, no excuses. Because every day is a time for unfiltered queer joy. And a good kiss—dry or wet—remains an act of resistance. Come. Dance. Kiss whoever you want to kiss.
Where: Zuidpark, at M HKA
. When: August 8, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
When?
Saturday, August 8, 2026, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where?
Zuidpark (next to M HKA), 2000 Antwerp
Seraphim Pride Street Party
Street party with a DJ, a small bar, and street food
Just like last year, to support the community with a fun vibe
For the Seraphim Antwerp store at Kloosterstraat 33, 2000 Antwerp.
When?
Saturday, August 8, 2026, 2:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Where?
Seraphim Antwerp, Kloosterstraat 33, 2000 Antwerp
DeLux Pride Saturday
Locks flowing in the wind, glitter in your heart, and love on the dance floor. Welcome to Cafe DeLux, where your hair always looks great and love is never far away. During Antwerp Pride, we invite you to four days filled with lush locks, voluminous curls, and danceable disco hits, from Thursday, August 6, through Sunday, August 9. Come. Dance. Dream. Enjoy. Location: Cafe DeLux, Antwerp.
When?
Saturday, August 8, 2026, starting at 2:00 p.m.
Where?
Café DeLux, Melkmarkt 18, Antwerp, Flanders, 2000
Love is Love Street Party
On Saturday, August 8, we’ll be celebrating that love is love and that the historic center is a place where everyone can be themselves and feel at home. We’ll be doing this with a real street party featuring an outdoor bar, a BBQ, and DJs Tuur and Barry Coleman!
The parade can be seen from Philly's and is easily accessible from there, so come on by from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.!
When
Saturday, August 8, 2026, 2:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Where
Philly's Bar, Grote Pieter Potstraat 7, 2000 Antwerp
Jam Session: Wishing Well
The Wishing Well is an interactive sound installation that records voices, edits them in real time, and loops them into an evolving collective soundscape. On August 8, Sasa is opening it up to everyone. Come and contribute your voice. No experience needed. No performance required. Just show up and make sound together. The Wishing Well has been quietly archiving queer voices since its inception, viewing the voice as a place of embodied memory, carrying echoes of past queer lineages. When we come together through sound, something else becomes possible: a form of intimacy that doesn’t rely on physical touch, and yet is full of it. This open jam is an invitation to experience that for yourself. Sasa will be there to welcome you into the installation and guide you into the soundscape. The more voices, the richer it gets.
Where: M HKA, Leuvenstraat 32, 2000 Antwerp
When: August 8, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
When?
Saturday, August 8, 2026, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Where?
MuHKA, Leuvenstraat 32, 2000 Antwerp
Cutfest - Free Street Festival
CutFest is a vibrant open-air street festival held at Antwerp's Vlasmarkt, bringing together local creatives, music, fashion, and urban culture. The event features live DJs, barber and tattoo demonstrations, streetwear brands, food, and drinks, creating a relaxed atmosphere where locals and visitors can celebrate Love together!
When
Saturday, August 8, 2026, 2:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Where
Café The Cut, Vlasmarkt, 2000 Antwerp
Antwerp Pride Parade
Pride is a form of protest, and at the heart of our Antwerp Pride activities is the Antwerp Pride Parade. Taking part in Antwerp Pride means something: We’re making our voices heard loud and clear—the rights of our community and minority groups in general are under increasing pressure, and we won’t stand for it! Together with our volunteers, civil society groups, organizations, partners, and allies, we’ll march through the city!
The Parade starts at 2:00 p.m. and immediately heads down to the quays near Brouwersvliet. The route then follows the Scheldt River to Sint-Jansvliet, where we turn… The route then follows the river, and at Sint-Jansvliet, where we’ll turn into Kloosterstraat, past the statue of Peter the Great—under whose reign Russia was still tolerant of homosexuality—into Scheldestraat, and then toward the Love United Festival grounds on Ledeganckkaai, where the party can really get started. If you’re coming to watch the parade, there are great views all along the route, so spread out along the route to cheer on your favorite parade floats! For the exact route, check out our map!
Please note: Just like last year, the Antwerp Pride Parade will be broadcast live. This is in collaboration with Proximus and can be viewed for free via Proximus Showcase, ATV, VRT Max, VTM Go, Go Play, HLN live, Q-Music, GVA.be, or one of our many other media partners. Our cameras will be set up at the Pedestrian Tunnel/Sint-Jansvliet, where the Parade leaves the Kaaien and turns onto Kloosterstraat.
IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE FILMED: make yourself unrecognizable when you reach the Pedestrian Tunnel/Sint-Jansvliet, or briefly leave the parade and rejoin it later on Kloosterstraat. The filming zone is marked on our map. Please note that these are only our cameras. Every year, there are several news crews filming the parade from various locations. If you don’t want to be filmed, please let them know politely; they will understand.