Karel Candael (Antwerp, 4 September 1883 – Rotterdam, 27 March 1948) was a Belgian composer, music teacher, and conductor.
Karel Candael studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp with Jan Blockx, Emile Wambach, Jozef Tilborghs and Lodewijk Mortelmans.
After finishing his education, Candael became a very active member of the local choir- and song movement and found the choir De Zangkapel.
After teaching music in Antwerp schools during the First World War, he became a teacher of solfège at this conservatory.
Het Marialeven was based on a text by Candael's friend Maurice Gilliams.