Brussels Events and Festivals
(Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium)
A vibrant and lively party city, there are always many different things to do in Brussels. The city's annual list of festivals is extensive and some of the most popular events include the Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film in March, Les Nuits Botanique in April, and the Jazz Marathon Weekend in May, where concerts feature a diverse mixture of jazz styles, such as blues, modern and Latino-style.
Many leading musical festivals in Brussels are hosted at the Cirque Royal concert hall, and also at the Ancienne Belgique, a historic theatre formerly used as a guildhall for the city's market traders. For some of the largest sporting events, the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium is close by in the municipality of Anderlecht and regularly features huge football matches, watched by crowds of some 40,000 spectators.
Brussels Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015
January
- New Year's Day - January 1st, a public holiday throughout Belgium
February
- There are no significant events in Brussels during the month of February
March
- Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film (BIFF) - mid-March, attracting 60,000 people who descend on the city to watch a range of movies, both Belgian and international
- Eurantica - mid-March, a leading arts, crafts and antiques fair, supported by well over 100 trade stands from all over Europe
April
- Art Brussels - April, actively promoting European modern art since the early 1980s
- Les Nuits Botanique - April and May, a major music event, with a series of concerts taking place at the former Brussels Botanical Gardens
- Royal Greenhouses Opened - April and May, a treat for lovers of horticulture and gardens, when the 19th-century Royal Greenhouses of Laeken are opened to members of the general public
May
- Brussels Jazz Marathon Weekend - mid-May, all types of jazz are represented at a series of lively concerts
- Kunsten Festival des Arts - mid-May, featuring a range of art work by young, up-and-coming artists of the future
- Lesbian and Gay Pride Day - mid-May, with some 15,000 visitors enjoying processions, live music, dancing and endless partying
- Queen Elisabeth International Musical Competition - mid-May, dating back to the mid-20th century and always attracting a diverse selection of musicians
- Zinneke Parade - mid-May, truly multicultural festivities and celebrations, bring together many of the city's different communities
June
- Opera at the Grand Place - throughout June, performances at the magnificent, beautifully restored La Monnaie Theatre
- Ancient Art Fair - mid-June, a large collection of antique dealers offer everything from paintings and period furniture, to ceramic and collectibles
- Couleur Cafe - June and July, live music supported by more than 60,000 festival-goers each year
July
- Ommegang Royal Pageant - early July, a crowd-puller taking place at the Grand Place
- Bruxelles Les Bains - July and August, a length of the canal is transformed into the Brussels Spa, becoming a popular waterfront resort and the perfect place to cool down during the hot Belgian sunshine
- Royal Palace Visits - July to September, at the Royal Palace of Belgium, directly opposite the city's Parliament building
August
- Assumption Day - August 15th, Christian festivities take place on this national Belgian holiday
September
- Monument Open Days - mid-September, actively promoting the city's rich heritage and important local structures
- Belgian Beer Weekend - mid-September, a chance to sample beer, brewed from all over Belgium. Based in the Grand Place and lasting an entire weekend
October
- There are no significant events in Brussels during the month of October
November
- Eureka Fair - late November, almost 1,000 of the latest gadgets, designs and innovations are displayed, attracting inventors and companies from over 30 different countries worldwide
December
- European Christmas Market - December to early January, held around the beautiful Grand Place market square and a time to purchase last-minute gifts
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