When to go to Brussels
You can visit Brussels throughout the year. When planning your vacation to Brussels, you should consider three factors: weather, events and prices. Brussels has a maritime temperate climate, characterized by warm summers and mild winters. The city has a high average annual rainfall, and visitors can expect a downpour any time of year. Temperatures range from highs of around 27°C (80°F) in summer to 7°C (45°F) during the middle of winter. Snow is possible, but not frequent, in winter.
Early summer and early autumn are probably the best time to visit. April to September will find the warmest climate, and you may well get some sunshine during July and August. Wintertime is the low season however you will definitely appreciate the lower prices and the lack of crowds at all of the attractions. It is well worthy to visit Brussels during one of the many festivals that are hosted in the city, although hotel rooms can be more expensive and harder to come by due to higher demand.
Brussels Events
January
Jazz Festival Marni Flagey
The Jazz Festival Marni Flagey offers the public a mix of different styles of groovy Jazz with influences ranging from bepop to flamenco through classical and contemporary music. The intense 10-day programme will give the public the opportunity to see musicians from different parts of the world, musicians on tour, musicians there to present their latest album or simply to pay a tribute to Pierre Van Dormael without whom the Belgian Jazz scene surely have been quite different.
55RD Antiques Fair
Combining quality with prestige, this superb antiques fair is a must for art lovers. The show attracts antiquities, Oceanic art, African art, Oriental art, silver, furniture and works of art from the ‘Haute Epoque’ to the 20th century.
Truc Troc
Held at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, Truc Troc is an innovative art fair that gives eager punters the chance to get their hands on some contemporary art without actually parting with any money. Instead, interested parties barter, offering goods and services of an equivalent value.
New Year's Day
January 1st, a public holiday
February
ANIMA FILM FESTIVAL
An animated international film festival in the land of comic strip heroes is being held in 2009 at the newly renovated Flagey building, which is the former Belgian Radio & TV Broadcasting Center, and a fine example of Art Deco 'ocean liner' style of the 1930s.
AFFORDABLE ART FAIR BRUSSELS
Following success in London, Bristol, New York, Sydney, Melbourne, Amsterdam and Paris the AAF comes to Tour et Taxis in Brussels. The fair focuses on first time buyers as well as seasoned collectors, inviting them to browse without pressure through a huge variety of contemporary paintings, prints, photgraphs and sculptures all priced between €100 and €5000, from a selection of local and international galleries representing over 300 known and emerging artists.
March
NIGHT OF THE BRUSSELS MUSEUMS
On this enchanted evening ten Brussels museums invite you for the second Night of the Brussels Museums. Visit the BELvue Museum, the Museum of Musical Instruments, the Belgian Centre for Comic Strip Art, the Museum of the City of Brussels, and you will see performances, concerts, workshops and bizarre entertainment created for you in cooperation with youth organizations and students. From 8:00 pm until 1:00 am followed by a party.
ARS MUSICA
Also known as "the spring of contemporary music", the Ars Musica festival has carved out a reputation as a real reference event for contemporary music. Every year, the festival brings together works by composers who are writing the sounds and scores of tomorrow.
EURANTICA
The Eurantica fine art and antiques fair at Brussels Expo offers upper-class bargain hunting on a continental scale, with dealers from all over Europe. More than 150 dealers from France, Spain, Holland, Britain, Italy and Germany, carefully selected by a committee of experts, display jewellery, oriental ceramics, tapestry, textiles, religious icons, musical instruments, engravings, pre-Colombian art, Art Déco, Art Nouveau, sculpture, paintings, furniture... the list of precious objects is endless.
THE BAROQUE SPRING OF THE SABLON
There is no better location for this week-long Baroque festival than the beautiful public and private premises in and around Place du Grand Sablon. In March, the buildings ring to the soaring music of Corelli, Handel, Pergolesi, Couperin and Marais. The festival encourages young talent to perform at afternoon concerts and to participate in workshops at the Conservatoire.
April
ARS MUSICA
Also known as "the spring of contemporary music", the Ars Musica festival has carved out a reputation as a real reference event for contemporary music. Every year, the festival brings together works by composers who are writing the sounds and scores of tomorrow.
ROYAL GREENHOUSES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Each year for a very short period of time the Greenhouses of the Royal Palace at Laeken are open to the public.
ARTBRUSSELS
Every year more than 25,000 people gather at this contemporary art venue, where 150 carefully-chosen international galleries showcase the work of established artists and young talent, ranging from photographs and monochromes to light sculptures and colour canvasses.
FESTIVAL OF FANTASTIC FILM
Rated as one of the best in the world, this festival promises two weeks of film screenings. The electric atmosphere fills not only the dark auditoriums where some 150 films are shown, but also extends to the famous body-painting competitions and the merciless vampires’ ball where aliens, angels and demons gather in an apocalyptic party scene. There is also entertainment for the kids with the screening of ‘Children allowed’ and ‘Fantastikids’.
Easter
April 11th-12th, a public holiday
May
ROYAL GREENHOUSES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Each year for a very short period of time the Greenhouses of the Royal Palace at Laeken are open to the public.
BOTANIQUE NIGHTS
Reggae, French songs, electro and rock are interwoven throughout the festival, held at the Botanique, the Cultural Center of the French speaking community.
BRUSSELS JAZZ MARATHON WEEKEND
125 free concerts and more than 450 musicians await jazz lovers on the biggest squares in Brussels. Big Bands and famous soloists play in open air, smaller bands play in bars and taverns, and you can see them all by using the special buses that criss-cross the city. Jazz it up!
KUNSTEN FESTIVAL DES ARTS
Artists and public meet for the 13th time in the most diverse theatres and other public spaces in Brussels for a taste of theatre, music, dance, films and exhibitions. The KunstenFESTIVALdesArts has an essentially contemporary and international flavour.
LESBIAN AND GAY PRIDE
Street party, parade and pride shows in Brussels city center.
QUEEN ELISABETH MUSIC COMPETITION
This competition that awards young violinists is unique in the world , not only for its importance and its influence but also due to the difficulty of the tests, the preestigious jury, the strists rules and its originality.
COMIC STRIP FESTIVAL
The 20th Comic Strip Festival Ganshoren will focus on Metamorphosis with dedications from famous Belgian and foreign comic strip writers. Comic strip activities for young & old include comic strip workshops, a contest and a reading corner.
Ascension Day
May 13th, a public holiday
Whit Sunday
May 31st, a public holiday
June
BRUSSELS ANCIENT ART FAIR
Dealers in classical, Egyptian and Near Eastern antiquities come to Brussels from all over the world to put their treasures on display in leading galleries at the Sablon quarter.
COULEUR CAFE
An explosion of exotic, throbbing music from the Caribbean, Africa and Latin America. In between concerts visitors can buy ornaments and handicraft products from all over the world and sample delicious cocktails and international dishes.
BELGIUM ROLLER PARADE
From June to September put on your roller skates to participate to the almost traditional hikes at the heart of the most beautiful cities of Belgium. The 10km circuit ends with a fiesta in the city centre.
COUNTRY FESTIVAL OF BRUSSELS
Country music is all around under a 800 m² top with an amazing programme!
MIDIS-MINIMES FESTIVAL
Like every year, the Midis-Minimes Festival offers you a concert of about 40 minutes every weekday in Brussels Minimes Church and the Conservatory. Diversified festival with traditional music on Monday, old on Tuesday, 18th century music on Wednesday, contemporary music on Thursday, and 19th century music on Friday. Discover new repertoires, composers, artists, instruments... At the same time, 3 cycles are devoted to instruments in general: women's voices, the piano and some "curiosities".
FETE-DE-LA-MUSIQUE
Belgium'French-speaking community'annual music celebration with more than 500 concerts in Brussels and Wallonia. The event marks the start of the summer and the launch of the festival season.
MUSIC VILLAGE JAZZ CONCERTS
A series of 12 jazz nights with live music in the center of Brussels is organized by and at the Music Village. Discover the universe of jazz in the land where the saxophone was invented.
Whit Monday
June 1st, a public holiday
July
OMMEGANG PAGEANT
Yearly colorful pageant on Brussels’ Grand’Place commemorates a celebration in honor of Emperor Charles V in the 16th century.
MUSIC VILLAGE JAZZ CONCERTS
A series of 12 jazz nights with live music in the center of Brussels is organized by and at the Music Village. Discover the universe of jazz in the land where the saxophone was invented.
BROSELLA FOLK & JAZZ
This absolutely free festival, staged in a park at the foot of the Atomium includes jazz, folk and other summer sounds ringing out from the main stage. In the evenings fans and dreamers hang out under the Chinese lanterns. Children are not forgotten either with numerous activities for all age groups.
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.
Independence Day
July 21st, a public holiday
August
FLOWER CARPET ON THE GRAND PLACE
A million begonias for... one single carpet? This is certainly an extraordinary achievement. The famous Carpet of Flowers covers 300 m² right in the centre of the Grand Place.
MEYBOOM
The planting of the May tree is a famous festival that has been taking place in Brussels since 1213. The procession with the May Tree departs from the Comic Strip Museum at 2:00 pm and marches to the Grand Place and returns to the corner of the Rue des Sables & Rue des Marais where the tree must be planted before 5:00 pm. The meyboom festivities continue until late at night.
BRUSSELS SUMMER FESTIVAL (EU'RITMIX)
This music festival has more than 280 free concerts in a diverse range of music styles - rock, world music, jazz, hip hop, folk and reggae. It is also a meeting place for different forms of artistic expression including street theater, traveling groups, a circus and more.
KLARAFESTIVAL
The 5th edition of the KlaraFestival of Flanders, International Brussels Music Festival has an unconventional and highly innovative approach by leaping from classical to world music to jazz and even pop. The 2008 theme is ‘Forza Musica!’.
FESTIVAL BROCKXL'58
It's rock'n'roll time in Brussels with ask4 and BrockXL'58! Discover the great sounds and styles that make up the Roots & Rock'n'roll movement. Rock'n'roo, Doo Wop, rockabilly, dance...
URBAN BBQ
Giant barbecue in the Park of Brussels in a great atmosphere. 5 chefs will prepare delicious recipes (Yves Mattagne " Sea Grill" ** Michelin - Kristof Begyn & Didier De Roover: " Kijk Uit " - Gaëtan Colin " Jaloa " - Michel D " L'Atelier de Michel " & Constantin Erinkoglou: " Notos" Bib Gourmand Michelin)
MUSIC VILLAGE JAZZ CONCERTS
A series of 12 jazz nights with live music in the center of Brussels is organized by and at the Music Village. Discover the universe of jazz in the land where the saxophone was invented.
Assumption Day
August 15th, a public holiday
September
MUSIC VILLAGE JAZZ CONCERTS
A series of 12 jazz nights with live music in the center of Brussels is organized by and at the Music Village. Discover the universe of jazz in the land where the saxophone was invented.
BRUXELLENSIS FESTIVAL
This is the fourth running of the Bruxellensis Festival. The aim is to support and defend those who have made the decision to turn their back on easy commercial gain but rather have adopted a fighting stance against beers with little flavour.
ROYAL PALACE OPEN TO PUBLIC
Open every day, except on Monday from 10 am to 5 pm – Entrance free.
BELGIAN BEER WEEKEND
The Belgian Brewers’ association and the ‘Chevalerie du Fourquet des Brasseurs’, in collaboration with the City of Brussels organizes the annual Belgian Beer Weekend on the Grand’Place. Many small, medium-sized and large Belgian breweries will present their best selections of beers. Beer aficionados should also check out our Beer Lovers guide.
HERITAGE DAY
The Heritage Days offer you the unique opportunity to discover many monuments and other cultural locations and admire these places that are often overlooked. This year we celebrate a double anniversary: 20 years Heritage Days and the 50 years World Expo 1958.
EUROPEAN DAY: A SUNDAY WITHOUT CAR
The participating cities and towns delimit a particular zone of the city centre, banning all car traffic from the morning until the evening (in general, from 7 am to 7 pm). This zone is only accessible by bike, by public transport or on foot.
MEMORIAL VAN DAMME-ATHLETICS MEETING
Annual international athletics competition.
October
BIENNAL ART NOUVEAU
An original way to discover Brussels, capital of Europe and Art Nouveau. You can explore a city district by district with Art Nouveau architecture. Or you can visit Art Nouveau interiors (villas, private houses, schools, shops, …), which are exceptionally open and accessible with a pass (only Saturdays & Sundays)
MODO BRUXELLAE FASHION DESIGNERS' TRAIL
At the end of October the center of Brussels becomes the mecca of fashion where visitors can view exhibitions and installations by talented Belgian fashion designers. Fashion schools, new labels, well-known houses, famous and unknown designers work together to create a highly original and up-to-the-minute image of fashion.
BRUSSELS MARATHON
What better way is there to discover the splendid city of Brussels than to run its annual marathon? Forget the tour bus, this year you can keep fit by running through the city centre's avenues, boulevards and parks.
BRUSSELS BIENNIAL
The first edition of the Brussels Biennial, a new international exhibition of contemporary art, opens on October 19th 2008. Fifty years earlier Expo '58 in Brussels closed its doors. Brussels Biennial now invites contemporary artists to reflect on the spirit of modernity and optimism which characterized the event fifty years ago. Their work will be shown in institutions and public spaces which typify our modern society: the National Bank, the Royal Library, the national administrative centre and the Brussels train stations. The project will comprise a total of fifty exhibitions, involving some one-hundred artists.
November
All Saint's Day
November 1st, a public holiday
Armistice Day
November 11th, a public holiday
SABLON BY NIGHT
The Sablon, one of the most beautiful districts of the European capital, organizes its famous Sablon by night. On this occasion the shops open their doors a little more to the public with the organization of numerous exhibitions, cocktails and various activities.
BRUSSELS BIENNIAL
The first edition of the Brussels Biennial, a new international exhibition of contemporary art, opens on October 19th 2008. Fifty years earlier Expo '58 in Brussels closed its doors. Brussels Biennial now invites contemporary artists to reflect on the spirit of modernity and optimism which characterized the event fifty years ago. Their work will be shown in institutions and public spaces which typify our modern society: the National Bank, the Royal Library, the national administrative centre and the Brussels train stations. The project will comprise a total of fifty exhibitions, involving some one-hundred artists.
December
EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS MARKET
Winter fun, an ice skating rink and much more await visitors in the warm and friendly atmosphere of downtown Brussels. A holiday shoppers’ delight!
Christmas Day
December 25th, a public holiday
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