Thanks to Labour Day, the weekend seemed to come around especially quickly this week. Unsure how to fill your days? Explore our suggestions, including the iconic Iris Festival celebrating the Brussels-Capital Region, a day dedicated to Poland and an opportunity to look inside key EU buildings.
Arts, music and culture
Living Room Music Festival, various locations in Ixelles, Sunday 5 May
Explore the neighbourhood around Rue Gray in Ixelles during the 21st edition of the Living Room Music Festival. Several residents in the area will open their doors to music lovers, inviting them to enjoy traditional world music concerts, spanning five continents, in their living rooms.
Credit: Muziekpublique
Ticket holders can choose three of the ten organised concerts, each lasting 30 minutes and timed so people can enjoy a leisurely stroll between the homes of participating hosts. Booking is recommended as seats are limited.
Find out more information here.
Iris Festival, various locations in Brussels, Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 May
This festival invites locals and tourists to celebrate the Brussels-Capital Region with dozens of concerts and free activities for all the family in three of the capital's communes (Schaerbeek, Evere and Saint-Josse-ten-Noode).
Iris Festival 2023. Credit: visit.brussels
On Saturday, take a guided surrealism-themed walking tour, or dance the night away at the Iris Tipik Electro Night with DJ sets by Belgian and French artists such as Ofenbach, TRINIX, Alex Germys, Emjie and Raql. On Sunday, the festival will move to Place Poelaert, the Brussels Parliament and Parc de Bruxelles with street theatre, dance and circus performances.
Find out more information here.
Inner Lands & Scapes, Les Passagées, until Tuesday 7 May
Have you ever craved a sensory experience that involves artistic, intellectual and culinary experiences all at once? Les Passagées, located in a 125-year-old house, offers an annual event in which the audience, artists and chefs all share, question, eat and exchange ideas around dance, music, visual and culinary arts.
Guests will be able to taste five dishes prepared by Michelin-starred chef Chiho Kanzaki, complemented by dance performances, various sonic experiences and monumental art works. All food will be vegetarian.
Find more information here.
Oscillation ::: Materia Forma, various locations, until Sunday 5 May
This year's edition of the annual festival, situated between sound, music and experimentation, focuses on the influence of formal aspects on a musical experience, encouraging the audience to take on a more active role as the spectator.
Nika Son. Credit: Oscillation ::: Materia Forma
Highlights on this year's programme include Jacqueline Nova Ana María Romano G.'s rendition of 'Creación de la Tierra' created in 1972 from vocal material of creation chants of the U'wa ethnic group in Boyacá (Colombia), and 'Scatter', a multi-channel sound performance by Nika Son featuring video, objects and light to describe the realms of insomnia.
Find out more information here.
Out and about
Polish Day, Parc du Cinquantenaire, Saturday 4 May
Polish Day will return to the capital for its third edition this weekend. The event, an annual celebration of the Central European country's culture, is the largest of its kind in this part of the continent and attracts more people every year from Brussels and beyond.
Polish Day 2023. Credit: Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Brussels
This year's edition holds special significance as it coincides with the 20th anniversary of Poland's accession to the European Union. To celebrate this occasion, the day will be jam-packed with live music, meetings with writers and many family activities, with stands serving some of the country's best and most traditional dishes.
Find out more information here.
Europe Day (open day), various locations in Brussels, Saturday 4 May
As part of the EU's celebrations for Europe Day on 9 May, the institutions will open their doors to the public in Brussels. The European Commission will open the doors of the Berlaymont, one of its most iconic buildings, while the Parliament's Hemicycle will also be open for visits. People can also enjoy some of Europe's finest food and participate in lively debates.
The European Commission's Berlaymont building. Credit: Ugo Realfonzo / The Brussels Times
Just weeks ahead of the European elections on 9 June, this is a key opportunity for people to learn more about what Europe does for its citizens. During the various events organised in the EU's buildings, voters can find out how EU legislation affects their lives and learn how they can influence future decisions.
Find out more information here.
Further afield
'All Greeks Festival', various locations in Ghent, until 23 June
Over 30 Greek tragedies will be performed in Ghent over the next eight weeks, inviting audiences to observe the stark parallels between modern and ancient society. The event's artistic director was initially inspired after seeing Shakespeare being performed in a park in Paris. He decided to bring a similar concept to Belgium – but this time, with Greek tragedies.
Credit: Michiel Devijver
The event's curator told The Brussels Times that he wants to highlight intersections between Greek tragedy and modern life, both in terms of content and in the public space.
Find out more information here.
