Another full weekend of sunshine is upon us! Whether you will be dancing the day away at a festival, want to catch a screening under the starry sky or discover the city's established and emerging artists, Brussels is the place to be! Find all our favourite events listed in our weekly guide below.
Art, music and culture
Le Grand Marché, Les Halles de Schaerbeek, from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 June
Les Halles is opening its doors in northern Brussels and bringing the old market on Rue Royale Sainte-Marie back to life for ten days with Le Grand Marché. Through setting up artistic spaces with stalls, workshops and performances, Le Grand Marché will transform Les Halles into a veritable hub of cultural, artistic and civic exchange.
Credit: Les Halles de Schaerbeek
Whether you fancy a krump battle with Ruthless, FIFA matches on a giant screen with MC Alvin, film screenings, a yoga/boxing session with Fluxion 3000, workshops, performances, or just an opportunity to meet new people, there is something for everyone at Le Grand Marché.
Find more information here.
Festival Musiq3, various locations, until Sunday 29 June
The four-day Festival Musiq3 is returning to Flagey and Théâtre Marni for its 15th edition this weekend with 19 impressive concerts and performances. The event brings together both emerging and established artists from the Belgian and international classical, jazz and electro scenes.
Credit: Musiq3 - RTBF
On the programme this year is jazz singer Youn Sun Nah and pianist Boyan Z, Hervé Niquet and his ensemble Le Concert Spirituel, pianist Yeol Eum Son, François Joubert-Caillet, Het Collectief with Lore Binon, Brussels Philharmonic, Julien Libeer, and Fabian Fiorini. Younger classical musicians include Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, Apolline Jesupret, Pierre Slinckx, Alice Hebborn. There will also be two playful performances for children.
Find more information here.
'Les Africains', KVS BOL, Friday 27 June
'Les Africains' forms part of the wider, multidisciplinary Afro-Diaspo-Arts Festival Congolisation, which is rooted in a Belgian context and aims to spotlight both the Congolese and broader African diaspora.
Credit: KVS
'Les Africains' tells the story of two groups: men and women exchanging neighbourhood gossip in a hair salon, and climate refugees dreaming of a different life. The play draws from comedy, tragedy, ancient Greek chorus and farce to paint a powerful portrait of contemporary Africans caught between tradition and globalisation. There will also be a 30-minute, post-performance discussion, which everyone is welcome to attend.
Find more information here.
Visueel Festival Visuel, Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Sunday 29 June
For 20 years now, French-speaking cultural centre Archipel 19 and Dutch-speaking community centre De Kroon have been partnering up to organise this exciting free festival. Transcending language and age barriers by offering "wordless" street theatre, circus, dance and activities specifically for young audiences, this event is definitely not one to miss.
Credit: Visueel Festival Visuel
With this festival, these two organisations also provide key support for young creatives, who become resident artists, giving them time and space to work on their performance, which is then included in the programme. There will be several food trucks serving world cuisine and vegetarian dishes in front of the GC De Kroon, and visitors can grab a drink at the Dkantine to cool down.
Find more information here.
Lights, camera, action!
'Bruxelles fait son cinéma', various locations in Brussels, from Friday 27 June to Tuesday 15 July
The travelling film festival 'Bruxelles fait son cinéma' is back for its 25th edition, offering free outdoor screenings across all 19 municipalities of Brussels. Launched in 2001, the event aims to revive the tradition of neighbourhood cinemas, which are now "almost entirely gone," by showcasing films in some of Brussels' lesser-known locations, providing audiences with a chance to rediscover the city's diversity.
Credit: Laurèline Baron
This year, film enthusiasts can look forward to screenings of 'Animale' by Emma Benestan, 'The Count of Monte Cristo' by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre De La Patellière, 'Vingt Dieux' by Louise Courvoisier, and the Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land' by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor, and 'Conclave' by Edward Berger. Screenings will begin at nightfall and no reservations are needed.
Find more information here.
Brussels International Film Festival (BRIFF), various locations in Brussels, until Saturday 28 June
Don't miss the last few days of the BRIFF at three of Brussels' cinemas this weekend (UGC De Brouckère, Palace and Galeries). The festival has a packed programme of screenings on offer, ranging from new features to classics.
Credit: Brussels International Film Festival
Highlights include an open-air screening at Mont des Arts of 'Flow', the stunning, Oscar-winning Latvian animation (co-produced by Belgium), as well as 'Cuba and Alaska', a documentary by Yegor Troyanovsky about two real-life medics on the front-line in Ukraine, Alexe Poukine's 'Kik'a, the story of a young pregnant woman in Brussels forced to take desperate measures when her life is turned upside down, and Jane Campion’s Oscar-winning classic, 'The Piano'.
Find more information here.
Out and about
'L'Europe dans ma région: Le long du canal, ça bouge', Porte de Ninove, Saturday 28 June
The Canal is an iconic waterway in Brussels, running through neighbourhoods that have changed significantly over the last few decades. Once an industrial area lined with factories and warehouses, the Canal has become a link between residents, a melting pot of cultures with activities for all ages and professional development opportunities.
Translation: Saturday 28 June. Along the canal, things are happening. Join us to (re)discover the area around the canal! From 11:00 to 18:00 - free entry.
A free event is taking place throughout Saturday to highlight the places which have transformed the area around the Canal, from meetings places for artists and cultural and community centres. These include COOP, GC De Vaartkapoen, IMAL, MAD Brussels, Zinneke, The Great Hall, MANUFACTURE. There will be a variety of activities on offer, such as creative workshops, a collective work of art and guided tours.
Find more information here.
Apéros Nice Brazil, Place van Meenen, every Friday in June and July
For two months this summer, a free Brazilian street party like no other is being held in front of the Saint-Gilles town hall every Friday evening. Head over to one of the big tents on the square and enjoy samba blasting through the speakers, a deliciously authentic churrasco, a caipirinha, and some dancing, all while getting to know the vibrant local Portuguese-speaking community.
These weekly apéros offer an immersive escape to the conviviality and energy of Brazil, and are the ideal way to unwind with friends after a long week at work.
Find more information here.
Troc & Broll, Avenue de la Couronne, Sunday 29 June
This Sunday will see the second edition of the free Troc & Broll flea market, stretching along Avenue de la Couronne in the Brussels municipality of Ixelles. Head over between 10:00 and 18:00 for a day of treasure hunting and meeting new people in the sun.
Credit: UR square
There will be a host of stalls offering a wide range of clothes, books, decorations, trinkets, and unusual items. Stroll through the lively streets, get a taste of the vibrant neighbourhood and sample the tasty sweet and savoury crêpes from food truck Garnish Canteen.
Find more information here.
