A rainy weekend is on the cards for Brussels in the coming days, but don't let that be an excuse to stay inside and forego an adventure! Here are some of our recommendations on what to do in the capital.
Arts, music and culture
Festival des Libertés, Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles, Thursday 13 - Saturday 22 October
Brussels' annual music and documentary film festival returns this weekend with a stellar ten-day agenda. Every evening, films, debates and concerts will succeed each other, all reflecting on and analysing the state of people's rights and freedoms across the world.
Audience during a debate at the Theatre National in Brussels. Credit: Belga/ Didier Journet
Our highlights include the documentary screening of Los Arboles Mueren de Pie telling the tale of the Mexican town of Cherán, where villagers disappear without a trace and sacred trees are cut down, or a soothing Sunday night enjoying the music of one of Africa's greatest musicians Youssou N'Dour, serving up a unique cocktail of Senegalese mbalax, Cuban music, hip-hop, jazz and soul.
Find more information here.
Brussels Cello Festival, Royal Conservatorium, Friday 14 - Sunday 16 October
The internationally-recognised biennial cello festival brings together the world’s top cellists and young talents to Belgium for a weekend of inspiring concerts and masterclasses. This year, the festival is celebrating the return of live music to the city's stages.
Highlights of this edition include a concert by the 2022 Queen Elisabeth Competition first prize winner Hayoung Choi and the 2022 Buchet International Cello Competition top laureates, but the free public masterclasses, as well as the Gala evening, are also high on the agenda.
Find more information here.
Keep moving
Brussels archiweek (guided walks), Saturday 15 - Sunday 23 October 2022
From self-guided walks to family-friendly strolls, Urban Brussels will organise guided tours across Brussels in the coming days, giving participants access to a selection of the region's contemporary buildings and explaining how the urban architecture is designed to suit its inhabitants.
One of the guided, family-friendly walks. Credit: Urban Brussels
Other events include open days at some of the most influential architecture offices, seminars, workshops, conferences and exhibitions, which will all be free and open to all. Find more information here.
Nuits Sonores, various locations, Wednesday 12 - Sunday 16 October
The fifth edition of Nuits Sonores & European Lab Brussels reflects a project that has matured over the years, and following a two-year hiatus, is back with an explosive and exploratory series of events. Held in a variety of locations throughout the region, such as the new nightclub Reset, an ephemeral venue in the heart of the city to Brussels cultural staples such as C12, and Bozar.
Join this cultural and artistic journey through the city, and be sure to stop by Bozar on Saturday night to marvel at Berlin-based keyboardist, composer and producer Nils Frahm's creation of a perfect marriage between electro and classical, then head to C12 for a blend of deconstructed and deep reggaeton brought by Dominican producer Kelman Duran and rising star DJ Python (trust us, it works) to party until the early hours of the morning.
Find more information here.
Further afield
Film Fest Ghent, Tuesday 11 - Saturday 22 October
This year's edition, under the tag "Resilience," lists a series of must-see movies that are, each in their own way, products of our time. From feeling pressure and stress to buckling under mental health or society's expectations, these screenplays show how resilience can make the difference between success and failure.
On Tuesday, the festival opened with 'Close,' the second full-length film by Lukas Dhont and that got a ten-minute standing ovation at this year's Oscars. The film will also be shown on Friday and Saturday this week.
