Welcome to the new edition of our LinkedIn newsletter. As May unfurls its gentle warmth upon Brussels, we present to you a roster of events to enjoy throughout the month. Take note, the season of guinguettes?is back! For those uninitiated in the charm of guinguettes, discover more here.?Meanwhile, if you feel like exploring the city, we suggest you read our article about Industry North to uncover vibrancy, artsy feel and large urban regeneration projects along the?Port of Brussels neighbourhoods.
We expect a very busy first weekend of May with many happenings all across the city. Plan your agenda with our suggestions below:
Iris Festival 2024. Enjoy Iris Festival on 4 & 5 May – a true celebration of Brussels on various locations around the city. Brussels-Capital Region’s 35th anniversary will be marked with plenty of concerts, guided tours and other animations.?Discover the programme.
Celebrate Europe Day in Brussels. The EU Quarter will be buzzing as the European institutions in Brussels open their doors to the public on 4 May for Europe Day celebrations. This year, with the European Elections around the corner (6-9 June 2024), it is a perfect occasion to visit the European Parliament and celebrate democracy with friends, family and other citizens.?Full programme
- Brussels Museums Nocturnes.?Guided tours, activities and behind the scenes at various participating museums. Every Thursday until 23 May.?Info
- Brussels Short Film Festival.?In its 27th edition this year, the BSFF offers more than 250 Belgian and International short films over 11 days at 3 locations accompanied by workshops, activities and more.?Until 4 May.?Info
- Polish Day in Brussels.?The 3rd edition of the Polish Day in Brussels back again at Cinquantenaire Park on 4 May. This event is a great celebration of Polish culture in Belgium and stands as the largest Polish festival in this part of Europe. More info
- Les Nuits Botanique.?The 31st edition of Nuits Botanique started on 24 April 24 until 5 May, opening the season of the festivals! With an eclectic program of musicians from different backgrounds, the festival is keen to reveal new local and international productions.?More info
- Brel! The Show.?Admirers of Jacques Brel’s music will be thrilled – Brel! The Show will be playing in Brussels from 9 – 11 May and in Liege on 12 May. Info
- Streat Fest 2024.?A culinary festival that celebrates urban gastronomy from around the world is back at Tour & Taxis from from 16 to 19 May. Expect 4 days of culinary experiences, concerts & DJ sets and other small pleasures.?More info
- Brussels Pride.?Celebrate diversity and join the Brussels Pride from noon on 18?May at the Mont des Arts. The theme this year is ‘Safe Everyday Everywhere.’ More info
- Queen Elisabeth Competition.?This year the Queen Elisabeth Competition is dedicated to the violin. The best young violinists from all over the world will compete for the title in Flagey and Bozar.?From 6 May to 12 June.?More info
- Kunstenfestivaldesarts.?Held annually, this is an international performing arts festival dedicated to contemporary theatre, dance, performance and visual arts. From 10 May - 1 June.?Programme
- Lotto Brussels Jazz Weekend.?Enjoy jazz music around the famous squares and quarters across the city. From old school orchestra performances to electronic jazz, indoor shows to outdoor ones on temporary stages with people milling around – this is not to be missed!?24-26 May.?More info
- The exhibition ''VOTE: A European Story. Ten elections that shaped our world'' at the Parlamentarium.?In June 2024, citizens from all European Union will elect their representatives to the European Parliament. This temporary expo offers a chance to reflect on how Europe’s supranational democracy has unfolded, from the origins of democratic participation on the continent to the step-by-step building of a true European polity. Until June 2024. Info
- WAW! P(art)cours-Par(kunst).?WAW – as in Woluwe St Lambert / Auderghem / Woluwe St Pierre - a biennial of public art means that parks and squares of these 3 communes will be adorned with installations by 14 artists with the theme to (re)enchant the city of Brussels.?Until 23 June?More info
- Popcorn at MIMA museum.?New group show featuring 15 artists who paint a colourful, offbeat and dreamlike picture of our society, with a dose of surrealism comparable to that of the 1930s.?The humorous experience is as much a guaranteed visual shock as it is an antidote to winter melancholy. Until?26 May. Info
- Bellum et Artes - Europe and the Thirty Years’ War.?The House of European History has a new temporary exhibition Bellum et Artes (War and Arts), about the role of the arts during the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648).?More info
- TITANIC: The Artifact Exhibition in Brussels.?Real objects, real stories. Get?a new perspective on the fate of the largest and most luxurious ship of its time.?Expect to see?authentic artefacts recovered from the wreck of the Titanic at a depth of almost 10,000 feet, the reconstruction of the ship’s rooms and poignant accounts of the passengers present at the time of the shipwreck.?15 March - 14 April at Tour & Taxis.?More info
- 20 km de Bruxelles.?This year marks the 44th edition of the ‘20 km de Bruxelles,’ and you can cheer for those running?on?26 May.?More info
- Festival CubaLandz.?Contemporary Cuban art and its impact on Cuban culture is the theme of this year’s 7th edition of the festival. Hosted by the BOZAR and BRASS, the festival will run for 3 days and includes theatre, art exhibition, concerts and a dance workshop.?From 25 May.?More info
- IMAGINE! Hundred years of International Surrealism.?2024 marks a hundred years of international surrealism and there are many important events lined up to celebrate this. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Brussels is collaborating with Centre Pompidou in Paris for a touring exhibition on surrealistic art. From Dali, Chirico, Pollock, Miro to Belgian surrealists like Khnopff, Spilliaert, Delville and Minne – discover more than 130 works until?21?July.?Info
- Folon – A Trip to Brussels.?2024 marks the ninetieth birth anniversary of legendary Belgian artist, illustrator and sculptor Jean-Michel Folon. In retrospect, the Folon Foundation, along with three museums in Brussels has arranged for exhibitions showcasing Folon’s works. There is also a route with twenty Folon sculptures which can be followed from Galleries Royale Saint-Hubert to Mont des Arts and the Sablon square.?Info
- Histoire de ne pas rire. Surrealism in Belgium. New?exhibition on Belgium’s famous avant-garde movement spanning?60 years can be seen in Bozar. Until 16 June. Details
- James Ensor. Maestro.?2024 is the year of Ensor,?commemorating the 75th anniversary of the death of famous Belgian artist. Bozar pays a tribute with an exhibition highlighting all his facets in an anthology of some 100 works. Until?23 June.?Info
- James Ensor. Inspired by Brussels.?The exhibition at KBR explores how Brussels helped to shape Ensor’s quirky and characteristic visual language. Until?2 June.?More details
- Josef and Anni Albers, Iconic Couple of Modernism.?The Boghossian Foundation hosts the first exhibition in Belgium of the work of Josef and Anni Albers, two pioneers of modernism who produced pivotal artworks that marked the history of 20th century art.?Until 8 September?in the Villa Empain.?More info
- Jules Fran?ois Crahay.?Fashion & Lace Museum in Brussels hosts the first exhibition devoted to Jules Fran?ois Crahay. This Belgian is one of the last geniuses of couture. For the first time, and thanks to extensive research, the expo offers an opportunity to discover this undeservedly forgotten couturier.?Until 10 November.?More info
We hope you will find some interesting activities to enjoy in the coming weeks. Have other events to suggest? Let us know in the comments :)
