Best of Brussels in September 2024.

September signals the subtle arrival of autumn, with the return of school and the daily routine. But don't worry - Brussels is still brimming with exciting events and vibrant energy to keep the summer spirit alive! Some of our favorite events are making a comeback, including Heritage Days, the new concert season at the picturesque Citizens' Garden, Brussels Art Square in Sablon, and the Monumental Sculpture expo in Saint Josse. Plus, there are some thrilling new additions, like the Terracotta Army exhibition in Brussels. Read on and mark your calendars!

This year marks the 36th edition of the?Heritage Days?on 14 and 15 September. Explore a diverse program of guided tours and cultural events across the city, broadening your understanding of what defines new heritage, this year's main theme.

As part of Mobility Week, Brussels will host the?Car Free Sunday?on 22 September, turning the entire Brussels Region into Europe’s largest car-free zone. It’s a chance to embrace active mobility and rediscover the joys of walking, biking and using public transport.

Concerts in the Citizens’ Garden?continue this September! From Monday to Thursday, you will find classical music performances by different musicians and ensembles in this hidden oasis in the heart of the European Quarter.?Enjoy the performances in an intimate outdoor setting, featuring an eclectic mix of styles, from classical to opera, jazz and world music. From 2-26 September.

Brussels Art Square?is back for its 19th edition! Discover over 10,000 years of art history during 4 vibrant days which unites around 60 galleries in the Sablon district of Brussels. Brussels Art Square (B.A.S) honors Sablon’s distinctive charm and showcases the artistic richness of this emblematic?neighbourhood. 20-22 September. More info

Celebrate linguistic diversity at the European Parliament’s?Multilingualism Day?on 27 & 28 September.?Discover how the Parliament operates in 24 languages, meet interpreters, and visit the Hemicycle. Join online workshops on Friday, then explore the Parliament in Brussels on Saturday. Check out the program here.

The 32nd?Exhibition of Monumental Sculpture?takes place in a beautiful environment of?Square Armand Steurs?in Saint-Josse. This year’s edition brings together 33 sculptures, as well as a monumental installation. Discover works by 27 renowned sculptors in this unique landscape environment featuring some great artworks. Access to the expo is free and you can also meet the artists at the opening on Saturday 31 August from 11 a.m. Until 30 September. More info

The 18th edition of?Brussels Design September, running from 12?to 30 September, explores new trends and addresses contemporary design issues with a focus on engagement and innovation. Discover the field’s creativity and join many events. More info

New expo in town: Step back 2,200 years and explore ancient China with the?Terracotta Army exhibition in Brussels.?Discover the grandeur of the Terracotta Warriors and the legacy of China’s First Emperor. From 27 September at Tour & Taxis. More info here.

Jazz vibes all around the city:

New Flagey season starts with jazz in September and October!?Drummer and producer Tom Skinner opens the new season of Flagey on 14/09 with Voices of Bishara. On 27/09, the French composer Chassol brings the world of the legendary painter Jean-Michel Basquiat with Chassol plays Basquiat. More info

Jazz and Comic. This exhibition explores the deep connection between jazz and comic art, showcasing how they influence each other’s atmosphere and iconic figures. The Comic Art Museum features Belgian creativity and diverse styles in collaboration with the Maison du Jazz, illustrating how comic artists use line and color to reflect jazz’s rhythm. Until 8 September. More info

Experience a symphony of genres and artistic freedom at Marni Jazz Festival from 12 to 21 September at the Marni Theatre.?Diverse lineup of Belgian musicians push boundaries to create an unforgettable sensory experience. Info here

Until 25 September, catch?Jazz in the Woods, Vol. 5 at Le Kiosque in Bois de la Cambre. Enjoy in live jazz and blues every Wednesday evening amidst nature, with food, drinks, and a relaxed atmosphere. No reservations needed. More info?

Prepare for the 38th edition of the?Saint Jazz Festival, making its way back to Botanique and Jazz Station in trendy Saint Josse from 20 to 22 September. Immerse yourself in three evenings of varied performances, showcasing a range of artists who fuse jazz, swing, funk, soul, rhythm, and groove. More info

Food & drinks, dance & architecture:

Kick off September the Belgian way—with the?Belgian Beer Weekend! From 6 to 8 September, head to the Grand Place for a beer celebration. With over 50 brewers offering more than 500 unique beers, this event is your chance to sample everything from classic favorites to innovative new brews. More details

For more beer, join the?Wanderlust Festival?on 7 & 8 September?at the Vismet / Marché du Poisson, with the goal of breaking the world record for the largest beer tasting! Enjoy music, artisanal beer, and great company in this lively celebration. More info

If you love food and drink, the?Eat Festival?returns for its 13th edition, offering a four-day gastronomic experience?from 26-29 September?at the Gare Maritime in Tour & Taxis. More info

Immerse yourself in the rhythms of Latin America at?Fiesta Latina?in Brussels. From 6-8 September?at Carrefour des Attelages – Bois de la Cambre, this third edition of the energetic summer festival promises a weekend of music, dance, and delicious Latin cuisine. Enjoy thrilling dance shows, Latin dance workshops, and more. Make it an unforgettable weekend by checking out all the activities here.

From 26 September?to 13 October, experience the?Artonov Festival, inspired by the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements that define Brussels’ architecture. See the program?here.

If dancing is your passion, especially street and urban styles, check the 15th anniversary edition of the Detours Festival. Until 22 September at Place de la Bourse, this event will feature dance battles, innovative urban dance performances with original music, and much more. It’s the perfect chance to experience street performances and connect with the urban dance community. More here

Also happening: Ongoing expos & activities

• Ilot Sacré Festival. From?12 to?15 September, this annual folkloric celebration takes over Rue des Bouchers and surrounding areas in the historic city center. Full program.
• Expo: Murmures Urbains.?This showcase brings together the works of five talented artists, displayed at Bourse metro station until December. Paying homage to the vibrant city of Brussels, the exhibition captures its essence through the artistic lens, portraying its rhythms, influences, and interactions. More info
• Head up to the?Bozar Rooftop?at the Palais des Beaux-Arts for breathtaking views, a drink in hand, and an eclectic mix of music. Enjoy a variety of concerts, from jazz to electro, running until September 29. Discover the full program
• Bruxellons!?Every summer for 26 years, this theatre festival?at the Chateau du Karreveld offers almost a hundred performances of around fifteen shows. Until?28 September.?More
• Comic Strip Festival?is a must-see from 6-8 September at Gare Maritime in Tour & Taxis. Around fifty exhibitors, talks, signings, and fun for kids, including workshops, indie comics, a manga zone, and an international pavilion, all under giant comic book hero balloons. More info
• Bozar Family day?on 22 September. With lively performances, fanfare music, and various workshops, Bozar Family Day is crafted to inspire and entertain both children and?parents. Info here?
• Festival ‘The Gaps of Memory’. From 3-5 September, this festival honors the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Brussels. Cinéma Vend?me and Irdecof Productions commemorate this milestone with a selection of films and hundreds of hours of interviews with Resistance fighters from World War II, along with a collection of 20 films accompanied by historical photographic archives. More info?
• Transpoesie festival:?official opening at the Citizens’ Garden. Transpoesie celebrates the unique relationship between poetry, nature and architecture, creating living environments that inspire and ignite the imagination. This year’s edition will focus on surrealist poetry and linguistic diversity to mark the centenary of the birth of surrealism. Opening on September 26, 17:00 -18:30. More info
• Fêtes Romanes 2024.?The?street arts event returns with theatrical, juggling, and acrobatic performances. This edition explores themes of family, travel, satire, transformations, and life journeys, all infused with authenticity, laughter, and absurdity. 28 & 29?September.?Info here
• 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
• 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 Royales Saint-Hubert to Mont des Arts and the Sablon square.?Info
• Expo:?Multitude - VHILS. MIMA museum presents a solo exhibition by Alexandre Farto aka Vhils. Visitors can encounter wall carvings, billboards, cityscapes, videos and installations offering a compelling insight into the Portuguese artist approach to the relationship between people and cities. Until January 2025.?Info
• 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

Thanks for reading and wishing you all a bonne rentrée!

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