Festivals & events

41 celebrations through the year — pick a day to see what's on.

• New Year's Day (1 January · All regions · National) — National public holiday celebrating the start of the new year with celebrations across the country.
• Epiphany Festival (6 January · Multiple locations · Luxembourg and High Ardennes) — Traditional celebration of the three kings with special pastries and regional customs throughout Wallonia.
• Binche Carnival (All February · Binche · Hainaut) — One of Europe's most famous carnivals featuring the iconic Gilles in distinctive costumes and masks, a UNESCO-recognized spectacle.
• Malmedy Carnival (All February · Malmedy · Liège and Eastern Wallonia) — Historic carnival featuring the famous Blancs Moussis (white-masked figures) with vibrant parades and traditional costumes.
• Eupen Carnival (All February · Eupen · Liège and Eastern Wallonia) — Colorful carnival with parades, masked balls, and traditional German-influenced celebrations in the German-speaking community.
• Easter (All March · All regions · National) — National religious holiday with egg hunts, markets, and family celebrations across Belgium.
• Liège Spring Festival (All April · Liège · Liège and Eastern Wallonia) — Cultural and musical festival celebrating spring with performances, exhibitions, and street events throughout the city.
• King's Day (27 April · All regions · National) — National celebration of the Belgian monarchy with public festivities and official ceremonies.
• Labor Day (1 May · All regions · National) — National public holiday honoring workers with parades and gatherings across Belgium.
• Ascension Day (All May · All regions · National) — National religious holiday celebrated 39 days after Easter with traditional observances.
• Whit Monday (All May · All regions · National) — National public holiday 50 days after Easter marking the end of Easter celebrations.
• Brussels Flower Carpet (All August · Brussels · Brussels and Capital Region) — Spectacular biennial event where the Grand Place is covered with over 700,000 begonias in intricate patterns (odd-numbered years).
• Assumption of Mary (15 August · All regions · National) — National religious holiday with processions and celebrations honoring the Virgin Mary.
• Knokke Summer Festival (All July · Knokke · Flemish Coast) — Prestigious summer festival featuring classical music, dance, and theater performances in the elegant coastal resort.
• Gent Festival (All July · Ghent · East Flanders) — Major performing arts festival with theater, music, and dance performances throughout Ghent's historic streets and venues.
• Gentse Feesten (All July · Ghent · East Flanders) — Ten-day street festival featuring live performances, theater, music, and street food celebrations across the medieval city.
• Antwerp Summer of Love (All July · Antwerp · Antwerp) — Festival celebrating peace and love with music, theater, and performances throughout Antwerp during summer.
• Dour Festival (All July · Dour · Hainaut) — Major electronic and indie music festival drawing international artists and thousands of music fans to rural Wallonia.
• Spa-Francorchamps Music Festival (All August · Spa · Liège and Eastern Wallonia) — Classical music festival held at the famous racing circuit combining motorsports heritage with world-class performances.
• Pukkelpop (All August · Hasselt · Limburg) — One of Europe's oldest and largest rock and pop festivals featuring diverse international artists in Limburg.
• Boom Festival (All August · Boom · Brabant) — Electronic music festival celebrating dance culture with world-renowned DJs and performers.
• Brussels Fashion Days (All September · Brussels · Brussels and Capital Region) — Biannual fashion week showcasing Belgian and international designers in presentations and runway shows.
• Antwerp Fringe Festival (All September · Antwerp · Antwerp) — Alternative arts festival featuring experimental theater, music, and performances in non-traditional venues.
• Liège International Fantastique Film Festival (All October · Liège · Liège and Eastern Wallonia) — Europe's oldest fantasy film festival celebrating science fiction, horror, and fantasy cinema with international selections.
• All Saints' Day (1 November · All regions · National) — National religious holiday commemorating the deceased with cemetery visits and family gatherings.
• Armistice Day (11 November · All regions · National) — National holiday honoring fallen soldiers with ceremonies and commemorations across Belgium.
• Brussels Light Festival (All December · Brussels · Brussels and Capital Region) — Annual winter light show illuminating Brussels' landmarks and streets with spectacular projection and lighting displays.
• Brussels Christmas Markets (All December · Brussels · Brussels and Capital Region) — Multiple festive markets offering gifts, decorations, food, and holiday cheer throughout the capital.
• Bruges Christmas Markets (All December · Bruges · West Flanders) — Picturesque medieval setting for holiday markets with traditional crafts, food, and ice skating.
• Liège Christmas Markets (All December · Liège · Liège and Eastern Wallonia) — Historic city center transformed into festive holiday markets with unique decorations and regional specialties.
• Christmas Day (25 December · All regions · National) — National religious and public holiday celebrating Christmas with family gatherings and traditions.
• New Year's Eve (31 December · All regions · Brussels and Capital Region) — Celebrations across Belgium ringing in the new year with festivities, fireworks, and street parties.
• Antwerp Jazz Festival (All August · Antwerp · Antwerp) — Premier jazz festival featuring world-class musicians performing in multiple venues across the city.
• Ypres Light Festival (All November · Ypres · West Flanders) — Memorial festival lighting historic sites and commemorating fallen soldiers with illuminated displays.
• Tournai Jazz Festival (All November · Tournai · Hainaut) — Celebrated jazz festival bringing international artists to the historic cathedral city.
• Namur Citadel Summer Festival (All August · Namur · Namur and the Meuse) — Festival featuring theater, concerts, and performances held within and around the historic Citadel.
• De Panne Festival (All August · De Panne · Flemish Coast) — Coastal festival with music performances, theater, and cultural events celebrating summer.
• Mechelen Carillon Festival (All June · Mechelen · Brabant) — International festival celebrating the art of carillon bell-ringing with performances by master carillonneurs.
• Hasselt Jenever Festival (All October · Hasselt · Limburg) — Festival celebrating the traditional Belgian spirit with distillery tours, tastings, and cultural events.
• Brussels Beer Weekend (All September · Brussels · Brussels and Capital Region) — Festival celebrating Belgian beer culture with tastings, breweries, and food pairings across the capital.
• Tasting Days in Wallonia (All October · Multiple locations · Central Wallonia) — Regional food and wine festival celebrating Walloon cuisine with tastings and producer demonstrations.