Brussels International Film Festival
The Brussels International Film Festival (BRIFF) returns from 4 to 12 September 2026 in Brussels.
For 9 days, discover the best of feature-length cinema: competitions, premieres, outdoor screenings, and encounters.
A programme open to all, enriched with out-of-competition films, family screenings, youth workshops, and professional events.
The Brussels International Film Festival (BRIFF) returns from 4 to 12 September 2026, taking over Brussels’ most beautiful cinemas (UGC De Brouckère, Cinéma Galeries, Cinéma Palace)!
For 9 days, discover the best of feature-length cinema: premieres, encounters, red carpets, outdoor screenings, and exciting discoveries.
Between the National Competition, showcasing Belgian cinema, and the International Competition & Directors' Week, featuring voices from around the world, the festival celebrates unique perspectives and vibrant filmmaking.
Beyond the competitions, BRIFF offers a rich programme of out-of-competition films, family screenings, youth workshops, and professional events for industry players. From renowned names to emerging talents, experience the festival up close.
Various locations in the Brussels Capital Region
Brussels
Festival
Brussels International Film Festival
Racines Festival
L'Entrela' - Centre Culturel d'Evere
Evere
Festival
Racines Festival
Ali Cherri - 'Soul Witness'
For the first time, several of Ali Cherri’s major bodies of work are gathered, including his upcoming film The Sentinel (2026). Alongside, a series of sculptures, watercolour drawings and installations act as a sustained inquiry into how institutions of power — the nation-state, the military and even the museum — shape the ways history is constructed and remembered.
Wiels - Contemporary art centre
Forest
Exhibitions
Ali Cherri - 'Soul Witness'
Marni Jazz Festival
An invitation to discover jazz without boundaries – at times wild, at times completely open to the world, electro or soul. Six concerts, including two ‘carte blanche' performances, two (…)
An invitation to discover jazz without boundaries – at times wild, at times completely open to the world, electro or soul. Six concerts, including two ‘carte blanche' performances, two international guests and lots and lots of artists on stage !
The 3rd edition of the Marni Jazz Festival 2026, themed #WILDOPEN, will take place from 10 to 19 September 2026.
Borrowed from the vocabulary of photography, this term evokes maximum openness to capture the moment in all its depth and spontaneity.
The festival offers a programme that dares to take risks. The artistic choices are based on the energy of live concerts : visceral favourites for artists who inhabit the stage with intensity. #WILDOPEN is an invitation to discover jazz without borders, at times wild, at times with an absolute openness to the world, electro or soul.
In a similar vein, Alain Dauchot's black-and-white drawings will be on display at the bar until the end of October : ‘Jazz, portraits clashés', free entry on performance nights.
3 REASONS TO COME
Le Marni
Ixelles
Festival
Marni Jazz Festival
RendezVous 2026 - Brussels Art Week
RendezVous is an annual celebration of Brussels’ vibrant art scene, bringing together galleries, public institutions, private foundations, auction houses and artist-run initiatives across the city for four days of exhibitions, events, and discursive programs. Every year in September, explore over 80 venues, discover new artistic voices, and connect with the cultural heartbeat of Brussels.
For us and for many, Brussels is a unique place. Conveniently central, discreetly humble - surrounded by big sisters such as London and Paris, but brimming with a creative energy that is ferocious. A metropolis where perfumed fur coats rustle against grimy leather rave jackets, where day meets night the way Magritte imagined it, where you can have an apéro with a gueuze, a pintje ou bien une coupe des bulles. Where young artists can still afford to live and create, whilst a network of immaculate galleries, renowned institutions and experimental artist-run spaces offer a plethora of impressive exhibitions and transdisciplinary events. A city defined by an enriching diversity, a charming chaos, an avant-garde that has been going steady for over 100 years, and where new trends inscribe themselves onto a canvas of strong art historical traditions. An inspiring melting pot for local and international artists, curators, gallerists, researchers, philosophers, collectors and art dealers.
2026 Participating Venues
Galleries
Alice Gallery, Almine Rech, Ancienne Nonciature, Ars Belga | Matthu - Boghossian, Berlin Brussels Art Projects, Bernier/Eliades Gallery, Branche & Lebrun, BS Galleria, Chiquita Room, Christie's Belgium, COLNAGHI, Damien & The Love Guru, Dorotheum, EDJI Gallery, Émilie Dujat, Esther Verhaeghe - art concepts, Galerie Bacqueville, Galerie Christophe Gaillard, Galerie de la Béraudière / Virginie Devillez Fine Art, Galerie Eric Mouchet, Galerie Greta Meert, Galerie La Forest Divonne, Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Gladstone, IN-GATE Gallery, Irène Laub gallery, KIN, Lodovico Corsini, Martins&Montero, MARUANI MERCIER, Meessen, Mendes Wood DM, Modesti Perdriolle Gallery, Nino Mier Gallery, Nosbaum Reding, Pierre Marie Giraud, PILI COLLADO Studio, rodolphe janssen, Schönfeld Gallery, SEPT, Sorry We're Closed, Sotheby's Belgium, Spazio Nobile, Stems Gallery, SYBIL, Wouters Gallery, Xavier Hufkens, Xavier Lust Project, and Zwart Huis.
Museums, Institutions and Private Collections
A Foundation, Affiliate, Agence Agency Agentschap, argos centre for audiovisual arts, Boghossian Foundation, Bozar, Cloud Seven, Fondation CAB, Fondation Walter & Nicole Leblanc, Galila's P.O.C., Globe Aroma, Kanal–Centre Pompidou, KULT XL, La Loge, La Verrière, Phillippe Vandenberg Foundation, PICMOL, Servais Family Collection, The Jewish Museum of Belgium, TheMerode, Vanhaerents Art Collection, and WIELS.
Artist-Run Spaces
a§s / spasss, Atelier Bardaf, Brussels Artist-Run Network, celador, Espace Vanhomwegen, Gilbard, Janitor, Komplot, LAGE EGAL Curatorial Projects, Level Five, MANIFESTE STUDIO, n0dine, Pepper's Ghost & Mennowski, Plagiarama, rile* books, SB34, Superdeals, The Green Corridor, Tictac Art Centre, Urban Societies, Veranda, VROOM, and WIM Brussels.
Check out our website for updates on the exhibition and events programme: https://rendezvousbxl.com/
Contact: Info@rendezvousbxl.com & Social media: @rendezvousbxl
https://rendezvousbxl.com/
Various locations in the Brussels Capital Region
Brussels
Festival
RendezVous 2026 - Brussels Art Week
Moche In Festival - Le festival des refusé·es
Le Moche In Festival - Le festival of the Rejected is a Brussels-based festival of emerging theatre and cinema, offering a first stage to works that often remain unseen. Over two days at LaVallée, performances, film screenings, concerts and encounters bring together artists, professionals and audiences through an inclusive, participatory and accessible programme.
Le Moche In Festival - Le festival of the Rejected is a new Brussels festival dedicated to emerging theatre and cinema, taking place on the 11 and 12 September 2026 at LaVallée (Molenbeek).
Created to give a first stage to works that often remain unseen, the festival showcases theatre performances as well as short and medium-length films selected through an open call. One of its distinctive features is its citizen jury, chosen by random draw and composed of people of different ages, backgrounds and perspectives, offering a diverse and inclusive approach to the selection process.
Over two days, audiences will enjoy a multidisciplinary programme featuring theatre, cinema, concerts, stand-up comedy, live radio, DJ sets, participatory workshops, an illustration market and spaces for discussion and exchange. Designed as a welcoming, inclusive and accessible event, Le Moche In encourages dialogue between artists, cultural professionals and audiences while contributing to Brussels' vibrant cultural scene and promoting emerging artistic talent.
Clémence Depré - Lolà Mancini - Marie Delvaux - Sarah Galateri - Nadège Brusseleers - Samuel Malerbe - Lucas Jacquemin
LaVallée
Molenbeek-Saint-Jean
Festival
Moche In Festival - Le festival des refusé·es
Brussels Urban Sessions
Brussels Urban Sessions, Belgium’s largest urban sports festival, returns from September 11 to 13, 2026, at Parc du Cinquantenaire. At the heart of the event: BMX Freestyle, urban sports, music, and culture. With spectacular competitions, activities, and pre-event happenings throughout the city, Brussels comes alive with an immersive and vibrant experience.
Brussels Urban Sessions is the largest urban sports festival in Belgium. From September 11 to 13, 2026, the iconic Cinquantenaire Park will transform into a spectacular playground where world-class athletes, music and urban culture come together in the heart of Brussels.
At the center of the event is BMX Freestyle, the festival’s flagship discipline. The competition brings together some of the world’s best riders, including Olympic medalists and international champions, delivering spectacular tricks and pushing the limits of the sport in front of thousands of spectators.
But Brussels Urban Sessions is much more than a competition. The festival offers an immersive experience blending urban sports, music, art and lifestyle, with demonstrations and activities including 3x3 basketball, parkour, skateboarding and climbing, as well as shows and entertainment throughout the entire weekend.
The 2026 edition marks a new step forward with unprecedented collaborations with some of the capital’s leading music collectives, strengthening the connection between urban sports and contemporary music culture. In the lead-up to the main event, Brussels Urban Sessions will also activate the city through a series of pre-events taking place in various urban locations across Brussels.
Follow @urbansessions.official on Instagram to stay updated, discover exclusive content and get the chance to win tickets for the event.
Brussels Urban Sessions
Brussels
Sport
Brussels Urban Sessions
Sablon Design Market
Sablon design Market
Brussels
Fairs and shows
Sablon Design Market
Brussels Open Air Festival 2026
On 12 September 2026, the Brussels Open Air Festival transforms five of Brussels’ most iconic squares into open-air dancefloors. For its third edition, ten local collectives take over public spaces with programmes ranging from hip-hop and R&B to techno, dub and afrobeats. A one-day celebration of the diversity, creativity and vibrancy of Brussels’ festive and musical culture.
Across the city, five open-air locations will host different collectives, musical worlds and atmospheres throughout the day. A unique opportunity to experience the diversity and creative energy that make Brussels so vibrant.
From 2 PM to 10 PM, explore a variety of stages and atmospheres across the city and dance beneath the Brussels sky.
Want to visit multiple venues? The Festival Pass gives you access to different locations throughout the day. Limited quantities available.
An event coordinated by the City of Brussels and Brussels By Night.
Congres – 21AM x Bloody Louis, Place d'Espagne – Still Lookin x Easydone, Vaux Hall – Nashaz x Fatma Soundsystem x FEMMEBASS, Place Jean Rey – La Fabriek x BIOME, Poelaert – Vostock
Various locations in the Brussels Capital Region
Brussels
Festival
Brussels Open Air Festival 2026
Climate Classic Belgium (Cycle or Run for Climate!)
On Saturday, 12 September 2026, join us for a friendly, non-competitive, run or ride. All levels & e-bikes welcomed. Start & finish: Sonian Forest Sports Centre, 2057 Waversesteenweg, Auderghem, Brussels. Choose your cycling route: 60 km or 150 km. Choose your running route: 8 km, 16 km, 24 km or 32 km.
The Climate Classic Belgium is part of the international Cycling4Climate movement, a volunteer-driven initiative founded in Utrecht in 2019. Its goal is to build a global peloton for climate action.
The first Climate Classic took place in 2020 in the Netherlands, tracing the future coastline under rising sea levels. Since then, the event has grown to thousands of participants across several European countries.
The Belgian edition brings together a community of volunteers, professionals, and climate advocates who share a passion for cycling and environmental impact.
More information and register today at : https://climateclassic.be/
The Climate Classic aims to raise awareness about climate solutions and funds for nature. We bring together passionate cyclists and runners from across Belgium around a shared cause, the urgent need to protect and restore our natural environment in the face of climate change.
Will you ride or run with us?
Sonian Forest Sports Centre
Auderghem
Sport
Climate Classic Belgium (Cycle or Run for Climate!)
Wanderlust by Brussels Beer Project
Wanderlust by Brussels Beer Project returns to Brussels on September 12 & 13, 2026! Enjoy two days of craft beer with more than 10 breweries from around the world, around 50 beers to discover, exclusive releases, street food and DJ sets. Join us at Fish Market Square for Brussels' must-attend craft beer festival this autumn.
For two days, come and discover the best of craft beer in a festive atmosphere in the heart of Brussels.
More than ten breweries from around the world will gather to offer around fifty beers of all styles and origins, including exclusive creations and limited editions. All of this will be complemented by street food, DJ sets, and plenty of surprises throughout the weekend.
Whether you're a craft beer enthusiast or simply looking for an original outing with friends, Wanderlust is the must-attend event of the season.
What's on the menu: • More than 10 craft breweries from around the world • Around 50 beers of all styles and origins • Exclusive beers and limited editions • Street food • DJ sets
Place du Marché aux Poissons (Fish Market Square), Brussels
Saturday, September 12, 2026 | 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Sunday, September 13, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM(
Brussels Beer Project; Craft Breweries; DJs
Place du marché au poisson
Brussels
Concert
Wanderlust by Brussels Beer Project
Genesis
From 12 September 2026, Genesis, an immersive light and sound experience, will transform the Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon in Brussels. Following presentations in several major European cities, the experience brings together light, music and monumental projections in one of Brussels’ most iconic heritage sites.
Genesis finds a striking home in the Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon, one of Belgium’s finest examples of Brabantine Gothic architecture. The centuries-old church provides a remarkable setting for the experience, as light, music and projections interact with the architecture, revealing its monumental spaces in a whole new light. Over 30 minutes, the audience follows the seven days of Creation as recounted in the Book of Genesis. From the creation of light to the emergence of humankind, the spectacle traces the creation of the heavens and the earth, the seas, the stars, plants and animals. A soundtrack combining classical music with contemporary compositions adds to the poetic and contemplative character of Genesis, creating an immersive experience in which the architecture, music and imagery come together.
Église Notre-Dame du Sablon
Brussels
Show
Genesis
M.C. Escher - Beyond Infinity
The M.C. Escher – Beyond Infinity exhibition in Brussels invites you to explore the complex and fascinating oeuvre of this legendary artist.
Featuring over 150 original works, the exhibition charts the entirety of M.C. Escher’s career: from his early Italian landscapes to his iconic metamorphoses, tessellations, and impossible worlds.
The M.C. Escher – Beyond Infinity exhibition in Brussels invites you to explore the complex and fascinating oeuvre of this legendary artist.
Featuring over 150 original works, the exhibition charts the entirety of M.C. Escher’s career: from his early Italian landscapes to his iconic metamorphoses, tessellations, and impossible worlds. The journey is enhanced by an innovative scenography that seamlessly blends architectural structures with visual creations, allowing for a total immersion into the artist’s mind.
As you move through the galleries, the sheer diversity of the Dutch engraver’s output unfolds—a body of work that is at once playful, artistic, and intellectual. Interactive modules further enrich this experience, offering a closer, more intimate look at his creative process. Step into a faithful recreation of the master’s workspace, help bring a metamorphosis to life, and transport yourself into the heart of an impossible shape…
Evoking the warm glow of a sunset over the Italian landscapes Escher held so dear, the staging is conceived as an integral part of the exhibition itself. It serves to elevate the master’s works, showcasing them in all their profound complexity.
Tour & Taxis - Shed 4bis
Molenbeek-Saint-Jean
Exhibitions
M.C. Escher - Beyond Infinity
Poetik Bazar
Live life to the rhythm of poetry over the course of a weekend! Welcome to Poetik Bazar!
Poetik Bazar, Brussels’ poetry market and festival, will be returning to Les Halles de Schaerbeek for its sixth edition from 18-20 September 2026.
At this unique multilingual market, you’ll find over a hundred poetry publishers from Belgium (both French-speaking and Dutch-speaking), France, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Quebec, among others... It’s an opportunity to discover poetry goodies of every kind: from books to magazines, and from self-publications to illustrated works.
Poetik Bazar is also a festival of performances, meet-and-greets, readings, creative workshops for all ages, outdoor activities, signings, concerts to share multifaceted experiences, in the flesh and collectively, stretching and connecting, in every language.
A rich, multilingual and interactive programme of events to help you (re-)discover the vitality of the contemporary poetry scene available at www.poetikbazar.be
Live life to the rhythm of poetry over the course of a weekend! Welcome to Poetik Bazar!
Poetik Bazar, Brussels’ poetry market and festival, will be returning to Les Halles de Schaerbeek for its sixth edition from 18-20 September 2026.
At this unique multilingual market, you’ll find over a hundred poetry publishers from Belgium (both French-speaking and Dutch-speaking), France, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Quebec, among others... It’s an opportunity to discover poetry goodies of every kind: from books to magazines, and from self-publications to illustrated works.
Poetik Bazar is also a festival of performances, meet-and-greets, readings, creative workshops for all ages, outdoor activities, signings, concerts to share multifaceted experiences, in the flesh and collectively, stretching and connecting, in every language.
A rich, multilingual and interactive programme of events to help you (re-)discover the vitality of the contemporary poetry scene available at www.poetikbazar.be
Les Halles de Schaerbeek
Schaerbeek
Festival
Poetik Bazar
Fêtes Médiévales de Forest - 27e édition
Abbaye de Forest
Forest
Festival
Fêtes Médiévales de Forest - 27e édition
William Kentridge - I am not me, the horse is not mine
William Kentridge began his artistic career at the height of the political struggle against the apartheid regime in his native South Africa. His work bears witness to a profound commitment – at once social, political and poetic – that continues to shape his artistic practice to this day.
Kentridge’s artistic output ranges from drawings, animated films and sculptures to prints, installations and videos. These works often emerge while he is directing a theatre or opera production, another field to which he devotes his energies. I am not me, the horse is not mine, William Kentridge’s solo exhibition at Bozar, offers a comprehensive overview of his oeuvre from the early 1980s to the present day. Several of his major stage productions receive special attention. The exhibition highlights the performative and collaborative nature of Kentridge’s practice, in which he allows art to evolve into a space for political inquiry, historical reckoning and poetic transformation.
William Kentridge will take over one of Bozar’s major exhibition spaces, create site-specific works, and curate a rich, multidisciplinary programme. This is by no means the first time we have welcomed Kentridge to Brussels. He has a long-standing connection with the city, where he premiered his first opera (Faustus in Africa! 1995), and where Bozar presented his first solo exhibition in Europe in 1998.
Centre for Fine Arts - Bozar
Brussels
Exhibitions
William Kentridge - I am not me, the horse is not mine
Reinventing Photography
Hangar
Ixelles
Exhibitions
Reinventing Photography
Comic Strip Festival
On 19 & 20 September 2026, head to the Bourse/Beurs for the Comic Strip Festival!
Have you been looking forward to the BD Comic Strip Festival as much as we have? Then we have great news. On 19 and 20 September, we are presenting a unique edition in and around the Bourse/Beurs.
This year, the festival takes on a more compact format. For the occasion, it has been renamed Comic Strip Festival. It brings together everything that makes the festival so special… in a simplified format, while keeping the same passion and spirit.
Meet your favourite creators, enjoy signing sessions, exhibitions, comic book sales, activities for all ages and the annual Atomium Prizes ceremony during this festive weekend. See you in the city?
>>An initiative of the Brussels pedestrian zone retailers, with the support of the City of Brussels, Entreprendre Bruxelles/Ondernemen Brussel, Brussels Major Events & visit.brussels.
Bourse Brussels
Brussels
Festival
Comic Strip Festival
Heritage Days 2026
Every year, during one weekend, the Heritage Days give you the opportunity to rediscover the city and appreciate it from a new perspective. They also offer you the chance to explore sites that are usually not easily accessible to the public.
In 2026, the Heritage Days in the Brussels Capital Region are to take place on 19 and 20 September.
This edition, we are celebrating « our landscape, our legacy » as part of the Urban’s annual theme, which this year focuses on ‘urban landscapes’. Coordinated by Urban, this event invites participants to explore Brussels through its landscapes: built, natural, social, everyday landscapes, as well as its icons and panoramic views. The aim will be to examine how architecture, public spaces, infrastructure, residents and the ways in which these spaces are used shape our perception of the city, as well as how these landscapes evolve over time.
Would you like to be kept up to date of the launch of the Heritage Days programme or other events, calls for projects, calls for applications, invitations and news from Urban? Sign up for the newsletter by clicking on this link: https://urbanbrusselscrm.be/
Various locations in the Brussels Capital Region
Brussels
Guided tours
Heritage Days 2026
Car-Free Sunday
On Sunday 20 September 2026, Brussels organises its traditional Car Free Sunday. From 9:30 am to 7 pm, the entire Brussels-Capital Region will become a vast space dedicated to pedestrians, cyclists and other users of soft mobility.
On this day, motorised traffic will be prohibited, with the exception of vehicles granted an exemption.
A unique opportunity to (re)discover Brussels in a different light, in a quieter and more peaceful city.
Various locations in the Brussels Capital Region
Brussels
Animations
Car-Free Sunday
Brussels Design Week 2026
Brussels Design September
Brussels
Festival
Brussels Design Week 2026
Ballroom Weekender
Centre Culturel Jacques Franck
Saint-Gilles
Festival
Ballroom Weekender
Brussels Art Square 2026
Diverses galeries du quartier du Sablon
Brussels
Exhibitions
Brussels Art Square 2026
Curated
From 25 to 27 September 2026, Mix Brussels will host the third edition of Curated, its annual event dedicated to collectible design. Conceived in collaboration with Lionel Jadot, founder of Zaventem Ateliers and Artistic Director of Mix Brussels, the event brings together 34 designers and studios, who will showcase their work throughout the shared spaces of the former Royale Belge headquarters.
The third edition of Curated, a collectible design exhibition open to all, hosted at Mix Brussels and curated by Lionel Jadot. Featuring the work of 34 talented designers, this unique event transforms the historic former Royale Belge into a vibrant hub of creativity. Designers, artists, collectors, and architects will come together to showcase and share their exceptional creations. Whether you’re a design aficionado or simply curious, this is your chance to immerse yourself in a world of innovation and artistry. Entry is free, but tickets are required.
This three-day gathering is taking place, September 25 - 27. The exhibition is open and accessible to everyone. During this weekend Romeo Bar and Joule Eatery will be open all weekend. With cocktails, brunch all day, music and several food options.
Among the participants are FabBRICK, Mathilde Wittock (MWO Design), Alexandre Labruyère, Dirk Meylaerts, Clément Pasquier Studio, Paul Hardy, Glass Variations, and Pierre Coddens.
Mix Brussels
Watermael-Boitsfort
Exhibitions
Curated
Nyege Nyege Mirror World
MIRROR WORLD is the first European edition of Nyege Nyege, the legendary Ugandan festival celebrating African underground music, arts, and contemporary cultures since 2015. Over two days and across three stages, the festival will bring together more than 40 artists from the African diasporas and beyond, with a programme featuring live concerts, DJ sets, exhibitions, and plenty of other surprises.
September 25 & 26: Nyege Nyege – Mirror World We’re collaborating with Nyege Nyege, a Ugandan festival and label that has become a major platform for African electronic and underground music and arts. Its first edition took place in 2015 near the source of the Nile in Jinja, Uganda, with the ambition of providing a stage for new forms of African music. As Nyege Nyege prepares for its 11th edition in Uganda, along the Kalagala Falls, the team is also developing a sister festival in Brussels, imagined as a portal between Kampala and Brussels. Over two days, the festival will bring together more than 40 artists across three stages, with live concerts, DJ sets and performances. The program also include day time activities such as listening sessions, exhibitions and presents itself as an opportunity to connect and exchange, exploring the ideas, stories and communities that shape these musical scenes.
Arsenal Mikebe Azzi on the Beat and his Orchestra DJ Kampire DJ Travella D’Leesa De Schuurman Boutcha Bwa and more ......
La Fabriek
Anderlecht
Festival
Nyege Nyege Mirror World
