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Summer in Belgium: 32 cultural highlights you mustn't miss

10:55 10/07/2018
Keep this countrywide cultural agenda to hand all summer long and enjoy the best events in each of Belgium's regions

In Brussels

  1. MY QUEENS
    Delightful series of reliefs by Belgian artist Jan Fabre
    Until 19 August
  2. FRUNCH (FRIDAY LUNCH)
    Chillout courtyard terrace with food trucks, bar and live music
    Until 31 August
  3. CAROLUS FESTIVAL
    Celebration of Renaissance Brussels, including Ommegang procession
    Until 2 September
  4. FESTIVAL DES MINIMES
    Free lunchtime classical, jazz and world concerts in centuries-old church
    1 July-31 August
  5. BRUXELLES FAIT SON CINÉMA
    Nomadic open-air film festival in reclusive spots
    8-20 July
  6. FESTIVAL BRUXELLONS!
    20th-anniversary edition of the French-language theatre festival
    9 July-9 September
  7. FOIRE DU MIDI
    Big summer fair with rides and other amusements
    14 July-19 August
  8. OPENING OF THE ROYAL PALACE
    See how the royal family lives, plus exhibitions and family activities
    21 July-2 September
  9. BRUSSELS SUMMER FESTIVAL
    Music fest with more than 60 local and internationals acts
    14-18 August

    Flower Carpet

  10. FLOWER CARPET
    Breath-taking carpet of flowers on Grand’Place and displays in Town Hall
    16-19 August
  11. BOTERHAMMEN IN HET PARK
    Free lunchtime concerts featuring local bands
    27-31 August
  12. FEEËRIEËN
    Free evening pavilion concerts surrounded by food and twinkly lights
    27-31 August
  13. EAT! BRUSSELS DRINK! BORDEAUX
    Annual food festival that brings Bordeaux’s Fête le Vin to the capital
    6-9 September

In Flanders

  1. ANTWERP BAROQUE
    Year-long celebration of all things Baroque, Peter-Paul Rubens in particular
    Until April 2019
  2. SUMMER OF ANTWERP
    Theatre, circus, cinema, pop-up bars and parades all summer long
    15 June-2 September
  3. CACTUS FESTIVAL
    Bruges’ annual music festival invites Charlotte Gainsbourg and Goldfrapp, among others
    13-15 July
  4. BLUES PEER
    Limburg roots and blues festival with headliner Van Morrison
    13-15 July

    Theater aan Zee

  5. THEATER AAN ZEE
    Ostend’s summer theatre fest includes free Danse Massacre! parade
    25 July-4 August
  6. FESTIVAL DRANOUTER
    Family-friendly folk music festival in the West Flemish countryside
    3-5 August
  7. MA FESTIVAL
    Bruges’ early-music festival
    3-12 August
  8. ANTWERP PRIDE
    Port city’s celebration of the gay, lesbian, bi and trans community
    8-12 August
  9. JAZZ MIDDELHEIM
    Antwerp festival with Archie Shepp and Melanie De Biasio and others
    9-12 August

In Wallonia

  1. GALIEN: A GREEK DOCTOR IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE
    Exhibition at the beautiful Mariemont estate in rural Hainaut
    Until 2 December
  2. LES FESTIVALS DE WALLONIE
    Classical and new music festivals across the region
    22 June-23 October
  3. FESTIVAL ETÉ MOSANE
    Classical music in abbeys, castles and idyllic churches in the Meuse valley
    8 July-26 August
  4. CALIGULA
    Open-air theatre staged in the grounds of the imposing Villers Abbey
    10 July-12 August
  5. DOUR FESTIVAL
    Alternative rock, reggae and hip-hop combine
    11-15 July
  6. FRANCOFOLIES DE SPA
    Rock, pop, reggae and soul at this celebration of French-language music
    19-22 July

    Esperanzah

  7. ESPERANZAH!
    World music festival at the atmospheric Floreffe Abbey
    3-5 August
  8. LES FETES DU 15 AOUT
    Liège’s annual folk festival features markets, concerts and processions
    14-16 August
  9. BELGIAN GRAND PRIX
    Annual Formula 1 race at Spa-Francorchamps in Liège province
    24-26 August
  10. LES SOLIDARITES
    Music festival with more: film, debates and family activities at Namur’s citadel
    25-26 August

For more summer inspiration, pick up The Bulletin Summer 2018, on sale in newsagents now...

Written by The Bulletin