What’s on this fortnight: 19 December to 1 January

The ancient Italian city frozen in time after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius gets the digital immersive treatment in Back to Pompeii at Tour & Taxis. Discover the daily life of a family, explore reconstructed Roman homes, artisan workshops and entertainment venues in this experience exhibition. Learn about some of the fascinating archaeological discoveries and poignant human stories that have been unearthed from the ashes, as well as the city's last tragic moments. From 19 December, Avenue du Port 86C

The Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra’s New Year’s concert Feu d’artifice d’Arias is a flamboyant celebration with renowned arias by Rossini, Verdi, Donizetti and Puccini. Dance pieces by Tchaïkovsky, Dvořák and Strauss II complement the programme. The orchestra conducted by David Navarro-Turres is joined by soprano Elise Gäbele. 19 December 20.15, Novum Theatre Rue Eudore Devroy 2 (Etterbeek)

Autoworld’s new show Mercedes, The Story of the Star is perfect for the holiday season. Celebrating 140 years of Mercedes-Benz it traces the brand’s glorious history from the 1886 launch of the Benz three-wheeler to its latest model, the AMG ONE. Highlights among the 50 iconic and rare exhibits include sports cars the 300 SL Gullwing and the Rote Sau, luxurious S-Class and SL models, supercars CLK GTR, SLR Stirling Moss and the SLS AMG Black Series, as well as the iconic Sauber Mercedes C9 and Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes F1 W05. Children can enjoy a special Kids Zone during weekends and school holidays. 19 December to 22 February, Esplanade de Cinquantenaire Park

Noël au Théâtre is a longstanding theatre festival that fills that potentially empty space between Christmas Day and New Year. Targeting the whole family, the title of the event refers to the time of year, not the themes of the multiple shows staged in 12 venues around the city. On the ambitious programme for the 43rd edition is a show without dialogue, L’Inconnue (pictured) by Barroco, a dance piece exploring the imaginary (5+) and Et encore t’as rien vu by nonprofit Fast, a contemporary tale about adolescent sensitivities (14+), among other highlights. 26-30 December, across Brussels

The Cathedral of Saint Michel & Saint Gudula is the setting for a Midnight Mass Christmas Concert. It features Marc-Antoine Charpentier's four-voice mass, based on the melodies of 10 French Christmas carols. The unique organ version was composed in 1694. Performed by  the Ensemble Voces Desuper, organists Bart Jacobs and Xavier Deprez and soloists, the concert is an end-of-year tradition dedicated to comfort and hope. 29 December 20.00-21.30, Place Sainte-Gudule

Holy Trinity Brussels church continues its advent programme  with a Light in Darkness reflective service on 21 December, followed by Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. 21 December 18.00; 24 December 16.00 & 22.00; 25 December 9.00 & 10.30; 15.00 Community service (in Eng & Fr), Rue Capitaine Crespel 29 (Ixelles)

More than 110 artists perform across five stages at the FCKNYE Festival, in apparently the world’s biggest New Year’s event. Staged at Brussels Expo, the immersive hard techno, rap, trance, hard music and bass festival includes for the first time a session on 1 January.  Some 67,000 participants from around the world are expected to participate in this 14th edition, which includes the following artists: PLK, Josman, La Fève, Dinos, Ziak et La Fouine, La Mano 1.9, L2B, AMK, Jolagreen23, Nico Moreno, Dimitri K, Ascendant Vierge and Perceval, among others. Multi-day passes available. 30-31 December 17.00-6.00; 1 January 13.00-1.00, Avenue de Miramar

Play artistic video games at the fourth edition of Bozar Arcade. The arts centre’s space dedicated to artistic video games and interactive media arts explores how digital worlds allow us to escape real‑world constraints. Through immersive narratives and collaborative play, the games invite a rethinking of public space, social bonds and the notion of freedom in interactive form. The games are: Panoramical by Fernando Ramallo and David Kanaga; Vandals by Cosmografik; Shape Of The World by Stu Maxwell (pictured); Townscaper by Oskar Stålberg; Bozar recreated in Minecraft by Wizard Keen. This year’s edition is in the frame of the architecture exhibition Ouest. Urban Legend. Until 4 January, Rue Ravenstein 23

Brussels’ traditional New Year's Eve fireworks display will ring in 2026 from the Atomium at midnight. The evening kicks off with a DJ set by Brieuc. 31 December, from 21.00, Place de l’Atomium (Laeken)

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

The Meise Botanical Garden sparkles at the end of the year thanks to Light Festival Floridylle, a trail of site-specific light installations entitled An enchanting journey from stardust to flower. The fairy-tale light spectacle begins with the spark of the Big Bang and follows the Earth’s evolution from giant primitive plants and graceful magnolias to today’s breathtaking floral splendour, including edelweiss that glow in the dark. Stroll through the illuminated greenhouses, past the elegant Balat Greenhouse and on to the castle. There is also a convivial winter village with food and drinks. 18 December to 4 January, Nieuwelaan 38, Meise

Flemish TV VRT’s annual Warmste Week fundraiser raises money in all manner of ways to support organisations that address this year’s theme: invisible illnesses. The week culminates in a series of free open-air concerts and DJs in the week leading up to Christmas. Citizens will also approach the stage to turn in the funds they have raised and share their experiences about being invisibly ill. 18-24 December, Cosmogolem Park, Genk

Be blown away by the show Tumulte staged by French company KaRNaVIrES in Kortrijk, where music, circus and particularly fire come together in creative, exciting ways. Their free event Feux D’Hiver begins with the Night of Light fire spectacle that starts in Conservatory Park before moving through the city via Casino Garden and Grand Market before ending in Beguinage Park. 20 December 18.30, Koning Albertpark, Kortrijk

Bokrijk open-air museum in Limburg throws quite a party between Christmas and New Year, with fire performers, light installations, theatre, music and acrobatics. Winterlicht offers a magical music show with O’Contraire and another surprising performance by Cirque Mécanique about Swan Lake’s Siegfried and Odette that blends ballet, acrobatics, music, light and fire (pictured). Finally, there are fairground attractions to keep younger audiences endlessly amused. 26-30 December, Bokrijklaan 1, Genk

Podium, le pouvoir du sport, is an unprecedented exhibition about sport at La Cité Miroir, Liège’s former Sauvenière swimming pool. A playful, immersive, and intergenerational journey into the world of sport, it explores personal memories, societal issues and powerful collective emotions. Through dynamic scenography, all ages can relive significant moments, past and present, whether on playing fields, in the stands, or in locker rooms. Until 10 May, Place Xavier Neujean 22, Liège

Liège Guillemins train station is more than an architecturally-splendid multimodal transport hub. The Calatrava-designed station also harbours an exhibition space and its upcoming show Cléopâtre Superstar is the biggest exhibition ever devoted to the Egyptian royal. More than 120 objects, including 65 major archaeological finds, have been loaned by prestigious international institutions. 20 December to 5 July, Guillemins station, Liège

Check out The Bulletin’s guide to Christmas markets around the country.

Discover more upcoming events at The Bulletin's events page.

Photos: (main image) Pompeii exhibition ©Tempora2025;  Mercedes exhibition ©Autoworld; Barroco Norma Berardi; Bozar Arcade ©Shape of the world; Fireworks ©Milestone Productions; Feux dhiver2023 Jonas Verbeke; Cirque Mecanique Zwanenmeer Bokrijk;  Podium Cite Miroir ©Territoires de la Memoire