What’s on this fortnight: 20 December to 2 January

The World of Minds (WOM) stages a special festive show The Christmas Magician. The experience begins with a visit of the illusion and magic museum, before visitors pass through the Armoire Magique to arrive in a specially decorated theatre. Completing the experience is a magical bar with mulled wine, sweet treats and enchanting cocktails prepared by a magician-mixologist. Santa Claus will surprise audiences after performances on 21 & 22 December. 21 December to 5 January, Tour & Taxis (shed 4bis), Avenue du Port 86C

The circus is in town for the holiday season. Alexandre Bouglione is setting up his big top in Flagey for a special Christmas show and inviting audiences to two shows a day. The programme –  completely without animals – is designed to thrill and entertain all ages. Family days on 19 & 20 December offer a unique ticket price of €12.50. 19 December to 5 January, Place Sainte-Croix (Ixelles)

Noël au Théâtre is a longstanding theatre festival for the whole family. The title of the event refers to the time of year, not the themes of some 22 shows, which are simply excellent productions by theatre and dance companies for all ages. On the ambitious programme is a show without dialogue, new works and a Super Boum for all kids to dance off some energy! 26-30 December, locations across Brussels

Maserati 110 Years at Autoworld celebrates the anniversary of the famous luxury Italian automobile manufacturer. Some 40 masterpiece models are on display and the exhibition also traces the history of the family company founded in 1914 by six Maserati brothers and born out of passion for cars and driving. Initially focused on racing cars, from 1957, it turned its attention to luxury road cars, elevating 'Gran Turismo' into a way of life. During the school holidays and weekends, a games corner is open for kids, while a 3D audiovisual entertainment allows visitors to immerse themselves in the decor of the stylish brand. 20 December to 23 February, Place de l’Esplanade 11 (Etterbeek)

There’s nothing like a Christmas Concert in a cathedral, and St Michael and St Gudula holds theirs a bit after the big day, when your agenda is slightly less full. The choir of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation performs French composer Camille Saint-Saëns’ Christmas Oratorio for soloists, choir, strings and organ, with Xavier Deprez playing the cathedral’s signature organ. Also on the programme are works by Saint-Saens contemporaries César Franck, Théodore Dubois and Clémence de Grandval. 27 December 17.00, Rue du Bois Sauvage 15

Bozar stages its traditional New Year’s Concert with the Belgian National Orchestra conducted by Emilia Hoving from Finland with soloist Spanish classical guitarist Pablo Sáinz Villegas. They perform a festive and multicultural programme: Viennese waltzes blended with Spanish and South American melodies and a traditional finale featuring Strauss senior’s Radetzky March. 5 January 15.00, Rue Ravenstein 23

‘What makes virtual influencers better than real ones?’ That is the question asked by exciting young digital artist Ethel Lilienfeld. In L’Etreinte des Crapauds  (the toads’ embrace), part of her new iiDOLLS series, disturbing photos of animal-topped women, revealed through deep purple curtains embroidered with Instagram messages like 'your thighs could feed a family', show female stereotypes of housewife, mother and whore still dominate. These are displayed alongside Invisible Filter – a video installation inspired by an online anecdote where an AI-generated filter of a middle-aged Chinese woman crashes, exposing her to internet hatred. Lilienfeld's work exploring artificial influencers through creepy, orange-haired EMI (expérience de mort imminente), is then shown at the Galéries. Until 26 January (EMI - 13 February to 6 April) Rue Royale 236 (Saint-Josse)

Book now Panto season enlivens the post-holiday season with Cinderella the upcoming production by the ECC theatre group. The family-favourite rag-to-riches tale bursting with a lovable cast of characters is especially adapted for Belgian audiences. It’s full of laughs, songs and spectacular costumes. 24-26 January, Auderghem Cultural Centre, Boulevard du Souverain 183 (Auderghem)

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

Maestria is the new name for BeCraft’s applied arts award and is a must-see exhibition to immerse yourself in the creative and colourful world of contemporary crafts. This sixth edition at the Anciens Abattoirs in Mons gathers the best European artists practicing the art form. A total of 58 artists from 16 European countries exhibit some 100 unique works: arts and crafts with ceramics, glass, goldsmithing, wood, textiles, paper and contemporary jewellery. It celebrates designers who are breaking away from traditional codes to question the world while employing new materials and techniques. Until 16 February, Rue de la Trouille 17, Mons

Acrobats, a musician, a dog and four horses are all ready to thrill audiences in the new circus show D’Or et de Sang by Cie Tempo d’Eole at Villers Abbey. Staged in a big tent in the heritage site, the production fuses comedy, poetry, aerial and floor acrobatics, dressage and music. While exploring the traditions of circus, it also questions modern society’s disconnect from the animal and its own nature. From ages 6+. 20-29 December, Rue de l’Abbaye 55, Villers-la-Ville (Walloon Brabant)

Namur is once again staging a live storytelling tour of its historic city centre. La Grande Visite by Nicolas Buysse and Fabrice Murgia is an evening immersive performance in which the audience follows the actors and musicians while equipped with individual headsets. If the script is subject to improvisation, the audience can expect a poetic and entertaining road-movie of a spectacle. Age 8+. 3-31 December 19.00, La Nef, Rue Saint Nicolas 2, Namur

The annual Gospel for Life tour concludes its Belgian tour in Namur. The upbeat, colourful shows with 100 choristers belting out songs, reinforce the concept that faith is a celebration to be heard loud and clear but also an invitation to do charitable work. That’s why the proceeds of this major tour go to associations fighting poverty or assisting the sick and disabled. This year the singers also pay tribute to the wonderful work of Whitney Houston. 27 December, Théâtre Royale, Place du Théâtre, Namur

The popular Ardennes tourist destination is a perfect backdrop for winter festivities with Durbuy Christmas Market specialising in artisan goodies and decorative crib scenes. Among its popular gourmet treats, and not for the faint-hearted, are hot potatoes served with melting foie gras. For the holiday season, a covered ice skating rink is set up in Roi Baudouin park. The narrow cobbled streets of Belgium’s smallest town are also peppered with tempting restaurants offering plenty of Ardennes specialities. Until 5 January, Place aux Foires & Parc Roi Baudouin, Durbuy (Luxembourg province)

The Meise Botanical Garden transforms into a fantasy universe for the holiday season. Winter Floridylle is a 3.5km trail of site-specific light installations glowing against a backdrop of original music composed by Belgian musician Piet Goddaer. The 20 plant-inspired installations by artists from around the world  illuminate the Island Garden, the bamboo forest and fabulous plant palace the Green Ark. There’s also a laser show at the castle. A convivial winter village serves food and drinks. 19 December to 5 January, Nieuwelaan 38, Meise (Flemish Brabant)

The difference between inside and outside is that you cannot control outside. People, animals and nature conspire to plunge you into a landscape that is ever unpredictable. Landscape painters of centuries past captured the outdoors for us – but can we always believe that they offer up an image of reality? From early idealized panoramas by Joachim Patinir to Baroque grandeur by Jan Brueghel the Elder, the exhibition Wanderlust: Old Landscapes in a New Perspective reflects the development of a popular genre in the low countries. Until 31 August 2025, Sjijders&Rockox House, Keizerstraat 10, Antwerp

You will not freeze to death during the Zebra Woods “pop-up winter festival” because the big tent enveloping the interior courtyard – complete with trees – is warm and cosy. The super popular annual events puts the crème de le crème of Belgian rock, rap and pop on stage. The line-up this year includes Baloji, STUFF. and Tourist LeMC. Snap up tickets for who you want to see immediately – because they will all sell out. 20 December to 5 January, Zebrastraat, Zebrastraat 32, Ghent

Leave winter behind at the exhibition Eternal Spring: Gardens and Tapestries in the Renaissance, a selection of exquisite Flemish tapestries that pay homage to meticulously kept gardens of the Renaissance period. Borrowed from the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, the tapestries adorned the Brussels palace of statesman and cardinal Antoine Perrenot de Grandvelle five centuries ago. They are show alongside other works from de Grandvelle’s collection, such as paintings, sculpture and books. Until 16 March, Hof van Busleyden, Frederik de Merodestraat 65, Mechelen

Bokrijk open-air museum in Limburg throws quite a party between Christmas and New Year with Winterlicht. The festival is guaranteed to warm spirits with fire performers, light installations, theatre, music and acrobatics. In the Haspengebouw museum section, Scaletta Unexpected is a musical production with a children’s and youth choir. In the Kempen section, a dancing flamingo and fire-breathing hippo feature in Les Animaux Perdus by theatre company De Machienerie. There’s also a historical holiday village with craftspeople and vintage attractions such as a caterpillar and Ferris wheel. 26-30 December, Bokrijklaan 1, Genk (Limburg)

Discover more upcoming events at The Bulletin's events page and don’t miss our bumper guide to Christmas markets in Belgium and family shows, music and light festivals.

Photos: (main image) L'Enchanteur de Noel WOM ©Maxime Mandrake ©Tempora; ©Bozar Emilia Hoving Nikolaj Lund; Botanique ©Ethel Lilienfeld, iidolls; Resting Rock ©Espersen Maria Bang; La grande visite ©Olivier Gilgean; Wanderlust, Roelant Savery ©SRH Museum