What’s on this week: 14 to 21 May

Brussels Pride celebrates its 30th anniversary with a colourful parade and festival on Saturday with the march departing from Mont des Arts at 14.30 and the Pride Village in Boulevard de l’Empereur running from 12.00 to 18.00. Don’t miss the Manneken-Pis dressed up in a special costume for the occasion. On the entertainment front, Belgian LGBTQIA+ and ally artists  grace the stage at Mont des Arts from 12.00 to 23.30. The theme chosen for 2026, When Times Get Darker, We Shine Brighter, reflects the challenges of a world in turmoil. 16 May, across Brussels city-centre

The second edition of the Brussels Dyke* March kicks off in Ixelles and concludes in Forest park with speeches and a community gathering on Friday evening. Organised and led by the lesbian, trans, non-binary and queer community, the wheelchair-accessible event ensures collective visibility in the streets of Brussels. Free participation. More info: info@dykemarch.brussels. 15 May 18.00 (gathering from 17.00), Crazy Circle, Rue du Prince Royal 11 (Ixelles)

More than 130 artists across three stages take over the Botanique music venue for a genre-crossing festival blending pop, rock, hip-hop, electronic music, jazz and experimental sounds. Highlights of Les Nuits Botanique include an opening garden party on Thursday with Dengue Dengue Dengue, Kampire, Florentino. Check out the full programme... 14-31 May, Botanique, Rue Royale 236

The capital celebrates its illustrious history as well as European heritage in the annual Brussels Renaissance Festival, which kicks off on Sunday. For the 2026 edition, a host of activities for all ages take visitors back to the period when visitors will be transported back to the era when Holy Roman Emperor Charles V ruled over much of Europe and chose Brussels as his principal residence. They include feted Belgian historian Bart Val Loo leading guided tours and of course the flamboyant Ommegang festivities in the Grand Place (1-3 July). Festivities kick off with a Family Day at Coudenberg Palace on Sunday. 17 May to 4 July, various locations in the city-centre

The free world music festival Jam’in Jette returns with a festive line-up of performances on two stages. Some 15 concerts, DJs, circus acts, street art, artisan and solidarity villages, a kids' zone and more promise fun for all ages. 15-16 May, Parc de la Jeunesse, Jette (Laeken)

The Pint of Science Festival 2026 brings together researchers working across AI, biology, food science, planetary science and sensory systems. With two talks staged each evening, audiences are invited to pull up a chair, enjoy a pint (or soda) and listen to these impassioned scientists sharing their knowledge. Topics include the mechanics of robots, how modern food is designed and produced and how engineered systems are beginning to mimic human senses. 18-20 May 19.00-21.00, Sister Cafe (Rue Chair et Pain n°3) & Kamilou (Rue Joseph II)

Head to Auderghem for the Brussels Food Festival where 35 mobile kitchens and two bars serve gourmet treats from all over the world. Selected for their quality and originality, the 21st edition of the global cuisine fiesta presents tasty dishes that can be enjoyed in a giant terrace set up for the occasion. 15-17 May, Boulevard du Souverain 183 (opposite Auderghem cultural centre)

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

The Horst Arts and Music Festival in Vilvoorde offers three full days of festivities, electronic  music and art. With more than 100 artists on the bill, the 11th edition promises to be loads of fun. A collaboration with Bosch ebikes Systems enables festivalgoers from Brussels to travel to the event in a cycling peloton from the capital, complete with a line-up of freewheeling DJs. 14-16 May, Asiat Park, Willem Elsschotstraat 15, Vilvoorde

Street theatre festival Namur in May sets up camp in the Walloon capital, staging performances in public squares and hidden locations around the city as well as the banks of the Meuse river at the Grognon. Fairytale lamps suspended above the streets are decorative and colourful by day, festive and magical at night. Carousels, mime artists, jesters, clowns, buskers and cabaret performers fill theatres, streets, big tops and impromptu spaces. Street entertainment is free, while tickets are required for shows. The festival is a family favourite well worth the detour. Pictured: Dans l’Ombre Des Oiseaux by Compagnie Kadavresky. 14-16 May, across the city-centre, Namur

The fully restored 16th-century painting, the Crucifixion, is now on display at the city of Mons’ art library, the Artothèque. Not only does the exhibition Fragile(s): Stories of Restored Heritage, unveil the historic work, it illustrates the art of restoration and scientific techniques employed. The painting also boasts a fascinating history. Stolen in 1980, it was returned to the city’s Collegiate Church of Saint Waudru and entrusted to the Artothèque for a complete restoration. 16 May to 18 October, Rue Claude de Bettignies 1, Mons

In a tradition dating from1304, the Procession of the Holy Blood winds its way through the historic heart of Bruges every Ascension Day. Departing from Dijver, this Unesco-recognised event draws thousands of spectators. At the heart of the celebration is a crystal vial said to contain a few drops of Christ’s blood, preserved in solidified form, believed to be brought from the Holy Land in the mid-12th century by Thierry of Alsace, Count of Flanders. The procession takes around 90 minutes and includes participants in medieval costume. 14 May 14.30, city centre of Bruges

Forest Bathing Walks: Over the spring and summer, certified guide George Biesmans leads walks in the Tervuren Arboretum. The practice of slowing down, awakening the senses and reconnecting with ourselves and the rest of nature is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin Yoku. This science-based framework supports physical, mental and spiritual health and wellbeing. Find out more and register for an upcoming walk here. 13 May 18.00-21.00; 16 May 9.00-12.00; 5 June 18.00-21.00, Tervuren Arboretum

Book now Festival Résonances is an annual chamber musical celebration enjoying a bucolic location in the Walloon countryside. This jewel of an event takes audiences on a musical journey with works by illustrious composers such as Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Shostakovich and Brahms. The talented international musicians rehearse at the gorgeous Château de Halloy before staging intimate performances of chamber music in the 12th-century manor’s former stables. The manor’s bar and restaurant are open after every performance. 22-24 May, Château de Halloy, Route du Chateau de Halloy (Ciney)

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

Photos: (main image) courtesy Brussels Pride/Visitbrussels; courtesy Botanique; Namur en mai ©Dans l’Ombre Des Oiseaux by Compagnie Kadavresky; ©Artothèque; ©Hold Blood Procession; courtesy Festival Resonances