What’s on this week: 31 October to 6 November

A Brussels-wide celebration of music, the 9th edition of the Listen Festival boasts six days of concerts, clubbing and more. Staged in 15 of Brussels’ most emblematic venues, from major music hotspots to off-beat locations, it offers a captivating programme of electronic and experimental music. This includes a collaboration with Europalia Spain to present artists from different regions of the country. Techno pioneers John Talabot and Oscar Mulero, along with Spanish-Cuban DJ Toccororo and Berlin-based sound artist JASSS offer a blast of electro from different genres and generations. 4-9 November, multiple venues

Beursschouwburg opens its doors to creatures of the night and dark souls for its Halloween nightlife special Dancing with Shadows. With subversive frequencies and experimental goth music, it promises to be venomous and decadent. The second anniversary of the Mutant Modality label and platform explores the outer realms of club culture, wity the Brussels collective placing a strong emphasis on unusual and cathartic forms of artistic expression. 31 October 22.00, Rue Auguste Orts

Find out why café culture is one of the best bits of living in the capital during the month-long Bruxelles sur Scènes 2025. For the 9th edition, some 13 of the city’s best-loved venues stage an original programme with concerts, live comedy and performances. They include the Marjan Van Rompay Group at Jazz Station and Colline Duo (pictured) at ZoArt on 1 November, and the children’s show Magic Bliss at Le Petit Chapeau Rond Rouge on 3 November. Buy your Pass online for €25 to enjoy a show in each one of the participating venues. 1 to 30 November, theatres across Brussels city centre

Thirty five years of hip-hop activism is celebrated in the exhibition TROIS CENT SOIXANTE at Espace Vanderborght. Revisiting the journey of this iconic CNN199 hip-hop collective, it offers a retrospective of its graffiti work, in addition to an exploration of the evolution of tagging, from its subversive origins to its recognition in contemporary art. Through images, materials, and gestures, the show retraces a history of resistance, experimentation and creation, once rooted in city streets. A programme of performances, workshops and talks accompanies the exhibition. Until 16 November, Rue de l'Ecuyer 50

WIELS contemporary art museum stages two exhibitions: Nameless (pictured) by Iranian-born, Berlin-based artist Nairy Baghramian and Black Bird by Everlyn Nicodemus. As an influential sculptor, Baghramian explores the relationships between the human body, objects and architectural environments; playing with contradictions to challenge forms in her unexpected assemblages. The retrospective of work by Nicodemus attests to the Scotland-based Tanzanian artist’s transformation of her experiences of racism, trauma, and oppression into poetic imagery. Paintings, collages, essays, textiles and poetry exhibit her bold and vibrant style. Until 1 March, Avenue Van Volxem (Forest)

Itinerant exhibition Design and Comics: Living in a Box traces the fascinating visual history between everyday objects and comic strips, from the early 20th century to the present day. From pioneering Belgian comic artists such as Hergé and Franquin in the 30s to genres like superheroes, horror, romance and science fiction, design objects have regularly featured in illustrations. In the early 60s, the pop art movement took centre stage, while in the 70s and 80s, new talents emerged who were at the crossroads of design and comics. Today, as print gives way to digital formats, graphic novels and manga have become a source of inspiration for remarkable design objects. Until 1 March, Place de la Belgique 1 (Laeken)

The Scènes Nouvelles festival celebrates emerging artists from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation with six must-see shows. Exhibit A (pictured) is one stand-out performance (in Fr; Eng surtitles) that combines stand-up comedy with documentary to explores intimate themes. Meanwhile, Galactic crush II (in Eng, Fr surtitles), is a crazy intergalactic choreography following two anti-heroes who launch themselves into orbit in a makeshift spaceship. For fans of committed and engaging performances, Sophia Rodriguez explores her relationship with the body and eroticism in Ostentation (in Eng/Sp), pictured, a piece that celebrates metamorphosis. 4 to 7 November, Théâtre National, Boulevard Emile Jacqmain 111-115

Book now Join the American Club of Brussels as its celebrates Thanksgiving with a traditional dinner of roast turkey - complete with all the trimmings - at the Brussels Marriott Hôtel Grand Place. After an aperitif and starter of New England clam chowder, whole birds are carved and served family style with an assortment of real American pies to follow. Register here.  27 November 19.00–23.00, Rue Auguste Orts 3-7

Get tix now The Dire Straits Experience rolls into Belgium with concerts in Brussels and Ostend. The renowned band, led by former Dire Straits saxophonist Chris White, is delivering a special tribute to the legendary Brothers in Arms world tour from 1985—40 years on. 13 November ING Arena, Brussels; 15 November Coretec Dôme, Oostende

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

The Battle of Waterloo domain’s Halloween Weekend includes The Hell of Waterloo, an immersion in the darkest days of the 1815 conflict. Discover the fear and bravery of the soldiers who took part in the history-changing battle in re-enactments and the recounting of period narratives. All the family activities are staged all day at both the domain and nearby Hougoumont farm. 1-2 November, Saturday 10.00-21.00; Sunday 10.00-18.00, Route du Lion 1815 (Braine L’Alleud)

Language shapes how we thing, feel and act... The exhibition It Goes Without Saying explores this ever shifting terrain by seeking alternative forms of expression. It brings together sculptures, drawings, installations and videos that stretch the possibilities of speech, writing, sign languages and symbols. The contemporary art group show also ventures into the realm of geopolitics by examining works difficult to express such as “genocide”. Until 29 March, Kunsthal Extra City, Provinciestraat 112, Antwerp

Bruges’ cultural meccas become playgrounds for kids during Krikrak, the free family festival celebrating its 11th anniversary this year. Besides interactive play activities, there are ongoing games, performances and workshops like making your own crown, learning about music making, light adventures and construction block building among arts and outdoor activities. 1-2 November, across Bruges

Comedy films from Belgium and abroad are showcased in the Festival International du Film de Comédie de Liège (FIFCL). Stars of francophone cinema and entertainment descend on the Walloon city for the 10th edition of the festival. In addition to screenings of features and shorts, there are special events, talks, concerts and themed evenings. New this year is a carte blanche to the Ostend Film Festival that has selected Waarom Wettelen by Dimitri Verhulst. Adding their names to Liège’s Walk of Fame in Boulevard de la Sauvenière are Jean Reno, Gilbert Melki, Claudia Tagbo and Muriel Robin. 5-9 November, multiple locations around Liège

There’s more seasonal fun in The Bulletin’s guide to Halloween and holiday activities.

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

Photos: (main image) courtesy Listen Festival; Ostentation de Sophia Rodriguez ©Arnaud Beelen; FIFCL ©Valentin Conraads