What’s on this week: 8 to 14 May

The Brussels region celebrates its 37th anniversary with a slimmed-down albeit festive programme for the 2026 Iris Festival on Saturday. Free daytime festivities in Etterbeek, Ixelles, Uccle and Watermael-Boitsfort are followed by the Iris Tipik Electro Night, which transforms the Place des Palais into a mega dance floor with Meduza, Henri PFR, Philou and Lauravioli spinning the discs. Celebrations continue on Sunday with the Brussels Parliament opening its doors, the Flora Open Air festival in Vaux-Hall, and the Kidical Mass family bike parade setting off from Trône at 15.00. 9 & 10 May, multiple locations around the city

Take a sneak peek into the hallowed buildings of the European institutions on Saturday. The annual open-door event is a key part of the Europe Day anniversary celebrations that commemorate the Schuman Declaration on 9 May 1950. It aims to inform the public about the actions and priorities of the institutions; visitors can participate in debates and guided tours of the buildings. Free entrance, no registration. 9 May 10.00-18.00, Schuman roundabout, Rue Belliard, Place Luxembourg

Kunstenfestivaldesarts (KFDA) opens for its annual celebration of contemporary performing arts. The theme for this 31st edition is ‘embracing malleability’ and boasts 29 creative projects—including 15 world premieres—by international and local artists from 23 different countries. In addition to performance spaces around the city, the festival takes audiences to unexpected places such as a swimming pool, a car park and an abandoned factory. The Beursschouwburg serves as the festival hub with info, events and afterparties. Photo: Angélika Liddel. 9 to 31 May, multiple locations in the city-centre

The world renowned Queen Elisabeth Competition is underway, dedicated this year to the cello with 62 candidates selected for the prestigious yet famously gruelling content. The first public rounds continue at Flagey until 9 May, followed by the semi-finals from 11 to 16 May and the final round from 25 to 30 May. Tickets are still available for the first round. Otherwise, follow the action on social media, YouTube and National TV and radio stations. For its 2026 edition, the QEC celebrates the 75th anniversary of the competition and the 150th anniversary of Queen Elisabeth and Pablo Casals with special events and exhibitions.  Until 10 June, Flagey (Place Sainte-Croix) and Bozar (Rue Ravenstein 23)

Play Label heads north for a striking open air party set against the monumental façade of Brussels North station. Taking over a vast concrete esplanade, this urban event blends new  electronic music with the station’s modernist architecture. Expect an international lineup as well as local names such as Anz, Palms Trax and Leon Vynehall, for a full day of house, techno and UK drum and bass. With food stands and a relaxed vibe, it’s a bold new playground for Brussels’ club culture. 9 May, Rue du Progrès 80, Schaerbeek

Step back in time at Rock Around The Atomium, a free festival celebrating rock music and vintage culture. Set around the iconic Atomium, the weekend combines live concerts, vinyl DJs, classic cars and a vintage market. With a festive and unique atmosphere, the experience is a family friendly event with plenty of nostalgia and energy. Whether you come for the music or the retro vibes, this unique gathering promises a fun celebration in one of Brussels’ most special settings. 9-10 May, Square de l'Atomium (Laeken)

For a more intimate musical experience, the Living Room Music Festival transforms homes in the Pannenhuis neighbourhood of Laeken into a mini concert venue. Residents open their doors to host short performances of world and traditional music, creating a walking festival where audiences move from house to house. With artists from across the globe and a warm, community driven atmosphere, the event offers a rare chance to experience live music up close while discovering a neighbourhood in a completely different way. Photo: Hop High. 10 May, Métro Pannenhuis (Laeken)

SUPER is a brand new playground area in the airy Gare Maritime hall of Tour & Taxis. The indoor play space for 1-6 year-olds is filled with wooden modulable blocks and is located conveniently next to the food hall. Reserve a spot online. Wednesdays, weekends, school holidays (Fr & NL)  and public holidays, 10.00-18.00, Rue Picard 9

Local musicians come together for a charity musical evening at Holy Trinity Church on Saturday evening. Oliver Gray, Oasis Acoustic Band, Arsa Band and DJ Farmer Pickles are all performing to raise funds for the NGO, Oasis Belgium, which helps the marginalised in society. Tickets €20. Tasty Thai food available. 9 May 18.00-23.00, Rue Capitaine Crespel 29 (Ixelles)

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

BRUSK is a brand new art hall in the city of Bruges inaugurated this weekend with a three-day festive programme of free performances, workshops, theatre and music events in and around Diyver and Arentshof. Fusing the vibrant historic city with contemporary urban culture, the new complex opens with two ambitious exhibitions. Refik Anadol presents his first solo show of digital works in Belgium: Latent City, while Wide Screen: Interwoven Worlds of Bruges 900–1550 shows how Bruges developed into a global crossroads during the Middle Ages. 8-10 May, Dijver 12, Bruges

Expat grocer Stonemanor and the Brussels British Community Association invite everyone to a charity fundraiser Garden Party at the Everberg store on Sunday. The convivial gathering offers delicious free cream teas, while an array of food and drink stands sell fish and chips, home-made Cornish pasties, fresh strawberries and cream and refreshing Pimm’s cocktails. On the entertainment front, Belgian illusionist Jonas De Bruyn promises a magical performance and there’s live musical entertainment as well a raffle. All proceeds go to Belgian street nurse organisation Infirmières du rue. 10 May 10.00 17.00, Stonemanor, Steenhofstraat 28, Everberg (Flemish Brabant)

Beervelde Park near Ghent  hosts the 75th anniversary of Flanders Garden Festival, a biannual fair with the participation of some 240 horticulturalists from Belgium and abroad. The theme of the spring edition is ‘Seasoned’. Also promoting a sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle, visitors can enjoy culinary delights, workshops, artisan crafts, music and children’s activities. 8-10 May, Toleindestraat 25, Beervelde (East Flanders)

The VR immersive experience Dinoverse takes audiences on a journey to prehistoric landscapes and brings them face to face with dinosaurs. The photorealistic experience at the Saint-Pholien Church in Liège is based on reconstructions inspired by key moments in the history of the extinct creatures. Until 30 August, Rue Saint Pholien 9, Liège

Uhoda Jazz à Liège boasts an eclectic international line-up. The ardent city’s flagship jazz event – staged in numerous locations – features Anthony Joseph, Lady Blackbird, the Avishai Cohen Quintet, Daoud, Ibrahim Maalouf and Harold Lopez-Nussa, who are just a few of the musicians gracing the festival this year. The programme also caters for younger audiences with a Jazz Kids special of film-concerts and Jazz Off, a parallel free festival highlighting local talents in bars and cafes. 7-10 May, multiple venues in Liège

Namur’s Musée Rops spring-summer exhibition Collectionner Victor Arwas et Félicien Rops. presents works from a newly-donated collection of books, drawings and prints by Rops amassed by the Victor Arwas Gallery in London. The exhibition looks at how collections are verified while further illuminating the work of the prolific fin-de-siècle artist and illustrator, best known for his illustrations of erotic and occult literature. Until 27 September, Rue Fumal 12, Namur

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

Photos: (main image) ©Iris Festival; Europe Day ©Visitbrussels; KFDA photo: Angélika Liddel; ©BRUSK; ©Dinoverse/Exhibition Hub