Zinneke Parade under threat due to lack of Brussels government

The famous Zinneke Parade, a 25-year-old biennial parade in Brussels combining cultural expression and social engagement, has warned that its 2026 edition is threatened by the regional political impasse and the absence of a fully functioning Brussels government.

The event’s organisers are calling for the parade to be structurally included in the budget of the Brussels region, RTBF reports.

“Institutional and budgetary uncertainties are undermining a recognised cultural tradition as well as the social fabric of the capital,” the organisers said in a statement.

“[The parade’s disappearance] would be a considerable loss at a time when Brussels needs connection and solidarity more than ever.”

Created in 2000, the Zinneke Parade describes itself as an "undeniable driving force behind Brussels’ social and cultural dynamics" and "a true workshop for living together".

Organisers say the threat to the parade is not only a financial matter, but also a question of "ensuring the continuity of a collective process that highlights Brussels’ diversity, creativity and solidarity".

The parade brings together up to 140 partner organisations, 150 artists and some 2,000 participants every two years.

It attracts up to 80,000 spectators to the streets of Brussels.