For many Brussels residents, the entire weekend will be dominated by the beloved music festival Couleur Café. But as always, there is much more to explore in the Belgian capital, including a free music festival happening across the city.
Arts, music and culture
Couleur Café, Osseghem Park, 23-25 June
The first day of the Couleur Café music festival in Brussels, Friday 24 June 2022. Credit: Belga/Hatim Kaghat
The 32nd edition of the urban contemporary Couleur Café music festival will kick off in Osseghem Park at the foot of the Atomium this weekend.
With temperatures expected to climb to 30°C on Sunday, the atmosphere will be perfect for the festival's wide range of acts and genres. From scorching samba, Latin funk and cumbia to hip hop, reggae and Afrobeat, the festival scene is sure to get hot.
Find more information here.
Fête de la Musique, various locations, until Sunday 25 June
An unmissable event in the capital. Returning for its 39th edition, the 'Fête de la Musique' will be bringing free concerts to 51 towns across Brussels and Wallonia. From workshops and conferences to jazz concerts and late-night DJ sets, there is something for everyone.
Credit: Belga
The largest party will be held in the capital's Cinquantenaire Park on 23 and 24 June, with an eclectic line-up featuring rap, rock, psychedelic, reggae and pop artists. This year, there is also a new acoustic stage featuring artists of various genres.
Find more information and discover the very extensive programme here.
Visueel Festival Visuel, Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Sunday 25 June
This festival is truly the perfect activity for a Sunday afternoon. Tailored to young audiences, this visual arts festival which takes place in several "fairytale locations" in the Brussels municipality of Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, puts the spotlight on "wordless" street theatre, circus and dance.
Credit: Visueel Festival Visuel
The organisers say that preference is given to more visual performances to appeal to as diverse an audience as possible and break down language barriers between different communities within the commune.
Find more information here.
Out and about
Cherry Festival, Josaphat Park in Schaerbeek, Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 June
Discover one of Brussels' most picturesque parks in a whole new way. This weekend, the Cherry Festival will once again mark the start of the summer with a very unique programme, including the much-anticipated cherry pit spitting competition.
Make sure you don't miss the pit spitting competition. Credit: Schaerbeek
This unmissable Schaerbeek tradition celebrates a fruit that has become the emblem of the municipality. During the two-day festivities, expect bouncy castles, wooden games and creative workshops – perfect for a family day out and all finished off with a piece of cherry pie and an evening of music.
Find more information here.
Vauxhall, Parc de Bruxelles, until 13 August
Throughout most of the year, this magnificent venue in Parc de Bruxelles is hidden away and lost to the public. But from Thursday to Sunday during the warmest months of the year, it becomes the setting for a rich and varied programme of events for people of all ages.
Credit: City of Brussels
From unexpected dance performances, concerts and DJ sets to open-air cinema nights and morning yoga sessions, there is plenty to discover at Vauxhall.
Find more information here.
Les Estivales de la Woluwe, Roodebeek Park, Saturday 24 June
For the third summer in a row, Les Musicales non-profit has been taking over Roodebeek Park in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert with a programme of talented artists in a variety of musical styles.
Recital by Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden. Credit: Les Estivales de la Woluwe
The first two editions attracted no less than 1,500 people. No need to worry if you can't make it this Saturday though – performances are scheduled every Wednesday at 16:30 and Saturday at 18:00 until Saturday 15 July.
Further afield
Longest Day, Leuven, Saturday 24 June
On one of Leuven's most festive days, people far and wide head to the city centre, which is filled with street theatre, fair stands, demonstrations by Leuven associations, mobility market, bric-a-brac, an antique market and much more.
Credit: Flickr
As all traffic is prohibited from entering the heart of this historic Flemish city for one day, it is the perfect occasion to explore its bigger avenues and smaller streets and squares, get a drink and soak up the festive atmosphere.
Find more information here.
