Warmer weather has finally arrived in Belgium, and what better way to celebrate than with a weekend packed with jazz, festivals, Cuban culture and Belgium's biggest participative sporting event?
If you're feeling uninspired with your weekend plans, look no further than our weekly guide. All our favourites activities happening in Brussels and beyond are listed below.
Art, music and culture
Lotto Brussels Jazz Weekend, various locations, until Sunday 26 May
There's a good reason why this festival attracts some 300,000 music lovers to Belgium's capital every year. With open-air concerts spread over five of the region's iconic squares, 50 indoor concerts and brass bands parading through the city, this year's edition of Europe's largest free jazz festival is sure to be another resounding success.
Brussels Jazz Weekend 2019 in the Grand Place.
In both outdoor and indoor venues and bars, tourists and locals alike will be treated to a varied programme of live jazz music across the three days, ranging from swing and bebop to blues and rock.
Find more information here.
Festival CubaLandz - Contemporary Cuban Arts, Bozar, Saturday 25 May
The seventh edition of CubaLandz celebrates the négritude movement and its impact on modern Cuban culture. Inspired by the work of Cuban poet and essayist Nicolás Guillén, it emphasises the importance of integrating Afro-Cubans into a diverse society while fighting against imperialism and neocolonialism.
Credit: CubaLandz
As well as two days at BRASS cultural centre in Forest next week, there will be a packed programme at Bozar this Saturday featuring El Comité – an Afro-Cuban collective of seven talented musicians that fuses Afrobeat, funk and Latin jazz. The collective will present its new second album Carousel at Bozar after a three-year European tour.
Isnay Rodriguez, 'DJ Jiguë', will also be offering his pioneering fusion of traditional and electronic rhythms.
Find more information here.
Food and culinary experiences
Nepali Food Festival, Saturday 25 May
The annual Nepali Food Festival is set to take place this weekend in central Leuven. Monseigneur Ladeuzeplein square will be transformed into a bustling hub of authentic Nepali cuisine, culture, and tourism, between 12:00 to 20:00 on Saturday.
Last year's edition of the Nepali Food Festival 2023 saw over 10,000 attendees.
Visitors to the festival will be able to indulge in a diverse array of Nepali foods from over 20 different stalls, offering an authentic taste of Nepal. Traditional Nepali cultural performances by artists will also entertain and engage the crowd.
Find more information here.
Out and about
20 km of Brussels, various locations in Brussels, Sunday 26 May
The 44th edition of Belgium's biggest participative sporting event – the Brussels 20 km run – will be seen across the city's streets this weekend. There have been a record-breaking 45,000 registrations for this year's event, with participants hailing from over 90 countries and 42% of them women – up by 3.5% since 2023.
Credit: 20 km of Brussels
Even if you're not a runner, it's worth going along for the buzzing atmosphere and to cheer on the athletes. The race will take runners, walkers and spectators on a tour of some of the capitals most beautiful spots, including Bois de la Cambre and the Palais de Justice, and finishing at the iconic Parc du Cinquantenaire.
Find more information here.
HOME – House Of Mother Earth, Tour & Taxis, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May
This free event organised by non-profit Climattitude invites visitors to address environmental challenges from the perspective of their desires, needs and reality. Almost 5,000 people are expected to attend.
Around 100 activities will be on offer, including zero waste cooking workshops, an introduction to composting, and a clothes 'upcycling' course. Participants are invited to follow a route designed in the form of a house made up of nine rooms, "to anchor climate action in everyday life but also to emphasise the friendly and familiar atmosphere" of the event.
Find more information here.
Further afield
Archeologiedagen (Archeology days), various locations in Flanders, until Sunday 26 May
Aspiring archaeologists and enthusiasts of all ages can enjoy nearly 130 activities across Flanders this weekend for the seventh edition of the Archaeology Days. "Whether you are an experienced archaeology lover or just curious, young or old, there is something for everyone to experience during Archaeology Days," the organisers stated in a press release.
Credit: Archeologiedagen
Activities include workshops, cycling and walking routes, metal detection, an archaeology market, visits to an excavation or exhibition, and lectures. Friday will be dedicated to schools, with workshops, interactive lessons, guided tours and searches and a theatre experience.
Find more information here.
