A three-day weekend in Brussels means there is even more time to go outdoors to explore the city through one of its hundreds of activities and events.
From the first edition of a new Brussels festival and Halloween-themed fun to an unusual wine event, here's what's on in Brussels this weekend.
Arts, music and culture
Bruxelles sur Scènes, various locations, throughout November
Brussels' cafés-théâtres will once again take centre stage this month during the eighth edition of the 'Bruxelles sur Scènes' festival. Discover a rich programme with a wealth of shows: more than 100 performances are on the agenda, all organised in 13 of Brussels' most unusual and unique venues.
Le jardin de ma soeur. Café-Théâtre. Credit: Visit.brussels/Jean-Paul Remy
From stand-up to jazz, theatre and song, all facets of the performing arts will be in the spotlight. The festival's ambition is to introduce a wide audience to local culture in a convivial atmosphere with a drink or a meal.
Find more information here.
Pink Screens Queer Film Festival, various locations, until Saturday 9 November
Once a year, Brussels becomes the capital of queer cinema during Pink Screens, a ten-day film festival showcasing over 100 LGBTQ+ long and short films and documentaries from around the world. The widely-acclaimed event celebrating queer identity takes over independent venues such as Nova, Aventure, Galleries, Palace and Beursschouwburg.
Credit: Pink Screens
Every year, the event's programme stands out for presenting a wide range of genres, from drama and romance to cartoons and even porn.
Our recommendations for this week include 'Mea Culpa' by Palestinian filmmaker Patrick Tass, an intimate film in which a cross-border mother-son relationship is brought to life via voice messages and video conversations, and Fawzia Mirza's 'The Queen of My Dreams', another exploration of family dynamics incorporating dance, music and fantasy.
Find more information here.
Autumn festivals
Les Nuits Weekender, Botanique, until Sunday 3 November
This weekend marks the long-awaited launch of music venue Botanique's new festival concept Les Nuits Weekender – the autumn version of its well-established two-week spring festival, Les Nuits Botanique, condensed into one weekend.
Credit: Botanique
On the eclectic programme, music lovers will find a total of 54 concerts, or 18 performances per evening, blending all genres, from the electro of Sega Bodega and the pop of Fabiana Palladino, to the punk of Tramhaus and Wu-Lu. A single ticket costs €44 and gives access to all an evening's concerts, and a 'combi' ticket for the entire weekend is €75.
Find more information here.
Sounds of Molenbeek Festival, LaVallée, Friday 1 November
Dive into an immersive musical and artistic experience in the heart of Molenbeek this weekend. Sounds of Molenbeek is a free and open festival that crosses artistic borders, bringing together concerts by hip-hop, afrobeats/dancehall and urban pop artists from Belgium and further afield, as well as comedy shows and photo exhibitions.
Credit: LaVallée
The event also gives the audience the opportunity to explore new disciplines in interactive workshops in krump, dancehall, oriental dance, or DJing. Whether you're a music lover, art enthusiast, or just curious, Sounds of Molenbeek has something for everyone!
Find more information here.
Spooky season
Halloween itself may have been and gone, but in Brussels, celebrations around this day continue until the end of the week. One of the largest horror festivals in the Benelux, shining a light on horror pop culture, remains open until Sunday in Tour & Taxis.
Archive image of Halloween evening show in the recreation park Walibi. Credit: Belga
Saturday is also the final day of the Marolles' iconic día de los muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations and will see the beloved procession light up the neighbourhood's streets.
Find more Halloween events here.
Food and drink
Made in Elsass Salon des Vins Vivants, Maison Haute Watermael-Boitsfort, Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 November
Join a weekend of wine-tasting featuring the best selection of Alsatian biodynamic and natural winegrowers the French region offers. For the 2024 edition, a new record of 22 winemakers, including eight newcomers, will be on hand to showcase their wines and tell lovers of the drink more about their passion.
Not yet convinced? The event will be hosted in the beautiful Maison Haute in Watermael-Boitsfort—a great excuse to discover this municipality—and it will benefit the homeless in the Marolles neighbourhood.
Find more information here.
