Some 450,000 people attended Bright Festival, Brussels' biggest light festival, from 13 to 16 February. This marks a decline of 50,000 visitors from the previous year.
Brussels lit up with 30 different light installations for four nights last week, attracting approximately 450,000 visitors. The organising agency visit.brussels is happy with the "huge crowds" it attracted.
Bright Festival 2025. Credit: visit.brussels / Mathieu Golinvaux
However, attendance for this edition fell by 50,000 people compared to 2024.
"It is difficult to know exactly why there has been this drop," visit.brussels' Press & Editorial Coordinator, Noémie Wibail, told The Brussels Times. "Thursday's national strike and the very cold weather conditions probably had an impact."
Bright Festival 2025. Credit: visit.brussels / Mathieu Golinvaux
"It was, once again, a fantastic way to showcase the Brussels-Capital Region on a national and international level," the organisation stated.
"One thing is certain: Brussels dazzled and the Bright Festival continues to thrill the capital year after year!"
Credit: greenpeace_be / visit.brussels
What was in store for Bright Festival participants? A market took place in Parc du Cinquantenaire as well as children's activities at Parc de Bruxelles.
There were guided tours along two separate routes through the city, with both paths illuminated by a range of light spectacles.
Bright Festival 2025. Credit: visit.brussels / Mathieu Golinvaux
Bright Festival 2025. Credit: visit.brussels / Mathieu Golinvaux
Several Brussels museums even opened their doors to night-time visitors. The Royal Museums of Art and History, the Pavilion of Human Passions and the Institute of Natural Sciences all showcased original exhibitions on the evening.
Bright Festival 2025. Credit: visit.brussels / Mathieu Golinvaux
Over 100,000 people visited these institutions, breaking a record for everyone involved.
In addition, the House of European History was lit up with a special projection in honour of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Credit: House of European History
The next edition of Bright Festival will take place from 12 to 15 February 2026.
Bright Festival 2025. Credit: visit.brussels / Mathieu Golinvaux
