Booking a city trip can involve a lot of questions and research. I prefer not to over-research my visits, but there’s always some interesting information, like the important events happening.
In 2024, I went to Rome with a friend for three days in the magnificent capital of Italy. When we arrived, we discovered that on our last day, it was a National Holiday: the Festa della Repubblica.
Our plan to visit the Colosseum for free on the first Sunday of the month went out the window. But ofcourse, we got to see the military parade. You win some, and you lose some.
But this, ofcourse, got me thinking: It would be nice to have an overview of holidays, events, and festivities to keep in mind when visiting a place. And for that reason, I’m making this one of my home country.
You can use this article to avoid those holidays and special events or to visit precisely when they happen so you can be part of them.
A little disclaimer: I did my best to find as many events as possible that impact the inner cities. If I missed anything, feel free to let me know!
Table of contents
- Holidays in Belgium 2026
- Koopzondag or Sunday Shopping in Belgium 2026
- Important events and festivals in Belgium 2026 per Month
- Important events and festivals in January 2026
- Important events and festivals in February 2026
- Important events and festivals in March 2026
- Important events and festivals in April 2026
- Important events and festivals in May 2026
- Important events and festivals in June 2026
- Important events and festivals in July 2026
- Important events and festivals in August 2026
- Important events and festivals in September 2026
- Important events and festivals in October 2026
- Important events and festivals in November 2026
- Important events and festivals in December 2026
- Music Festivals in Belgium 2026
Holidays in Belgium 2026
Holidays in Belgium usually mean businesses are closed or operate on reduced hours. Museums and other cultural places are often open, but with changed opening hours.
These are the official holidays of Belgium in 2026. Businesses are often closed on those days:
| New Year’s Day | 1 January 2026 |
| Easter Monday | 6 April 2026 |
| Labor Day | 1 May 2026 |
| Ascension | 14 May 2026 |
| Whit Monday | 25 May 2026 |
| National Holiday (with parades in Brussels) | 21 July 2026 |
| Assumption Day | 15 August 2026 |
| All Saints | 1 November 2026 |
| Armistice Day | 11 November 2026 |
| Christmas | 25 December 2026 |
Koopzondag or Sunday Shopping in Belgium 2026
In Belgium, we have a separation of State and Church, but many Christian traditions and values remain in our daily lives. For example, there are several limitations to working on a Sunday. As that, ofcourse, is traditionally a day of rest.
In recent years, though, Belgium has introduced the concept of Koopzondag, or Sunday Shopping. On one Sunday a month, shops can be open, mainly in city centers.
For almost all cities, it’s the first Sunday of every month. The Koopzondagen of 2026 are:
- 4 January 2026
- 1 February 2026
- 1 March 2026
- 5 April 2026
- 3 May 2026
- 7 June 2026
- 5 July 2026
- 2 August 2026
- 6 September 2026
- 4 October 2026
- 1 November 2026
- 6 December 2026
- 13 December 2026
- 20 December 2026
- 27 December 2026
Important events and festivals in Belgium 2026 per Month
Important events and festivals in January 2026
Important events and festivals in February 2026
| City | Type of event | Event name | Date for 2026 | Website | Date for 2025 |
| Brussels | Light Festival | Bright Brussels (4 days) | 12 February 2026 | https://www.visit.brussels/en/visitors/agenda/bright-festival | 13 February 2025 |
| Aalst | Cultural Event | Aalst Carnaval (3 days) | 15 February 2026 | https://www.aalstcarnaval.be/ | 15 February 2025 |
Important events and festivals in March 2026
| City | Type of event | Event name | Date for 2026 | Website |
| Hasselt | Carnival | Hasselt Carnava (for 2 days) | 13 March 2026 | https://feestcomitehasselt.be/?p=333 |
| Hasselt | Cultural Event | Kersenbloesemfestival (end on 13/4) | 14 March 2026 | https://www.visithasselt.be/nl/japanse-tuin/kersenbloesemfestival-hanami |
| Hasselt | Cultural Event | Paardenjaarmarkt | 20 March 2026 | https://paardenmarktkuringen.be/ |
Important events and festivals in April 2026
Important events and festivals in May 2026
| Kortrijk | Music Festival | Mayday Mayday | TBA | https://maydaymayday.be/ |
| Bruges | Carnival | Start Meifoor (end on 1/6) | TBA | https://brugsemeifoor.be/home/ |
| Brussels | Parade | Belgian Pride | 16 May 2026 | https://www.brusselspride.eu/en/home |
| Liege | Beer festival | Beer Lovers’ Marathon (2 days) | 16 May 2026 | https://beerloversmarathon.be/ |
| Brussels | Music Festival | Brussels Jazz Weekend (3 days) | TBA | https://www.lottobrusselsjazzweekend.be/ |
| Leuven | Parade | Giant Parade | TBA | https://leuven.be/reuzeleuven |
| Leuven | Shopping Day | Leuven by Night | 13 May 2026 | https://www.visitleuven.be/leuven-night |
| Bruges | Parade | Procession of the Holy Blood | 14 May 2026 | https://www.bloedprocessiebrugge.be/en/practical-information/ |
| Brussels | Cultural Event | The Brussels Street Photography Festival (4 days) | 28 May 2026 | https://www.bspfestival.org/news |
| Hasselt | Music Festival | Live in Hasselt | TBA | https://www.liveinhasselt.be/ |
| Kortrijk | Carnival | Start Sinksenfoor | 22 May 2026 | https://www.sinksen.be/ |
| Antwerp | Carnival | Start Sinksenfoor | TBA |
Important events and festivals in June 2026
| City | Type of event | Event name | Date for 2026 | Website |
| Mons | Cultural Event | Ritual Ducasse of Mons (11 days) | TBA | https://www.visitmons.be/en/events/ritual-ducasse-of-mons-816941 |
| Bruges | Sport Event | Urban Swim Brugge | 27 June 2026 | https://www.langereizwemmers.be/ |
| Antwerp | Beer festival | Bierpassieweekend (three days) | 19 June 2026 | https://www.bierpassieweekend.be/ |
| Antwerp | Music Festival | Unicorn Festival (3 days) | 19 June 2026 | https://www.unicornfestival.be/ |
| Leuven | Cultural Event | De Langste Dag (two days) | 20 June 2026 | https://www.visitleuven.be/de-langste-dag |
| Namur | Beer festival | Barnabeer (for 3 days) | TBA | https://visitwallonia.com/en-gb/3/where-to-go-in-wallonia/walloon-towns-and-cities/namur/main-events/barnabeer-estival-a-beer-festival-at-the-citadel-of-namure/48739 |
| Brussels | Music Festival | Couleur Café (3 days) | 26 June 2026 | https://www.couleurcafe.be/en/ |
| Brussels | Music Festival | Paradise City (3 days) | 26 June 2026 | https://paradisecity.be/ |
| Antwerp | Carnival | Zomerkermis (end on 31/8) | TBA | |
| Charleroi | Sport Event | Charleroi Maraton | 26 April 2026 | https://www.charleroimarathon.be/ |
Important events and festivals in July 2026
| City | Type of event | Event name | Date for 2026 | Website |
| Mons | Cultural Event | Mons Street Party (for 12 days) | TBA | https://www.visitmons.be/en/events/mons-street-party-301482 |
| Brussels | Parade | Ommegang Pageant | TBA | https://www.ommegang.be/the-ommegang-pageant/?lang=en |
| Liege | Music Festival | Les Ardentes (4 days) | 2 July 2026 | https://lesardentes.be/?lng=en |
| Leuven | Music Festival | Rock Werchter (4 days) | 2 July 2026 | https://www.rockwerchter.be/nl/ |
| Brussels | Parade | Ommegang Pageant | https://www.ommegang.be/the-ommegang-pageant/?lang=en | |
| Leuven | Music Festival | Park Festival | TBA | https://leuven.be/park |
| Bruges | Music Festival | Cactus festival (3 days) | 11 July 2026 | https://www.cactusfestival.be/ |
| Mons | Music Festival | Dourfestival (5 days) | 15 July 2026 | https://www.dourfestival.eu/en/ |
| Ghent | Cultural Event | Gentse Feesten | 17 July 2026 | https://visit.gent.be/en/calendar/ghent-festivities |
| Boom | Music Festival | Tomorrowland (3 days) | 17 July 2026 | https://www.tomorrowland.com/home/ |
| Brussels | Carnival | Start Zuidfoor | TBA | https://www.foiredumidi.brussels/nl/home/ |
| Boechout | Music Festival | Sfinks Mixed (4 days) | 23 July 2026 | https://www.sfinks.be/?lang=en |
| Boom | Music Festival | Tomorrowland (3 days) | 24 July 2026 | https://www.tomorrowland.com/home/ |
| Lokeren | Music Festival | Lokerse Feesten (10 days) | 31 July 2026 | https://www.lokersefeesten.be/nl/ |
Important events and festivals in August 2026
| City | Type of event | Event name | Date for 2026 | Website |
| Lokeren | Music Festival | Lokerse Feesten (10 days) | 31 July 2026 | https://www.lokersefeesten.be/nl/ |
| Tienen | Music Festival | Suikerrock (3 days) | 7 August 2026 | https://www.suikerrock.be/ |
| Kortrijk | Music Festival | Alcatraz Metal Festival (4 days) | 6 August 2026 | https://www.alcatraz.be/en/ |
| Antwerp | Parade | Antwerp Pride | TBA | https://www.antwerppride.com/ |
| Hasselt | Music Festival | Pukkelpop (4 days) | 20 August 2026 | https://www.pukkelpop.be/nl/ |
| Bruges | Music Festival | WECANDANCE (3 days) | 14 August 2026 | https://wecandance.be/ |
| Ghent | Cultural Event | Patershol Feesten (3 days) | TBA | https://visit.gent.be/en/calendar/patershol-festivities |
| Kortrijk | Music Festival | Kamping Kitsh Club | TBA | https://www.kampingkitschclub.be/fack |
Important events and festivals in September 2026
| City | Type of event | Event name | Date for 2026 | Website |
| Brussels | Beer festival | Belgian Beer Weekend (3 days) | 4 September 2026 | https://www.belgianbeerweekend.be/ |
| Bruges | Beer festival | Bruges Beer Festival 2025 (Two days) | 12 September 2026 | https://www.brugsbierfestival.be/en/ |
| Hasselt | Carnival | Hasselt Kermis | TBA | https://www.hasselt.be/nl/kermis |
| Belgium | Car Free Sunday | Car Free Sunday | TBA | https://www.duurzame-mobiliteit.be/mobiliteitskalender |
Important events and festivals in October 2026
| City | Type of event | Event name | Date for 2026 | Website |
| Liege | Carnival | Foir D’Octobre (7 days) | TBA | https://www.foiredeliegeofficiel.be/ |
| Ghent | Cultural Event | Start Film Fest Gent | 7 October 2026 | https://www.filmfestival.be/nl |
| Hasselt | Cultural Event | Chrysantenfestival | https://www.visithasselt.be/nl/japanse-tuin/chrysanten-festival-kikumatsuri | |
| Hasselt | Cultural Event | De Hasseltse Jeneverfeesten (2 days) | 17 October 2026 | https://www.visithasselt.be/nl/jeneverfeesten |
| Antwerp | Running Contest | Antwerp Marathon | 18 October 2026 | https://antwerpmarathon.com/en/ |
Important events and festivals in November 2026
| City | Type of event | Event name | Date for 2026 | Website |
| Brussels | Running Contest | Brussels Marathon | TBA | https://www.brussels.be/brussels-marathon |
| Antwerp | Beer festival | Billies Craft Beer Fest (2 days) | 13 November 2026 | https://www.billiescraftbeerfest.com/ |
| Hasselt | Christmas Market | Winterland (end on 4/01) | TBA | https://www.winterland.be/nl |
| Namur | Beer festival | The Namur beer fair (2 days) | TBA | https://www.namurtourisme.be/en/evenements/le-salon-des-bieres-namuroises/?event_id=22971 |
| Brussels | Christmas Market | Brussels Winter Wonders 2025 | TBA | https://www.plaisirsdhiver.be/en |
Important events and festivals in December 2026
| City | Type of event | Event name | Date for 2026 | Website |
| Ghent | Cultural Event | Museum night Ghent | TBA | https://visit.gent.be/en/calendar/museum-night-ghent |
| Antwerp | Christmas Market | Start Antwerp Christmas Market | TBA | https://visit.antwerpen.be/en/winter-in-antwerp-2024 |
| Antwerp | Carnival | Winterkermis |
Music Festivals in Belgium 2026
| City | Type of event | Event name | Date for 2026 | Website |
| Antwerp | Music Festival | Unicorn Festival (3 days) | 19 June 2026 | https://www.unicornfestival.be/ |
| Brussels | Music Festival | Couleur Café (3 days) | 26 June 2026 | https://www.couleurcafe.be/en/ |
| Brussels | Music Festival | Paradise City (3 days) | 26 June 2026 | https://paradisecity.be/ |
| Liege | Music Festival | Les Ardentes (4 days) | 2 July 2026 | https://lesardentes.be/?lng=en |
| Leuven | Music Festival | Rock Werchter (4 days) | 2 July 2026 | https://www.rockwerchter.be/nl/ |
| Bruges | Music Festival | Cactus festival (3 days) | 11 July 2026 | https://www.cactusfestival.be/ |
| Mons | Music Festival | Dourfestival (5 days) | 15 July 2026 | https://www.dourfestival.eu/en/ |
| Boom | Music Festival | Tomorrowland (3 days) | 17 July 2026 | https://www.tomorrowland.com/home/ |
| Boechout | Music Festival | Sfinks Mixed (4 days) | 23 July 2026 | https://www.sfinks.be/?lang=en |
| Boom | Music Festival | Tomorrowland (3 days) | 24 July 2026 | https://www.tomorrowland.com/home/ |
| Lokeren | Music Festival | Lokerse Feesten (10 days) | 31 July 2026 | https://www.lokersefeesten.be/nl/ |
| Kortrijk | Music Festival | Alcatraz Metal Festival (4 days) | 6 August 2026 | https://www.alcatraz.be/en/ |
| Tienen | Music Festival | Suikerrock (3 days) | 7 August 2026 | https://www.suikerrock.be/ |
| Bruges | Music Festival | WECANDANCE (3 days) | 14 August 2026 | https://wecandance.be/ |
| Hasselt | Music Festival | Pukkelpop (4 days) | 20 August 2026 | https://www.pukkelpop.be/nl/ |
| Kortrijk | Music Festival | Mayday Mayday | TBA | https://maydaymayday.be/ |
| Brussels | Music Festival | Brussels Jazz Weekend (3 days) | TBA | https://www.lottobrusselsjazzweekend.be/ |
| Hasselt | Music Festival | Live in Hasselt | TBA | https://www.liveinhasselt.be/ |
| Leuven | Music Festival | Park Festival | TBA | https://leuven.be/park |
| Kortrijk | Music Festival | Kamping Kitsh Club | TBA | https://www.kampingkitschclub.be/fack |
| Kortrijk | Music Festival | Student Welcome | TBA | https://swkortrijk.be/ |
What events are you planning on visiting? Let me know in the comments!