Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in Belgium
- Before planning a trip around a festival, verify the festival dates at the festival's website or with a local tourist information office. For more information about these and other events, visit the official tourism sites for Belgium and Brussels.
- This list includes major festivals in major cities, plus national holidays observed throughout Belgium. Many sights and banks close down on national holidays — keep it in mind when planning your itinerary. Note that this isn't a complete list; holidays can strike without warning.
- See upcoming holidays and festivals across Europe
2024
October 8–19: Ghent Film Festival
November 1: All Saints' Day (closures)
November 11: Armistice Day (closures)
December: "Winter Wonders" Christmas Market, Brussels
December 5–6: St. Nicholas' Eve and St. Nicholas' Day (processions celebrating the arrival of Sinterklaas and presents for children)
December 25: Christmas (closures)
2025
January 1: New Year's Day (closures)
February–early April: Carnival season on various weekends in different French-speaking cities; particularly lively and bizarre in towns of Binche and Stavelot
February 28–March 9: Anima international animation film festival, Brussels
April 8–20 (likely): Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (series of cult films)
April 18–April 21: Easter weekend (Good Friday through Easter Monday; closures on Easter Monday)
May 1: Labor Day (some closures)
May 17: Belgian Pride, Brussels (LGBT pride parade)
May 24–26: Brussels Jazz Weekend (free concerts around town)
May 29: Ascension (closures); Procession of the Holy Blood, Bruges
June 8 & 9: Pentecost and Whit Monday (closures)
June 15: Ducasse de Mons, south-central Belgium (procession, enactment of battle between St. George and the dragon)
June 20–28: Brussels International Film Festival
June 21–22 (likely): Battle of Waterloo Reenactment, Waterloo
July 2 & 4 (likely): Ommegang Pageant, Brussels (historic costumed parade to Grand Place)
July 3–6: Rock Werchter, near Leuven (huge pop and rock festival)
July 11–13: Cactus Festival, Bruges (alternative pop and rock in Minnewater)
July 18–20 & 25–27 (likely): Tomorrowland, north of Brussels in town of Boom (electronic music festival)
July 18–27 (likely): Ghent Festival (free concerts, fireworks, street performers, market)
July 21: Belgian Independence Day (parades, fireworks, closures)
July 24–27: Sfinks Mixed, near Antwerp (world music, free)
July 25–August 17 (likely): Summer Wonders, Brussels (arts festival)
August 1–10 (likely): Musica Antiqua Festival, Bruges (medieval music)
August 14–17: Pukkelpop, near Hasselt in northeast Belgium (progressive music festival)
August 15: Assumption Day (procession in Bruges, Bathtub Regatta in Dinant, southern Belgium; closures across Belgium)
August 22–September 7 (likely): La Ducasse in Ath, southwestern Belgium (traditional procession featuring giant puppets)
October 7–18 (likely): Ghent Film Festival
November 1: All Saints' Day (closures)
November 11: Armistice Day (closures)
December: "Winter Wonders" Christmas Market, Brussels
December 5–6: St. Nicholas' Eve and St. Nicholas' Day (processions celebrating the arrival of Sinterklaas and presents for children)
December 25: Christmas (closures)