What’s on this fortnight: 24 December to 6 January

Grand Place isn’t the only place to see a light show projected on historical buildings this holiday season. The Royal Museums of Fine Arts gets in on the act with Behind the Walls, a light show in its inner courtyard in the spirit of the Europalia: Train & Tracks festival. One of its cornerstone exhibitions, Tracks to Modernity, is inside the museum. Daily until 2 January, every half an hour from 17.00 to 22.00, Place du Musée

The Russian House of Brussels offers a free livestream of its Christmas Concert by the prize-winning “Devchata” Vocal Quartet. The foursome will perform Russian Christmas carols and other traditional songs. 23 December 18.00

The toy theatre, also known as a paper theatre, was once a popular source of entertainment that cut across generations. These miniature stages, small enough to sit on a table, were simply unfolded and could be taken anywhere, but the details were often as exquisite as the finest opera house. The exhibition Magical Theatres brings this little world of colourful decors and paper doll actors back to life. Until 4 December 2022, Halle Gate Museum, Boulevard du Midi 150

Stained glass gets a lot of attention, within a church or otherwise, but the Art & History Museum points to another form of painted glass, little known in Belgium’s artistic heritage. Medallions (or roundels) are small circular panels of glass upon which scenes were painted. There was a boom in this form of art following the Renaissance, with glass-making undergoing major development in the Low Countries and particularly Liège. The exhibition Medallions is just part of the museum’s painted and stained glass collection – the largest in Belgium. Until 31 December, Cinquantenaire Park 10

Pieces for the exhibition Jewish Caricatures: A Long History were selected from an extensive private collection belonging to Arthur Langerman of Antwerp, who was born in the middle of the Second World War. Photographs, fliers, archives and even everyday objects like beer steins and matchboxes illustrate the rampant anti-Semitism both in Belgium and abroad, and over several centuries. Until 31 March, Jewish Museum of Belgium, Rue des Minimes 21

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

Happen upon life-size dinosaurs that glow in the dark of winter during Dinolights at Planckendael animal park. Similar to the Antwerp Zoo’s light festival, Planckendael is peppered with giant light installations – except they are a wee bit scarier. Meet T-Rex, Velociraptors, triceratops and a giant snake or two along a parcours that sees them roaring, slithering or perhaps popping out of an egg. Until 16 January, Planckendael, Leuvensesteenweg 582, Mechelen

Grand-Hornu’s Centre of Innovation and Design look to the stars for Cosmos: Design From Here and Beyond, an exhibition featuring designers who have incorporated the architecture of the universe into their work – conceptually, technically or poetically. Until 27 February, Rue Sainte-Louise 82, Boussu (Hainaut province)

Beaux-Arts Mons presents a solo exhibition by the Brussels artist Marie Roey. The soft and shadowy portraits in Regards croisés put the act of looking front and centre. The gaze is sometimes curious, leaving the viewer wondering what the subject is seeing – or has seen or perhaps will see in some uncertain future. Until 30 January, Rue Neuve 8, Mons

Immerse yourself in the unique world of Belgian surrealist René Magritte in a multimedia exhibition in Liège. Inside Magritte is a highly-accessible and fun exploration of the beauty and symbolism of 160 of his works, projected onto the walls and surfaces of an experience room and hall of mirrors. Four original paintings belonging to the city serve as an introduction to the show, while the itinerary is completed by a documentary on Magritte and a VR headset space revealing an alternative 3D view of some of his iconic works. Until 6 March, La Boverie, Parc de la Boverie 3, Liège

The work of more than 50 international artists is brought together for Masculinities: Liberation through Photography. The ambitious group exhibition looks at the concept of masculinity – exploring the myriad ways that it is experienced, performed and constructed – through film and photography from the 1960s to the present day. There are also artist talks, panel discussions and film screenings. Until 13 March, FoMu, Waalsekaai 47, Antwerp

Photos, from top: Courtesy Winter Wonders; courtesy Russian House of Brussels; Pellerin & Cie, Épinal, 1888-1890, Lithography, ©RMAH; ©Kik-Irpa; ©Jonas Verhulst; ©Elina Ulvio Kuu, photo by Karin Ulvio; ©Marie Van Roey; ©Crossmedia Group, Milano, Fabrica del Vapore, 2018; ©Rotimi Fani-Kayode, c1985