What’s on this week: 19 to 25 June

Fete de la Musique heralds the start of the festival season. The French-community musical celebration of the summer solstice across Brussels and Wallonia includes concerts and DJ sets in indoor and outdoor venues. In the capital, Cinquantenaire park is the main hub with French techno keyboardist Mezerg headlining on Friday, Belgian rap duo Caballero & Jeanjass on Saturday. Food trucks, bars and kids’ activities will also keep crowds happy. Check out the vast programme for more information. 18-21 June, multiple locations in Brussels and Wallonia

Lion Summer Fest is a new free multidisciplinary and family-friendly festival that is staged in Molenbeek alongside the Fête des la Musique activities. Celebrating Brussels’ creative scene, it provides an open space for emerging artists, local initiatives and intergenerational encounters. Enjoy craft markets, family activities, and evenings enlivened by concerts, karaoke, and quizzes. LionCity is a temporary urban project on the site of a former Delhaize supermarket. 18-21 June, Rue Osseghem 53 (Molenbeek-Saint-Jean)

Trailblazing international new and experimental music festival, Tectonics, lands in Brussels for the first time. The Brussels Philharmonic, in collaboration with the Ictus ensemble, transforms every corner of Flagey into a vibrant hub of sonic exploration. They are joined by the Vlaams Radiokoor, Farida Amadou & Heather Leigh, Jennifer Torrence, Tarek Halaby and Hoda Siahtiri & Shaahin Peymani in a mme of concerts, performances and installations. 19 & 20 June, Place Flagey (Ixelles)

The bandstand of Roodebeek park is preparing to launch the sixth edition of Les Estivales de la Woluwe on Sunday. The outdoor summer music event stages free concerts by an eclectic selection of musicians, including string, wind and tango ensembles, plus choirs, improv and family shows. For the opening concert, violinist Babut du Marès and pianist Maiko Inoue Camille perform pieces by Grieg, Chopin and da Falla. 20 June to 21 July, Sundays 18.00; Wednesdays 16.30, Parc de Roodebeek (Woluwe Saint-Lambert)

Multidisciplinary project MUTAMORPHOSIS blends performances, concerts and DJ sets with other contemporary artistic forms at Vaux Hall in the Royal Park. The second edition of the event organised by the Jewish Museum of Belgium features Catalan artist Victor Abraham Lacô, Franco-American artist Hot Bodies and DJ Vera Moro, exploring the transformations of bodies, identities and genders in society.  24 June 20.30-23.00, Rue de la Loi 5

For 2026, the Musiq3 Brussels Festival extends its programme beyond Belgium in an edition themed ‘Horizons Without Borders’. From a Judy Garland tribute to Iranian percussion, from a Sunday morning family concert to an open-air DJ set and music from Mozart to Brazilian influences, it embraces different styles, eras and cultures. Some 18 concerts, including a particular focus on jazz, are staged at Flagey, Marni, and Place Sainte-Croix (free outdoor events). The event is part of the annual classical music celebration, Les Festivals de Wallonie, that runs all summer. 25-28 June, multiple venues in Brussels and Wallonia

The end-of-season festival Recylart Holidays is back with a vibrant mix of activities staged over the next three weeks. Concerts, cabaret, live shows and family and neighbourhood events are set to entertain all ages at the urban community club. 25 June to 11 July, Thursday-Saturday, Rue de Manchester 13-15 (Molenbeek-Saint-Jean)

Mary of Hungary, the sister of Charles V and governor of the Low Countries, was a formidable Renaissance figure who exercised considerable power in Belgium and Europe. Following a groundbreaking exhibition at the Royal Museum of Mariemont, a series of multimedia heritage exhibits, part of the European MARY4ALL project, are now on display at Coudenbergh Palace. The result of academic research at KU Leuven, they bring alive Renaissance arts and architecture; a rich period in European history in which few vestiges remain. Until 20 September, Place des Palais 7

SIDE by SIDE is the title of Botanique’s new group exhibition featuring the 10 laureates of the Centrale for Contemporary Art prize awarded over the past four years by the art space forced to close at the end of last year. Each of the artists has a different approach but share a focus on gestures, narratives and the connections between bodies and places, individuals and systems, memories and objects. The music venue’s arts centre also presents the show Ivresse des rayons by Gabrielle Mogenet that blends painting and textile. 18 June to 16 August

The Bruocsella Symphony orchestra celebrates its 30th anniversary with a Jubilee Orchestra Concert - performing The Planets by Gustav Holst. Written between 1914 and 1917, the seven-movement suite portrays the astrological character of each planet, from the brooding energy of Mars to the mysterious, ethereal sounds of Neptune. The orchestra is an international group of amateur, professional, ex-professional and student musicians who share a passion for symphonic music. 20 June 20.00, NOVUM, Rue Père Eudore Devroye (Etterbeek)

Book now The highlight of the Brussels Renaissance Festival is Ommegang, the capital’s riotous celebration of its medieval history This colourful re-enactment of Charles V’s entry into Brussels in 1549 comes complete with 1,400 costumed performers and the emperor himself. Join the throngs for the procession into the Grand Place or book a seat in its grandstands for the big performance. As darkness descends, the medieval square is transformed into a dazzling stage for the spectacular show. Japan is the guest of honour this year. 1 & 3 July 21.00, Grand Place

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

The British community – and friends – gather for their annual summer celebration and charity fundraiser at the Royal Brussels Cricket Club. The seventh edition of the bucolic garden party is organised by the Brussels British Community Association. A ‘village green’ cricket match plays in the background, while refreshments are served. They include a BBQ, courtesy of Stonemanor, Tim’s Pimm’s and mocktails bar, cream teas and strawberries and cream. Traditional children’s field games promise to keep little ones amused. 21 June 13.00-18.00, Chemin des Messes 39, Lasne- Ohain (Walloon Brabant)

Printemps musical de Silly is a weekend programme at Château de Thoricourt, which concludes the annual local concert series. The programme features Ensemble Darius (pictured) on Friday evening at 20.00, the Queen Elisabeth competition finalist, pianist Valère Burnon on Saturday evening at 20.00, and Estelle Lefort & François Mardirossian on Sunday morning at 11.00. 19-21 June, Rue de Silly 43, Thoricourt (Hainaut)

Mons’ Art Nouveau masterpiece Maison Losseau presents the exhibition Rien en moi n’obéit by Belgian visual artist Dominique Thirion. The show is the first chapter of HORS-TEXTE, a series of exhibitions dedicated to interactions between contemporary art and literature. This selection of recent paintings reflect the artist's penchant for coincidences, stories and anecdotes. Her eclectic work is imbued with experimentation while also revelling in the pleasure of seeing unexpected forms, words and images emerge. 20 June to 1 November, Rue de Nimy 37/39, Mons

The Limburg town of Tongeren stages its Stadsmuzikantenfestival this Sunday in several venues, including the Begijnhof and the De Motten Park. Seven musical acts each play sets of 20 minutes in a musical tour that invites the public to stroll from one location to another.  In the evening, it is the turn of Belgian dreampop band Portland to perform a full solo set.  21 June from 14.30, across the town centre, Tongeren (Limburg)

Contemporary German artist Neo Rauch (1960- ) is an influential figure whose work often features dreamlike works filled with intricate characters. In the major exhibition Balance at Antwerp’s Museum De Reede, the public can discover a selection of his extensive graphic work, which reveal the evolution of his visual language. 20 June to 19 October, Ernest van Dijkkaai 7b, Antwerp

Discover more upcoming events at The Bulletin's events page.

Photos: (main image) ©Fête de la Musique; Lion Summer Fest ©Salamba Wiels; 2025 LAB Brussels Philharmonic & Ilan Volkov ©Blithe Williams; courtesy Estivals de Woluwe; Musiq3 Festival Orchestre Festival et Amandine Beyer ©Lara Herbinia; Coudenberg Soundbox Fest ©Malou Vanden Heuvel; courtesy Side by Side/Le Botanique; ©Neo Rauch