What’s on this week: 5 to 11 June

Art afficionados gather one again at four-star hotel and club The Mix for the second edition of the art and design fair The Rooms. Some 40 dealers and galleries from Belgium and abroad occupy around 30 hotel rooms, selecting the works on display according to the character of the setting. A selection of works is also proposed by the Photo Museum of Charleroi in a designated room, while another is given a makeover by Lionel Jadot, the famed Belgian architect who is behind the interior deco of The Mix. In addition, there are art talks on themes surrounding collecting art. Free entrance with mandatory tickets.  5-7 June, Boulevard du Souverain 25 (Watermael-Boitsfort)

Brussels’ first SWANA queer festival is staged at La Balsamine courtesy of the B.R.A.V.E. collective. Part of the theatre’s third Boutures Festival, this special programme of some 10 events brings together artists with diasporic histories linked to Iran, Jordan, Palestine, Morocco, Lebanon, Turkey, or Algeria, who now live in Belgium or elsewhere in Europe. A highlight is a Cabaret drag by Gazelle Hafia on Saturday evening. 5-7 June, Avenue Félix Marchal  (Schaerbeek)

For the 6th edition of its eco-inclusive festival Pilifs Power, the Nos Pilifs farm is staging music, artisanal stands and kids activities. This is the project in the north of the capital that provides meaningful and rewarding jobs for 145 people with disabilities. Its annual summer bash includes concerts by Bloutch, Muriel d’Ailleurs and her orchestra, Brussels Bayou Orchestra (pictured) and the Silly Swing Hot Club. Among the activities are a bouncy castle for children, wooden games, face painting, second hand clothes and bric-a-brac, artisanal groceries, a refreshment stand and a sweet and savory outdoor café. 6 June from 11.00, Rue du Craetveld 124 (Neder-Over-Heembeek)

Schaerbeek’s Place de la Reine is transformed into a participative art installation thanks to the election billboard exhibition Women 1030: (re)thinking the place of women in public space. Artist Bruno D’Alimonte invites the public to vote for women while also breaking down the barrier between art and public space. Appropriating the symbolism of election billboards, these temporary symbols of democratic authority are transformed into a genuine citizen vote where women finally take their rightful place. Information from: hello@bruno-dalimonte.be. 6 June, Avenue Louis Bertrand (Schaerbeek)

Architecture, sustainability and creativity blend together at the Festival of the New European Bauhaus, a one day free event exploring how design can shape more inclusive and environmentally conscious cities. Hosted at Parc du Cinquantenaire and the Art and History Museum, the festival features exhibitions, talks, workshops and performances bringing together artists, architects, researchers and citizens from across Europe. Visitors can discover innovative projects focused on ecology, urban living and social transformation, while enjoying a lively programme that blends debate with culture and experimentation. 9-13 June, 9.00-22.00, Parc du Cinquantenaire 10

Following Kyoto and Riga, the international exhibition Artisanal Intelligence goes on show at the Art Nouveau gem, Hannon House, as part of the New European Bauhaus Festival. The project, developed by KNOTTO, explores the interaction between ancestral knowledge, craftsmanship, and contemporary design, while searching for sustainable visions in the future of the fashion and textile industry. 4-21 June, Avenue de la Jonction 1 (Saint-Gilles)

Photography graduates from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Brussels show their work in the A Foundation’s exhibition Hâtez-vous lentement ! It highlights an emerging generation of artists, while showcasing photographic practices where commitment, poetry, and experimentation all intersect. Pictured: La Couleur des grenades, Judith Foulard by Eloise Brunet. 4-28 June, Avenue Van Volxem 304 (Forest)

One of Belgium’s most intriguing  early 20th century artists, Léon Spilliaert (1881–1946), is  showcased in a new exhibition at the Patrick Derom Gallery. Through Half-Open Doors is devoted to Spillaert’s interiors and still lifes, a more discreet yet essential aspect of the artist’s oeuvre. It brings together a remarkable group of works, including several rarely exhibited pieces and others on show publicly for the first time. Together, they offer a new insight into his singular vision. Until 14 August, Rue aux Laines 1

Brazilian visual artist Patricia Sartori opens the doors of her new studio, Atelier n.5, on Saturday. Based in Brussels for more than 10 years, Sartori has exhibited in collective and solo exhibitions and art fairs in Belgium and abroad. Through painting, she develops a visual language rooted in the exploration of memory, the unconscious, the perception of time, vulnerability, and the illusion of permanence rupture. A special concert by Henri Greindl & Cristina Barros and Duo Na Onda da Bossais is at 16.00. 6 June 11.00-18.00, Rue du Marais 66

Football fans can catch the FIFA 2026 World Cup action at the pop-up Football Village in Watermael-Boitsfort’s Place Wiener. Kicking off the event is the opening match between Mexico and South Africa on 11 June at 17.00. The fan zone is conveniently set up next to the Guinguette Boitsfort, so there’s no shortage of refreshment and snacks to keep viewers fuelled throughout the marathon five-week-long tournament. Free entrance except for Belgian matches (to manage crowd control). 11 June to 19 July, Place Léopold Wiener (Watermael-Boitsfort)

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

Some 40 stately homes across the country open their doors to the public in the third edition of the Vestalia festival. These exceptional private homes include castles, historic residences and beautiful landscaped gardens. For 2026, the event focuses on the people who bring these places to life. The theme ‘Meeting’ honours the individuals at the heart of these historic homes. In addition to visits and tours, the programme features concerts and performances in intimate and prestigious settings, as well as opportunities to sample gourmet delights. 6 to 14 June, across the country

The Flanders Art Festival opens its doors at the Belfry in Bruges. This new contemporary art platform stages two complementary events... The Flanders Art Fair brings together a selection of galleries positioned within the international art market, offering works ranging from Old Masters to modern and contemporary art. Meanwhile, ArtistMeeting is a direct encounter between artist, artwork and audience: a rare opportunity to experience artworks accompanied by a critical viewpoint. Together, they show how the Flemish artistic world benefits from its long tradition for collecting art. 5-7 June, Belfry, Grote Markt, Bruges

The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) welcomes a new generation of international fashion designers in KMSKA x YOUNG FASHION DESIGNERS – as part of Antwerp Fashion Festival (4-7 June). The 10 designers interact with the museum's collection; each creation based on a personal interpretation of a work of art, motif, technique or emotion from the museum’s exhibits. 4 June to 8 November, Leopold de Waelplaats 1, Antwerp

The Cité Miroir in Liège presents a new immersive journey, L’Abri, into the restored air-raid shelter that lies beneath the former swimming pool and thermal baths. Listed as a protected monument, the site consists of six interconnected circular alcoves that sheltered up to 400 people during the Second World War. After a year of renovation work, the atmospheric heritage site is open to the public; an experience that plunges them into the daily lives of the people of Liège who took refuge beneath the bombs, while the shelter also serves as a place for reflection. From 6 June, Place Xavier Neujean 22, Liège

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

Photos: (main image) Courtesy The Rooms; Courtesy Bruno d'Alimonte; Artisanal Intelligence KNOTTO LAURA LUCHTMAN & KATO TSUYOSHI; ©Eloise Brunet, La Couleur des grenades, Judith Foulard, 2024; Leon Spillaert, Coquillages, 1927, Ren. Schro; Patricia Sartori Atelier; courtesy Wijnendaele Castle, Torhout, West Flanders; Flanders Art Festival; KMSKA ©Michaël Smits; L'Abri ©Noiseless Art