From Easter energy to spring awakenings, Brussels is coming alive in so many ways. Get ready for a mix of cool and new activities, from immersive exhibitions to art fairs, we’ve mapped out the must-do things in the city this season!

Spring marks the return of Art Brussels – the 41st edition takes place from 24 to 27 April. Renowned as one of Europe’s most distinctive and established art fairs, the event will feature 165 galleries from 35 countries, including international key players and emerging talents. Discover more!

Nocturnes in Brussels museums continue until 24 April – use this opportunity to discover unique museums and special programmes between 18h-22h on Thursday evenings. More info

New in town, the landmark exhibition Amazônia by renowned Franco-Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado arrived at Tour & Taxis. This immersive journey into the heart of the Amazon is an invitation to see, listen, and reflect on the future of biodiversity and humanity’s place within the living world. A must-see!

To enjoy more great activities in the city’s lively culture & art scene, check La Monnaie‘s new production – ‘I Grotteschi’. A family saga based on the operas of Claudio Monteverdi L’Orfeo, Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria and L’incoronazione di Poppea premiered on 11 April and is on until 3 May. Details here.

If you are looking for some holiday fun ideas for yourself or the entire family, visit the Smurfs village and their magical forest at Brussels Expo. You can join the egg hunt game during the Easter or simply enjoy the entire Smurf Experience this spring in Brussels.

For those obsessed with flowers and seasonal blooms, Floralia is back to the Groot-Bijgaarden Castle from 4 April to 2 May with a special guest star…Bee Maya. She will fly around tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths, creating the most beautiful spring walk in the vicinity of Brussels.

Celebrate Europe day in Brussels! The European Parliament invites you to join engaging events and discover the heart of European democracy on 10 May. Explore how EU legislation affects your life and find out how you can influence common future decisions. Meet the European political groups, visit the Hemicycle and take part in many interesting activities for all generations. Last entrance at 17:30. Full programme.

Another big May celebration is the annual Iris festival, a true celebration of Brussels. On 3 and 4 May Brussels-Capital Region celebrates 36 years and this year is packed with activities from DJs at the Iris Tipik Electro Night to many other activities in the Brussels Park and in different municipalities. Expect street art, music, food trucks, local discoveries and a novelty this year – the Iris Market where local Brussels producers and designers will be presented. Info here

For those seeking unique family activities, visit the City Hall on the Grand Place with their special kids parcours. Thanks to the innovative & interactive video guides, visitors have a chance to get immersed into the emblematic Town Hall building from every angle and on their own pace. Visits are available as an itinerary for adults or families, in French, Dutch, English, German, Italian and Spanish. Info & tickets.

Another new expo in town: The House of European History is presenting its first ever photo exhibition entitled Presence of the Past. A European Album. The expo looks into our need for history and our interactions with the past, through more than a hundred photographs.

Attend LUX Audience Award prize ceremony in the European Parliament for a celebration of European cinema and the announcement of the 2025 LUX Audience Award winner on 29 April. Representatives from all five nominated films will be present to discuss their work. Spaces are limited secure your spot in the audience by registering via this link.

This spring is a perfect time to visit Van Buuren Museum and Gardens which celebrates a double anniversary: the 50th years of the Museum and the 100th anniversary of the Art Deco movement, a style that, since 1925, has redefined the codes of elegance and innovation. On this occasion, a new exhibition Around Art Deco. Interbellum Sculptures which includes sculptures from the interwar period in the Museum’s magnificent gardens will be presented from 24 April to 28 September.

The annual exhibition of elaborately designed chocolate eggs Bel’Oeuf is back for a third edition in Hotel Amigo from 10 to 21 April. This year, the creations of chocolatiers will be inspired by the timeless elegance of Art Deco, an artistic movement that celebrates its centenary in 2025. Each edible egg will be offered at a price of 750 euros and proceeds will be donated to the Saint-Pierre Foundation. Get inspired with our photo story.

For the movie aficionados, check out the Brussels Short Film Festival – BSFF in Flagey and the Vendôme cinema from 24 April – 3 May. Expect more than 300 short films in an event which is intended for cinema lovers, both wider public and professionals alike. More details.

40 + years of STIJL, a new exhibition at the Fashion & Lace Museum in Brussels, offers an intimate look at four decades of Belgian fashion history. The boutique located on Dansaertstraat played an important part in writing the story of fashion in our city, its burgeoning creative scene and an art movement with an international influence. More here

Locals know this all too well, but it must be on our list of top spring activities – annual opening of the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken, from 18 April to 11 May. Dive into the rich history and grandeur of this architectural marvel by reading this interesting story from our archives.

Expo Matching Seats brings together several remarkable pieces from the private collection of Galila Barzilai Hollander, each unique in its kind. You can visit it at MAD Brussels until 3 May.

Visit two exhibitions at Villa Empain – In the frame of the centenary commemoration of Art Deco in 2025, the Boghossian Foundation is presenting a thematic exhibition on this key movement in Brussels. Echoes of Art Deco invites visitors to explore the iconic architecture of the Villa Empain, a paragon of Art Deco with an eventful past. Set against the lively musical backdrop of the era, the exhibition offers an immersive experience into the lifestyle of the Roaring Twenties.

At the same venue, newly opened expo Timeless Gazes: From Pharaohs to the present day celebrates ancient Egypt and contemporary art in relation to the African continent. For the first time in Belgium, approximately 130 works from the prestigious collection assembled by Jean Claude Gandur is exhibited in the unique setting of the Villa Empain. From 10 April. More info

The Horta Museum presents Smooth as Velvet, featuring five artists who will transform the house’s walls until 30 May. This fabric choice highlights Horta’s love for textiles, especially silk, and underscores the architectural importance of textiles as a source of ornamentation. Discover more

The Design Museum Brussels presents the travelling exhibition Skateboard, a project of the Design Museum in London, from 5 April to September 2025. The exhibition explores the development of skateboard design over seven decades, focusing on the technological and aesthetic evolution of the skateboard. More here

Something for our sports aficionados, check out the 4th edition of Lotto Brussels Premier Padel in Tour & Taxis from 22 – 27 April. See the best players in the world compete against one another in Belgian stage of the world Padel championship.

For all the music aficionados in our city, a unique selection of festivals, concerts and parties all around Brussels & Belgium is waiting for you in our April music agenda