Best of Brussels in May 2026.

Hello 👋 and welcome to our new edition, full of spring inspirations. We are excited that Brussels’ park cafés are back! Iconic guinguettes have officially reopened and this year they’re celebrating 10 years – expect sunny terraces, local flavours and a full programme of community-driven activities.

Our favourites? Émile in Parc Duden (Forest), Henri (opens on 10 May) in park Georges Henri (Woluwe-Saint-Lambert), and the popular Maurice in the Cinquantenaire park.

Busiest day of the month is surely 9 May. On Saturday, Europe Day celebrations take place in the European Quarter of Brussels. As every year, this is a special opportunity to visit the European Parliament and other EU institutions which open their doors to public for a full day of activities. You can discover the Hemicycle, participate in guided tours, meet experts, and take part in educational and fun activities from 10h to 18h. For Brussels residents, especially those who have never been inside despite living next door, this is a genuinely great chance to visit and learn more. Combine it with the Iris Festival celebrations, the Moomin Parade on Ambiorix Square and this easily becomes one of the most characterful days on the Brussels calendar.

Fresh on our website:

Last month we explored the newest store openings in the city and our latest Brussels Retail Edit by Elisa Servais showcases the new trend of hybrid spaces with mixed offerings such as food, fashion and even tattoo parlours. Paris dazzles, London hustles, and Madrid shines with its sun-soaked plazas. And then there’s Brussels. Continue reading Martina Cilia’s observations in City vibes: Not just waffles and EU drama 🙂

Top tips for the coming weeks:

Iris Festival on 9 May. Brussels celebrates its regional holiday and the blooming of its emblematic flower with a festive programme centred on Place des Palais. The Iris Tipik Electro Night takes over the square from 19h with Lauravioli, Philou, Henri PFR and MEDUZA. The Brussels Parliament also opens on 10 May for its annual open day.

Moomin Paradeon 9 May. The EU Quarter gets an unexpected and entirely charming visitors: the Moomins! The day celebrates the Finnish characters created by Tove Jansson over 80 years ago, still beloved worldwide. This free, family-friendly and joyful programme runs from 10h to 18h, with many fun activities. The highlight: from 14h, a parade of Moomin characters along Rue Archimède from Ambiorix Square to the Schuman roundabout.

Les Nuits Botanique return for their 33rd edition from 14 to 31 May. The programme spans 17 nights across three stages at Le Botanique, moving from electronic and club music to post-punk, hip-hop, jazz, chanson and experimental sounds.

Zinneke Parade. Taking place every two years, one of Brussels’ most popular (and surreal) events returns for its 14th edition on 30 May. This year’s theme is Dream. Over 1,500 participants from community groups, schools and associations across all 19 communes have spent months building their Zinnodes: costumes, floats, music and choreography – all handmade. The result is a moving canvas of collective imagination through the historic centre.

Lotto Brussels Jazz Weekend. At the end of the month, the city will be taken over by jazz on every corner. Swing, bebop, and fusion beats will fill the air, turning iconic spots like the Grand Place, Place Sainte-Catherine, and Place de la Bourse into lively open-air concert venues. You know where to find us on 22, 23 & 24 May. 🙂

A literary date to keep in mind: On 25 May, American novelist Jess Walter comes to Passa Porta to talk about his new book So Far Gone. This is a sharp and darkly funny satire on a deeply divided American society, which Netflix is set to adapt into a series.

Territoires intérieurs at Musée & Jardins van Buuren, from 22 May to 27 September. A poetic dialogue between two major figures of 20th-century Belgian art, Gustave van de Woestyne and Anto Carte – both sharing a deeply interiorised vision of the human condition, spirituality and the rural world.

A milestone for Brussels Pride on 16 May – it’s the 30th anniversary this year! The theme chosen for 2026 is When Times Get Darker, We Shine Brighter. Up to 200,000 people are expected in the city centre, with the Pride Village at the Mont des Arts opening at noon and the Pride March departing at 14h. From 2 May, 180 rainbow flags have lined the parade route, with the Bourse fully illuminated, and a light projection on La Monnaie’s façade for the first time.

Culture tip: As part of Pride Week in Brussels, La Monnaie opera house is hosting the Drag Queen Opera Quiz on 13 May. It’s a fun and unexpected mix of opera, drag and quiz night.

Did you know? In 2024, Brussels Pride was added to the intangible cultural heritage list of the Brussels-Capital Region, only the second Pride in the world to receive such institutional recognition.

City Vibe: News that caught our attention lately

Perched high above the city centre, Rooftop 58 has reopened for the summer season, bringing back its laid-back guinguette atmosphere with one of the best panoramic views in the capital. From May through October, the iconic rooftop transforms its 3,000m² terrace into a lively open-air gathering spot filled with sunset DJ sets, cocktails and relaxed summer evenings. Welcoming up to 450 guests, the venue proudly claims the title of Europe’s largest rooftop.

Belgium is relaxing shop closing-time rules, allowing stores to stay open until 9pm. More here.

The popular Brussels toy store The Grasshopper, beloved for its charming façade just steps from the Grand Place, is celebrating its 33rd anniversary.

More May tips:

At Bozar,Lea Desandre performs a gala concert with the Belgian National Orchestra on 13 May – one of the season’s highlights. And on 16 May, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam takes the Bozar stage in what will be one of the great orchestral evenings of the year.

For more music events, check our May music agenda with top tips for concerts, festivals and open-air parties around Brussels and Belgium.

House of Vibes at Talk C.E.C invites you to their very last event (9 & 10 May) at the stunning Demeuldre factory in Ixelles. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy this exceptional location, since it was announced that the building is on sale. Join a 2-day musical and artistic journey, where 100% vinyl DJs and local and international visual artists come together, featuring different styles, a group exhibition, listening sessions and talks in an immersive atmosphere.

Jeppe Hein: Reflections on Breathing at Vanhaerents Art Collection. The Danish artist’s first major Brussels exhibition brings together three iconic works: Breathe With Me, Modified Social Benches and Rotating Mirrors – an immersive encounter with mindfulness, connection and collective presence. The Vanhaerents warehouse in the city centre is one of Brussels’ finest private collection spaces. Open Saturdays (including 23 May for Brussels Jazz Weekend).

Back to Pompeii exhibition at Tour & Taxis – Plunge back in time to Pompeii, the ancient city that was frozen in time by the Vesuvius. Experience the daily life of a Pompeian family in immersive settings of exceptional quality and explore reconstructed Roman homes, artisan workshops and entertainment venues. Get inspired with our insta video tour!

Closing soon:

Bozar: Bellezza e Bruttezza (Beauty and Ugliness) continues through 14 June – 90 masterworks from the Italian Renaissance, including pieces by Botticelli, da Vinci, Titian and Tintoretto, several on display in Belgium for the first time. The exhibition is at its best in quieter midweek hours.

je suis là — Espace Vanderborght, until 31 May. Presented by ULB Culture, this exhibition explores the many faces of self-representation, from self-portrait to selfie, through a rich mix of arts, science and interactive installations. The show is followed with a lively program of workshops and participatory events.

Ideas for group activities:
May and June are among the finest months for outdoor group activities in Brussels. Explore the city with our guided walk through iconic neighbourhoods, paired with tastings from renowned Belgian artisanal chocolatiers – a perfect introduction to Brussels for colleagues, visitors or a memorable friends & family outing. Or challenge your group with our Marolles & Sablon Linea Recta city game: a strategic discovery experience that combines curiosity, teamwork and the pleasure of exploring the city on foot.

EU Quarter tips:

The House of European History just opened its newest expo: Postcolonial? The exhibition features unique artworks, historical objects and personal stories, leading the visitors throughout the much-needed European reckoning with colonialism. Entrance is free.

The Tuesday Concerts at the European Parliament’s Info Hub continue through May – join a free relaxing musical lunch break in the busy neighbourhood. Free access, no booking needed.

EP Art Collection guided tour on 27 May. A rare opportunity to access the Parliament’s collection, which spans decades of European contemporary art.

The House of European History Tuesday Lunch Tour on 19 May – a wonderful midweek ritual and a chance to get immersed in iconic European stories. Free access, 45 mins tour, no booking required. Start at the Family Kiosk at 12:15.

Reminder: On 9 May – Europe Day and the EU institutions open their doors in Brussels. It’s one of the few days when the inner workings of these buildings, their architecture, art collections and staff, are genuinely accessible to visitors. Free, family-friendly, and surprisingly worth doing even for long-term Brussels residents.

Various community & neighbourhood updates: 
Full Circle hosts an event Essentials in the Age of AI on 30 May. There is also an open day on 30 May if you’re curious to learn more about their activities.

The Art Society Brussels has a new lecture on 13 May, focusing on Berthe Morisot, a central figure in the Impressionist movement that revolutionized modern art. Event starts at 20h (welcome at 19:30) at Woluwe-St-lambert town hall (metro Tomberg).

Latest at The Nine club in the EU Quarter: May events.

Attend the free conference ‘Why are people afraid of flying?’ at FlyLounge on 29 May. What to expect: a psychologist and aviation expert explaining the fear of flying, followed by a Flying Apéro.

Also happening:

• Family Day 2026 at Coudenberg Palace on 17 May. A day of surprises in the remains of Charles V’s palace. Get lost underground, immerse in Brussels’ prestigious Renaissance past and meet the characters from the Brussels Ommegang (its flag-bearers, ladies and gentlemen of the Court of Charles V).
• New expo: Designing Childhood – a history of design for children, at the Design Museum Brussels.
• Val Saint-Lambert & Design at Design Museum Brussels. The rich creative history of Belgium’s legendary crystal glassworks, with particular focus on the dialogue between craft and design from Expo 58 through the early 2000s.
• BELDAVIA – Votre nouvelle terre d’acceuil (your new host country) is an interactive and committed exhibition-action at La Fonderie – Brussels Museum of Industry and Labour. Learn more about this place in our article Small Museums, Big Stories. Until 28 June.
• Burning the Days at WIELS Museum. An exhibition dedicated to the incisive and enigmatic work of Lutz Bacher, a key figure in American conceptual art. Through photographs, appropriations, and plays on identity, the show questions the mechanisms of power, gender, and representation that permeate contemporary visual culture, engaging in dialogue with the museum’s industrial space. Until August.
• The Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences invites you to take flight and discover how animals and humans are able to soar through the skies. An exhibition that explores both nature and technology, FLIGHT presents a magnificent array of fossils, stuffed birds and model aeroplanes. Recommended for visitors aged 10 and above. Until 9 August.
• The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium presents Spilliaert Room, a new room dedicated to the poetic and mysterious world of the Belgian painter, illustrator and draughtsman Léon Spilliaert.

That’s all for this edition – we pull together the most interesting local events, mixed with inspiring stories & tips so you can make the most of Brussels!