When To Visit Brussels – And Special Events Throughout The Year.
Brussels hosts a mild climate where summers do not get exceptionally hot and winters do not get exceptionally cold. December and January are the coldest months when temperatures can drop to just slightly above zero while June to August bring temperatures touching 20 degrees c.
Interestingly, rainfall is higher in the summer months than during winter, and unfortunately, always an imminent possibility in Brussels.
One of the best times to visit Brussels is during September when the number of tourists drops dramatically when compared to the peak summer months, but when the weather is still warm and pleasant.
However, if the special events below interest you, you may wish to co-incide your visit accordingly.
Summertime Events
May sees the Brussels Jazz Convention which is performed at various destinations throughout the city. You can also catch the Queen Elisabeth Competition and the Kunsten Festival des Arts which is a mix of opera, theatre and dance (in Flemish and Wallonian). Lovers of sport may be interested in the Brussels Half Marathon when thousands of runners swarm through the streets of Brussels.
June entertains the City of Brussels Summer Festival where a wide range of classical musicians gather to perform in some of the
city's most extravagant locations. Another opportunity to catch a music festival is provided in the last week of
June when the Fete de la Musique comes to town.
July offers a wide variety of events, kicking off with the opening of the Palais Royal, when the Royal residency is opened up to visitors for a couple of weeks. There are also an entertaining mix of cultural musical events including Festival de Midis Minimes and Coleur Café Festival. Carnival lovers will want to check out Foire de Midi which offers funfair type rides. The colourful Ommegang can be found in the Grand Place where countless people take on the role of clowns, jesters, soldiers and such. This is quite a sight and approximately 2,000 people are thought to participate every July. On the 21st is Belgian National Day – celebrated by a lavish fireworks display.
August sees the Tapis des Fleurs (a colourful flower exhibition) and the Plantation du Meiboom (a giant free for all puppet show) come to town.
Autumn, Winter, Spring…
September & October affords you the opportunity to check out the Lucky Town Festival & Les Nuits Botaniques (musical concerts) as well as the Audi Jazz Festival.
December is characterised by Marche de Noel. In this Christmas fair you’ll find various festive stalls.
January & February are renowned for the Fete des Rois and Brussels Film festival. Towards the end is the highly popular International Comic Strip And Cartoon Festival (you may remember the most famous Belgian comic strip hero – Tintin and his white dog
Snowy who went about solving various mysteries).
March/April – The Ars Musica festival is a celebration of contemporary music (March) while the Serres Royales is an elaborate and attractive flower show. You can also take in the International Fantasy Film Festival & Eurantica which is a grand antiques fair (typically towards the end of March).
April entertains the Sablon Baroque Spring where 17th century music is performed by some of the country’s finest young musicians. Keeping to the tune, Flanders Festival is an international music festival that specialises in classical music.
