For its 35th edition, Couleur Café reiterates its message about “caring for both each other and the environment” as it stages three days of alternative music, from reggae, soul and hip hop to Latino, electronic and world music. Despite the searing temperatures, this is a festival with a chill atmosphere and lots of fun additional activities in its park setting at the foot of the Atomium. Organisers are taking extra precautions to stop people overheating by providing extra water points and atomisers. Note: tickets now
only available for Sunday. 26-28 June, Osseghem Park (Laeken) Sit back, relax and catch an open-air movie thanks to Bruxelles fait son cinema. Bringing films to larger audiences in neighbourhoods often deserted by movie theatres, it offers free screenings of quality films with a Mediterranean flavour in all 19 municipalities of the city. The 26th edition kicks off on Friday evening with El maestro que prometio el mar by Patricia Font in Meudon Park in Neder-over-Heembeek. On Saturday it moves to Evere, Sunday to Saint-Josse.
Screenings start at the onset of darkness, around 22.10. 27 June to 15 July, from 21.00, 15 locations around the city Brussels is the location for the Various Voices Festival, the musical bonanza for LGBTQI+ choirs in Europe that is staged in a different location every four years. Some 120 choirs from 18 countries offer a feast of concerts at Bozar, City Hall, Vaux Hall and Cirque Royal, among a host of venues. Among the gathering of small and large ensembles, gay, feminist and pop
choirs, are three Brussels queer choirs. Tickets are available for the full festival or individual concerts. The festival hub can be found at Auditorium 490 in Place du Musée. Until 28 June, multiple locations Summer classical music highlight Midis-Minimes returns for its weekly serving of short lunchtime concerts at affordable prices. The programme for the 40th edition kicks off at Cercle Royal Gaulois with an opening concert by the Scherzi Musicali ensemble (pictured) directed by baritone and harpsichordist Nicolas Achten. Concerts are also performed at
the Notre-Dame des Victoires church in the Sablon and Bozar. In additional to its accessibility, the big appeal of this charming festival is the variety of musical sounds and influences in its programme. 1 July to 28 August 12.15, Eglise Notre-Dame des Victoires au Sablon, Cercle Royal Gaulois, Bozar The Horta Museum’s new exhibition Art Nouveau versus Art Deco? 1850–1950: A Century in 31 Seats highlights how designers were connected across generations and style movements during this key period. The chair is both an everyday
object and an iconic piece of furniture and some 30 outstanding examples by leading designers, from Victor Horta and Henry van de Velde to Le Corbusier, Marcel Breuer and Charles Rennie Mackintosh, offer a rare insight into a century of transformation in design and architecture. Until 10 January, Rue Américaine 27 (Ixelles) 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 Head to the Kanal District for the second edition of the open-air event Quai d’Été. The City of Brussels initiative is aimed at offering city dwellers a summer
staycation with an urban oasis vibe. All of the quayside activities are free and focused on sports and relaxation, except for The Boat, a floating dancefloor with space for 150 partygoers that sets sail twice a day (three times on Saturday) with DJs on board. 2-19 July, Quai des Peniches 10 (under the Suzan Daniel bridge) Villa Empain’s project space hosts an exhibition that highlights the ongoing heritage destruction in Syria. Shape of absence centres on Hrair Sarkissian’s monumental installation Stolen Past, presented in dialogue
with ICONEM’s immersive images of the site of Palmyra (pictured above). Together, they offer a poignant reflection on disappearance, memory and resilience. Until 24 January, Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 67 (Ixelles) WIELS’ contemporary art centre’s new exhibition Call me gravity is a thematic group show that explores the concept of debt from various angles. It draws attention to what is invisible, what eludes measurement and what is neither accounted for nor recognised. Six artists investigate debt primarily through sculptural forms embedded in the building’s post-industrial architecture.
Until, Avenue Van Volxem 354 (Forest) OUTSIDE BRUSSELS Immerse yourself in the action of the history-changing 1815 Battle of Waterloo this weekend. For the first time, the entire Hougoumont farm serves as a backdrop for an immersive experience. Visitors will witness three key moments of the attack on the site: the assault on the North Gate, the fighting in the gardens and the fierce defence of the farm walls. Spectators can freely move around to follow in real time the progression of this decisive episode
of the battle. Plus military camps, bivouacs, a civilian village and period demonstrations. 27-28 June, Memorial centre, Lion’s Mound, Hougoumont Farm, Braine l’Alleud (Walloon Brabant) Antwerp’s annual summer entertainment programme Zomer van Antwerpen is already underway with parks and urban open spaces serving as venues for street theatre, circus acts and open-air cinema. The multidisciplinary arts festival also offers daily parties at the port city’s biggest graffiti space where you can drink cocktails under trees and catch some summer sounds at the Zomerbar (Minkelersstraat). Some
things require a ticket, but most of it is free of charge. Until 30 August, across Antwerp The fifth edition of Ooidonck Art Festival offers a delightful summer programme of open-air contemporary art, nature and gastronomy. Providing an immersive experience, the artworks are integrated into the landscape to invite visitors to slow down, observe and reflect. More than 150 pieces by 34 artists are on display in the heritage site of Goedt te Réables, near Ooidonk Castle, including its meadows and green spaces. Pictured: installation
by Nicolas Alquin. Until 31 August, Ooidonkdreef 5, Deinze (East Flanders) The 63rd edition of the Festival Musical de Namur shares the Festivals de Wallonie theme of inviting audiences on a musical journey in a rich programme of 15 concerts. Staged at Namur Concert Hall (Grand Manège) and the baroque Eglise Saint-Loup, the event debuts with Roma, a concert of Baroque music by the Cappella Mediterranea ensemble and Namur Chamber Choir under the direction of Leonardo García Alarcón (pictured). The travel theme continues with musical
journeys to Paris, Venice Lisbon, Bosnia-Herzegovina, England, Cameroon, Turkey, Iran and India. 26 June to 11 July, Namur Concert Hall (Rue Rogier) & Eglise Saint-Loup (Rue du Collège), Namur Mons’ iconic offbeat summer event Festival au Carré transforms the Hainaut capital into a colourful hub of creativity with concerts, dance, theatre, circus, screenings, talks and walks. The festival launches its 25th edition in the Jardin du Mayeur, off the main square, with La Fanfare Ephémère. The party then continues in Théâtre le Manège with Belgian
rock, courtesy of Girls in Hawaii. The eclectic programme also incudes a Mons street party, a spectacular fire show at the Grand Large and a circus show that is performed in an artistic tour of local slag heaps. 1-10 July, across Mons Discover more upcoming events at The Bulletin’s events page. Photos: (main image) courtesy Couleur Café; Bruxelles fait son cinéma La Cambre abbey; courtesy Various Voices Festival; Scherzi Musical ©Nicolas Achten; Horta Museum: View of the show ©Thomas Lancz; courtesy Ommegang; courtesy Quai d’été;
Villa Empain: ICONEM site of Palmyra; Battle of Waterloo, courtesy Walloon Brabant; courtesy Zomer Van Antwerpen; Ooidonk Arts Festival: installation by Nicolas Alquin ©Jeremi Vanderstichele/Hooked Visuals; Leonardo García Alarcón, courtesy Festival de Musique de Namur; courtesy Festival au Carré, Mons
Couleur Café, Bruxelles fait son cinéma, Various Voices Festival, LGBTQI+ choirs, Midis-Minimes, Ommegang, Quai d’Été, Villa Empain, Horta Museum, Brussels Renaissance Festival, Brussels events