Brussels Night Council

The Brussels Night Council (CBN) is the region's nightlife platform.

Nightlife is essential to the Brussels-Capital Region. It encompasses a wide range of cultural, economic, creative, social and festive activities that contribute to the city's appeal, vitality and diversity.

Clubs, bars, festivals, open-air events, cultural and creative spaces, collectives, hospitality venues, transport, care services, safety, public space... nightlife involves a broad diversity of actors and dynamics.

This plurality of actors and uses raises specific challenges that require coordinated, multi-disciplinary and context-sensitive governance to help create the right conditions for inclusive and balanced coexistence.

nightlife - clubbing - vie nocturne - fête

What we do

The Council works to deepen understanding of nightlife, facilitate dialogue between stakeholders and foster shared solutions, with the aim of building a coherent and inclusive governance framework.

Its members meet and work together to:

Produce surveys, studies, cartographies, ecosystem mapping, etc. and analyse data.
Facilitate dialogue between public administrations, operators, civil society organisations and the wider community.
Develop an action plan.
Inform and equip stakeholders (FAQs, toolkits, practical resources, etc.).
Initiate or support concrete actions in response to identified challenges.

The Brussels Night Council brings together a wide range of public, sectoral and community-based stakeholders involved in Brussels nightlife.

It relies on a core group composed of representatives from regional and municipal administrations, professional federations, security services, urban planning, culture and the night-time sector.

Depending on the issues discussed, additional actors are invited to join working groups to ensure a transversal, inclusive and grounded approach.

Areas of work

See the “Useful Documents” section for an overview of the Council’s work and available resources.
Its five key areas of work are:

1. Understanding nightlife.

The Council carries out ongoing analysis, observation and data collection through surveys, studies, mapping and reports.

2. Creating the conditions for a safer and more inclusive nightlife.

The Council supports initiatives aimed at improving safety, reducing risks and tackling violence and discrimination in nightlife spaces.

3. Better integrating nightlife into the fabric of urban life.

The Council works to ensure nightlife venues are better taken into account in urban planning, balancing cultural vibrancy and quality of life.

4. Supporting the cultural offer and the night-time sector.

The Council assists operators, collectives and artistic initiatives in their interactions with public authorities, promotes the diversity of festive practices and facilitates access to resources.

5. Harmonising nightlife management practices.

The Council develops tools for public and private stakeholders, shares good practices and promotes the exchange of knowledge.