02 February 2026
Do you enjoy contemporary dance? Then you really must come to Brussels. For if there is one city that attracts dancers and choreographers from all over the world, then it is our capital. Discover this playground for contemporary creation. Brussels celebrates dance and performance in all its forms! Are you not sure where to start? These ten hotspots will put you on the right track!
Sitting on the banks of Brussels’ canal, the Kaaitheater is a firm favourite among lovers of contemporary dance. Since the eighties it has been the beating heart for experimental performance arts. Its laboratory is a showcase for national and international avant-garde artists. They address themes such as ecology and feminism and do not shy away from tackling other thorny social issues. If you prefer smaller productions, you can go to the nearby Kaai Studios, located a few streets away, in a former gueuze brewery. (NB: Undergoing renovation until 2025, the Kaai offers a touring programme in other Brussels theatres, more information on the theatre's website).
Square Sainctelette 20 Sainctelettesquare and Rue Notre Dame du Sommeil 81 Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Van Vaakstraat, 1000 Brussels
Les Brigittines is a leading contemporary art centre of the City of Brussels, and is housed in a recently modernised 17th-century chapel. This lively and genial spot focuses on meetings around new forms of performance art. Les Brigittines’ preference for dance is something you notice throughout the year, thanks to numerous creations and experimentations by performance artists. Les Brigittines has earned its baseline Playhouse for Movement.
Place de la Chapelle 5 Kapelleplein, 1000 Brussels
KVS stands for ‘Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg’ [Royal Flemish Theatre]. Initially the programming concentrated largely on classic theatre repertoire, which reflected the neo-renaissance style of the stunning facade. In recent years, the KVS has emerged as a bustling contemporary art centre, in the true spirit of Brussels. The focus is on contemporary forms of expression, inclusion and connection. The KVC embraces the city in all its plurality and aims to provide an unadorned reflection of the inter-cultural society.
Quai aux Pierres de Taille 7 Arduinkaai, 1000 Brussels
Old Molenbeek is sometimes called ‘Little Manchester’ because of its similarity to the English industrial stronghold of the 19th century. One of the relics from that period is Gräffe, the former sugar refinery, with its brick walls and iron frame. In 1979, the building was redesignated for cultural use. After renovation works, the Brussels department of Charleroi danse, the choreography centre of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation moved in, resulting in numerous artist residences and dance performances.
Rue de Manchester 21 Manchesterstraat, 1080 Brussels
Next to the Bourse (Stock Exchange) you’ll find the ‘Beursschouwburg’ (Stock Exchange Theatre). A multi-disciplinary gem, the Beursschouwburg offers innovative, trendy and non-conformist programming that appeals to young designers. If you are there, you should certainly climb the 107 steps to the roof terrace. The view is really worth the effort.
Rue Auguste Orts 20/28 Auguste Ortsstraat, 1000 Brussels
This theatre - Le Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles to give it its full name - stems from 1945. Since then, it has assumed a permanent place in the cultural landscape of Brussels. Three wonderful halls with excellent acoustics have been welcoming art lovers for years. But curious newcomers, eager to take their first steps in the world of performance arts, also find their way here. The extremely diverse programming offers something for everyone.
Bd Emile Jacqmain 111/115 Emile Jacqmainlaan, 1000 Brussels
The ‘Halles de Schaerbeek’ sit in the shadow of the Byzantine-Romanesque Saint Mary’s Church. Since 1991, the former covered market, constructed with glass and steel, has served as European cultural centre: it’s a beautiful example of a successful transformation of an industrial complex. Its identity has been developed over the last decade, with a conscious decision to focus on contemporary circus, dance and performance.
Rue Royale-Sainte-Marie 22a Koninklijke Mariastraat, 1030 Brussels
Le Théâtre La Balsamine swears by its conviction that art must be accessible to as large an audience as possible. Their motto, Art for Art’s Sake. sums up its vision of the scene: bold and uncompromising. The programme advocates curiosity, discovery and new artistic forms. La Balsamine challenges the codes, navigating through passionately troubled waters, somewhere between performance, installation and theatre. Artists are encouraged to question their style, values and the context in which they work, to better reinvent their relationship to the world.
Avenue Félix Marchal 1 Félix Marchallaan, 1030 Brussels
With its name that makes you want to get up and move your body, UP Circus & Performing Arts has taken over a huge site in the heart of Molenbeek, with incredible outdoor spaces including a giant tent and equally impressive indoor facilities. Physical training rooms, a documentation centre, a small restaurant area and even a second-hand store disguised as a "costume library", this venue has 6,000m² of spaces that are open to all possibilities give a real boost to the contemporary circus.
Rue Osseghem 50 Ossegemstraat - 1080 Brussels
As a future cultural flagship, KANAL sees itself as a site for culture and exchange that's open to all. In addition to building up a collection of cutting-edge contemporary art, this Brussels institution also promotes the living arts. Throughout the year, sound and immersive performances, choreographic works and other contemporary pieces exemplify the KANAL spirit.
Sq. Sainctelette 21 – 1000 Brussels
