Brussels concert life: simply the best
06 March 2023
© Koninklijk Circus - Cirque Royal
A life without music? Unthinkable, at least for most of us. Thankfully, in Brussels the music never stops. You can attend a whole range of concerts every day in the most diverse of genres.
Head to the bottom of the page to know all about upcoming concerts! After all, you want to know who will be appearing on stage next, don’t you?
But before you check it out, have a look at the go-to hotspots we’ve selected for an unforgettable concert evening. Music, maestro!
© iStock
For music lovers in general
The words 'concert hall' and 'Brussels' immediately bring to mind Ancienne Belgique, known as AB for short. This legendary temple of music in the heart of Brussels is a major player on the international scene. For years it has also been the go-to venue for occasional and seasoned concertgoers alike. AB is known far and wide for its excellent acoustics, service provision and programming. No musical trend goes unnoticed here.
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Ancienne Belgique © Karel Uyttendaele
Botanique is also an integral part of the Belgian concert scene. In 1984 this cultural centre took up residence in the former greenhouses of the beautiful Botanical Gardens. With an average of three hundred concerts and ten exhibitions a year, there is always something going on. And here too the programme features lots of up-and-coming talents who will soon be hitting up the festival scene. Les Nuits is always a hit. This annual music festival perfectly captures what Botanique stands for. Botanique has recently launched an autumn version of the festival, Les Nuits Weekender, to take the music scene a little further afield!
© Kmeron/Vincent Philbert
Cirque Royal and La Madeleine are event venues that also regularly welcome musical guests. They are within walking distance of Brussels’ Central Station, near the Royal district. In addition to circus and stand-up comedy, the programme also features big names of French pop and rap, international singer-songwriters and other celebrities.
Concert halls may burst at the seams when successful bands suddenly become larger than life. Fortunately, Brussels has some massive venues that are perfectly equipped to handle mega-productions. The best examples? Forest National in Forest and ING Arena (former Hall 12 of Brussels Expo) on the Heysel Plateau. You’ll have to share the floor with thousands of other music fans, but hey, the more, the merrier, right?
For those in search for something else
Are you into smaller concert venues with a strong identity? Love incubators that are up for challenge and happily experiment? The concert halls listed here are averse to any interference and offer a platform to innovative music artists who often appeal to a niche audience. They are all intimate venues where the synergy between musicians and the audience takes centre stage. Ready for a unique experience? Here we go!
Check out the programme of Les Ateliers Claus. This arts centre in Saint-Gilles is the place to be for performances by experimental and daring bands with a quirky touch. Please note: All activities will cease by 1 April 2026.
Another must is Beursschouwburg, a multidisciplinary arts centre located in the historical heart of Brussels. Its programming steers away from monocultures, instead advocating diversity and cross-pollination. This also applies to Atelier 210 in Etterbeek, a multidisciplinary art spacethat gives a voice to those that have a story to tell but cannot find a suitable platform to share it.
VK Concerts has been a reference for alternative music fans for more than 25 years: it’s a temple of underground music. The concert hall is currently being renovated, but you can still enjoy concerts on the move.
Le BRASS cultural centre in Forest, is another such example. Located in the heart of the former Wielemans-Ceuppens brewery, BRASS organises, among other things, concerts and themed festivals throughout the year. Imbued with Brussels' signature diversity, BRASS supports the emerging artistic and cultural vitality of the city.
© Lara Herbinia
Magasin 4 has been a Mecca for fans of hardcore, metal, ska, experimental and crossover music since 1994. They will soon have to leave their current home, but no need to worry, a brand new venue is getting ready to welcome the underground soul of the myhtic M4. In the meantime, the programme continues on rue des Goujons in Anderlecht!
Volta recently moved into the LionCity temporary occupation buildings in Molenbeek. It's a place where resident musicians can experiment fully, enjoy brand new recording studios and share their passion with the public.
We could go on and on, but in order to avoid a bout of FOMO, we'll conclude with some words of praise for Recyclart, LaVallée and other creative occupations that also treat the audience to unforgettable performances.
For hip-hop lovers
If there's a scene that's been making quite a splash in recent years, it's definitely Brussels hip-hop. Rappers like Damso, Roméo Elvis, Caballero & JeanJass, Hamza, L’Or du Commun and Zwangere Guy are the stars of the local hip-hop scene. They give it their all in concert halls and at festivals far beyond our borders. Yet it's not easy to pin down the hip-hop hotspots of Brussels. Unless you're into nightlife, that is, because clubs like Bloody Louis, Mirano Brussels and Birdy Brussels are the new go-to places for hip-hop fans. They know exactly how to throw a party.
For bar and pub lovers
Cramming all of Brussels' music venues into a single article is impossible. The list of bars and pubs that programme live music is endless. Café Central, Café Beguin and KFK Hope are just a few of the venues to discover. Musicians from all walks of life meet weekly at jam sessions in pubs such as Café Bizon, Chaff, Crix, Sounds Resist or Brasserie de la Mule. Did you know that Brussels even has a semi-annual festival of pub concerts? Stoemp! is the ideal occasion to discover young musical talents in Brussels’ bubbling underbelly. Looking for more intimate venues and authentic café-theatres? Read our dedicated article.
© iStock
For lovers of classical music, of all genres
Classical music seems to have a love affair with architecture, because the concert halls in this list are all heritage gems that are worth a visit, for their architecture alone.
Is opera your thing? Then there’s one place to be, but what a place: the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie. In this static Neoclassical building on Place de la Monnaie you can indulge in world-class ballet, concertos and dance performances, as well as in addition to excellent opera productions.
© Simon Van Rompay
The prestigious Henry Le Boeuf Hall at Bozar is the first on our list. This Art Deco gem was designed by Victor Horta. For ninety years this hall has welcomed the crème de la crème of the music world in the best acoustic set-up.
Around the corner is the Musical Instruments Museum or MIM, housed in the dazzlingly beautiful Old England building, an Art Nouveau masterpiece. Here you can admire a wonderful collection of musical instruments and enjoy live concerts, during the Concerts de Midi for example.
On to Place Eugène Flagey. Here, your eyes are instantly drawn to the 1933 ship-like edifice by Art Deco architect Joseph Diongre. Welcome to the Flagey cultural centre, overlooking the ponds of Ixelles, which once housed the offices of the national broadcaster. Today, the various halls at Flagey host quality music concerts, especially (contemporary) classical and jazz music.
But there’s more! Classical music is flourishing in our capital. The Royal Conservatory offers a magnificent concert programme. Atelier Marcel Hastir also organises small-scale concerts that immerse you in a visual art bath.
In Brussels, prestigious festivals explore classical music in all its forms throughout the year. From early music (Festivita, in February) to the most contemporary variations (Ars Musica, in November) and everything in between. Attend the Piano Days, the KlaraFestival, Les Musicales de la Woluwe and the Queen Elisabeth Competition. Musiq'3, Midsummer Mozartiade, the Walden Festival, Midi-Minimes, Musicorum and Classissimo, accompany us during the summer months. Artonov in autumn and the Music Chapel Festival in December close the year in style. Not to mention numerous performances in churches and in the cathedral, like L’été de l’Orgue and le Festival d'orgue du Grand Béguinage, which will have organ music lovers in seventh heaven.
© Atelier Marcel Hastir
For lovers of world music
Does flamenco awaken the beast in you? Does your heart skip a beat when you hear ethnic rhythms and sounds that are not often played on the radio? Does fado give you goosebumps? Then Muziekpublique is a must. Or why not enjoy a musical trip around the world from the red velvet seats of the Theatre Molière at Porte de Namur?
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© Mathieu Golinvaux
Just opposite the Belgian Comic Strip Center you will find Art Base. This is where you can meet Frans, a passionate art lover who invites small ensembles from all over the world to play music surrounded by art paintings. It doesn't get any more intimate than that: you can almost touch the musicians.
© Michel Brébant
Le Senghor is also a must in this list. This is actually the cultural centre of the commune of Etterbeek, named after Senegalese poet Leopold Senghor. This centre very strongly believes in the connecting power of music, and programmes jazz and classical repertoires in addition to traditional music.
© Le Senghor
Not easy to label
Many venues cannot be pigeonholed. Bozar and Flagey also programme jazz and world music, just as Art Base and Atelier Marcel Hastir host both classical and traditional music. So does Le Baixu, at Tour & Taxis, with a passionate duo with a love of classical and Brazilian music at the helm. Fancy more? Check out the programming of Café Béguin, Motown Concerts, the Piano Fabriek, Sounds Resist, Crix Café, VK Concerts and Horloge du Sud!
All year-long you can attend festivals that explore every possible facet of traditional music, from flamenco (Bruselas Flamenco Festival, in March) to percussion (Percusounds, in August) via Balkan Trafik, Jam'in Jette and Cubalandz. Couleur Café traditionally kicks off the summer, followed by Hide & Seek and Fiesta Latina. Don't miss the Belgian World Music Night, an initiative promoting quality Belgian-based world music!
For jazz cats
Brussels is known the world over for its bubbly jazz scene. In addition to numerous jazz festivals that often take place outdoors, the genre is popular in the capital's cosy pubs and jazz clubs. Curious about jazz in the city?
