Summer is getting closer and that doesn’t only mean that the weather is getting nicer. It also means that the festival season has begun. And you are lucky because Belgium has some of the biggest (and greatest) festivals in the world. Every year, these festivals attract not only people from over the world but also some very well known artists.
Are you feeling like taking the plunge and choosing a festival that really suits you? Then don’t look any further because we made a list of 12 Belgian festivals you should know about when living in Belgium.
The biggest Belgium has got to offer:
- Rock Werchter
This is one of the biggest festivals in Belgium. Every year, Rock Werchter knows how to create a very good line-up. Not only the artists that visit this festival are great, also the terrain itself is perfect for the ultimate festival experience: relaxing, enjoying some great music and meeting new people.
Practical information:
Line-up: Gorillaz, Marshmello, Queens of the Stone Age, The Killers, Pearl Jam, Arctic Monkeys, Post Malone and more.
Date: the 5th of July until the 8th of July
Location: Werchter
Family friendly: no
Tickets: https://www.rockwerchter.be/nl/ticket-info
- Tomorrowland
If you’re talking about the most well known festival in Belgium, then you’re probably talking about Tomorrowland. This festival is known over the entire world and getting tickets for it is quite challenging. It has a fairy tale feeling, even if you get your tickets. The last few years, you get a small treasure chest delivered at home with your festival wristband in it.
The festival itself is 2 weekends this year and has 15 stages that look beautiful with a hint of magic.
Practical information:
Line-up: Martin Garrix, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Afrojack, Armin van Buuren, David Guetta and more.
Date: the 20th of July until the 22th of July + the 27th of July until the 29th of July
Location: Boom
Family friendly: no
Tickets: not available anymore but you can try to get one at ticketswap or any other second hand webshops.
- Pukkelpop
This festival puts a lot of effort and time in their line-up, which gives some nice headliners. Pukkelpop also has quite a bit of activities on the terrain. It has a fun and young appearance. The many different stages and dance halls offer a variety of music genre, so it’s almost impossible not to find your music taste somewhere. Pukkelpop generally attracts a young audience.
Practical information:
Line-up: Kendrick Lamar, N.E.R.D, Arcade Fire, The War On Drugs, Dua Lipa, Imagine Dragons, Oscar & The Wolf and more.
Date: 15th of August until the 18th of August
Location: Kiewit, Hasselt
Family friendly?: no
Tickets: https://www.pukkelpop.be/nl/tickets/
- Graspop
If you are a fan of metal and rock then Graspop is definitely the festival for you! You won’t leave without hearing some heavy guitar solos and screaming. A lot of the biggest artists in the world have performed here.
If you’re thinking of going, then get ready for a jovial ambiance because this festival is in the “Kempen”.
Practical information:
Line-up: Guns N’ Roses, Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, Vixen, Rise Against and more.
Date: 21st of June until the 24th of June
Location: Dessel
Family friendly: no
Tickets: https://www.graspop.be/nl/tickets/
- Dour Festival
This festival is for the people who love alternative/ underground artists. Dour is known for the nice selection of artists during the day and night program. If you’re a fan of hip hop, dj’s and rock then this is something for you.
Photo by Wallonight
Practical information:
Line-up: Mura Masa, Alt-J, Tyler the Creator, Diplo, Klanken, The Chemical Brothers, Beth Ditto and more.
Date: the 11th of July until the 15th of July
Location: Dour
Family friendly: no
Tickets: http://www.dourfestival.eu/nl/tickets/
- TW Classic
If you’re not feeling like going to a festival for a few days then this one might be your cup of tea. TW Classic is only one day. The fact that it’s on day doesn’t mean that the line-up is less good. You get great headliners with a head act. It’s the little sister of Rock Werchter so you find some similarities. And you can also eat some “stoofvlees with fries”, a traditional Belgian dish.
Photo by Festileaks
Practical Information:
Line-up: Guns N’ Roses, Editors, The Pretenders, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and more.
Date: 24th of June
Location: Werchter
Family friendly: yes
Tickets: https://www.twclassic.be/nl/info/tickets
- Laundry Day
Last year, Laundry Day changed completely. They wanted a new look and feel and changed the stages and the selection of the artists. In the middle of the terrain, you find a star shaped structure with a stage in every corner. These corners all have different kinds of music. This star is surrounded by food stands and woods where you can catch your breath before going back into the crowd.
Photo by Event-Tickets Practical information:
Line-up: Jeff Mills, De Jeugd Van Tegenwoordig, Faisal, Murdock, Soul Shakers, Angelo King and more.
Date: the 1st of September
Location Antwerp
Family friendly: no
Tickets: https://www.laundryday.be/tickets.html
Smaller festivals in Belgium:
- Couleur Café
This is an annual festival at the Atomium in Brussels. It’s definitely something for you if you love a multicultural music and ambience. The line-up is a mixture of big international artists and less known musicians. The festival is 3 days, filled with different kinds of music, good food from all over the world and nice people. A nice bonus you’ll get when booking a tickets is the free acces to public transportation from and to Brussels city center. So if you have some time in between acts, why not plan a short visit to the city center of the Belgian capital?
Practical information:
Line-up: Damso, Angèle, Blackwave, Alia, D’Angelo, Coely, Calypso Rose, Stikstof and more.
Date: the 29th of June until the 1st of July
Location: Brussels
Family friendly: yes
Tickets: https://www.couleurcafe.be/nl/tickets/
- Suikerrock
Suikerrock takes place in Tienen which is a town in Belgium where our well known white sugar comes from. That’s why Suikerrock got its name, because “sugar” means “suiker” in Dutch. The festival has 3 stages and has around 100 000 visitors each year. Their line-up consists out of some international and Belgian artists.
Het Nieuwsblad
Practical information:
Line-up: Pitbull, Lost Frequencies, Alanis Morissette, Lil Kleine, Anouk, The Goo Goo Dolls and more.
Date: the 27th of July until the 29th of July
Location: Tienen
Family friendly: yes
Tickets: https://www.suikerrock.be/tickets
- Lokerse Feesten
This will be the 44th edition of the festival. It’s known to be Europe’s biggest family event. It takes place for 10 days and attracts all kinds of music. Here, you can also find food from over the entire world, expositions and workshops.
Practical information:
Line-up: Simple Minds, Dropkick Murphy, Arsenal, Clouseau, Bad Religion, Chase & Status and more.
Date: the 3th of August until the 12th of August
Location: Lokeren
Family friendly
Tickets: https://lokersefeesten.tickoweb.be/?language=nl
- Les Ardentes
Do you love hip hop, sick beats and a great ambiance? Don’t look any further because Les Ardentes will be your kind of festival. It’s known to host amazing artists and shows. Also great if you want to get to know new talent because each year there are unknown artists in the line-up.
Practical information:
Line-up: Wiz Khalifa, Lil Pump, Orelsan, MC Solaar, 6Lack, Le Motel, Skepta, Massive Attack and more.
Date: the 5th of July until the 8th of July
Location: Liège
Family friendly: no
Tickets: http://www.lesardentes.be/festival/nl/tickets
- Cactusfestival
A three day festival between the trees of Minnewaterpark in the South of Bruges. It started in 1982 in a bar and grew out to be a nice festival. Choose this one if you love alternative music, international and Belgian. Cactusfestival is a great festival for families: it’s small, cosy and child friendly.
Photo by Het Nieuwsblad
Practical information:
Line-up: Triggerfinger, Lamb, Emili Sandé, Arsenal, Intergalactic Lovers, Sampha, Suuns and more.
Date: the 13th of July until the 15th of July
Location: Bruges
Family friendly: yes
Tickets: http://cactusfestival.be/2018/tickets_en.asp
Are you ready for the festival season and looking for some inspiration? Then check out our Pinterest!
Learn more about the Belgian culture with our blogpost about 12 movies you must see when learning Dutch.