Folklorissimo and the knights of Forest: the most joyful weekend of the season

Brussels refused to choose. This weekend the capital does both: Brussels folk heritage on the most beautiful square in the world, and a full medieval village in the gardens of an abbey. On 19 and 20 September 2026, everything is free.

Folklorissimo: the Grand-Place throws a party

For two days the Grand-Place, the City Hall, the Fashion & Lace Museum and Manneken-Pis host Folklorissimo, the festival of Brussels folklore organised by the City of Brussels. Brotherhoods, brass bands, crossbowmen and a barrel organ bring popular heritage back into the street.

This year’s addition is a lovely one: Folklorissimo opens up to the Latin American cultures living in Brussels, with Mexican, Colombian, Bolivian, Brazilian, Peruvian and Argentine groups.

Saturday 19 September — Grand-Place

• 11:00 Folklorissimo parade
• 12:00 Barrel organ · 12:30 Origenes Mexican Folklore Community
• 13:30 Folklorissimo Sings · 14:15 Waiters’ race
• 15:00 Meyboom brass band and giants with their Poepedroegers
• 16:15 Las Chaluperras · 17:00 Centro Cultural Sartañani Bolivia
• 18:00 Giants of the Bruegel and Marolles district + the giant Alma

At the City Hall, the video installation Baile runs from 12:00 to 19:00, and from 15:00 to 19:00 the crossbowmen give a shooting demonstration.

Sunday 20 September — Grand-Place

• 12:00 Great communal table and barrel organ
• 12:30 Baque de Chuva · 13:15 Centro Asturiano de Bruselas
• 14:00 Giants of the Bruegel and Marolles district
• 15:30 Kapuli vzw · 16:30 Utopiebeek (Zinneke)
• 17:30 Chacarereando · 18:30 Meyboom brass band and giants

Both days the Fashion & Lace Museum offers guided tours in costume (FR at 10:00 and 13:00, EN at 15:00) and a bobbin lace workshop from 14:00 to 17:00.

Forest: 27th edition, and the knights are back

In Forest, the Medieval Days return after a year off for their 27th edition, run by the non-profit Pedagogia, in the gardens of Forest Abbey (place Saint-Denis, 1190 Forest). Free entry here too.

• Friday 18/09, 17:00 → 23:00: medieval market opens, Chansons et Dragons roaming musicians, period games, Electroll in concert at 20:30.
• Saturday 19/09, 10:00 → 23:00: official opening at 11:00 with a parade and riders; Belgian medieval fencing federation tournament, horseback jousting, fights, cannon fire, forge and children’s workshops; Popolino at 14:00, La Roue des contes at 17:00, Skayrich at 20:45.
• Sunday 20/09, from 10:00: roaming performers from 10:30, afternoon concerts, closing announced around 18:00.

Encampments, craftspeople in period dress — potters, weavers, armourers, coppersmiths, jewellers — and a fully medieval table: fruit wines, hypocras, cervoise, cider and almond milk.

Insider tip: on Sunday the city is yours

Sunday 20 September is also Car Free Sunday: from 9.30 to 19.00 the whole Brussels Region belongs to pedestrians and cyclists, and public transport is free all day. Grand-Place in the morning, Forest Abbey in the afternoon, by bike.

The same weekend also brings Heritage Days and the Comic Strip Festival at the Bourse.

🔗 Sources & verifiable links

• Folklorissimo 2026 — City of Brussels: https://www.brussels.be/folklorissimo
• Forest Medieval Days, 27th edition — Municipality of Forest: http://forest.brussels/fr/agenda/festival/2026/fetes-medievales-de-forest-27e-edition
• visit.brussels: https://www.visit.brussels/fr/visiteurs/agenda/event-detail.Fetes-Medievales-de-Forest-27e-edition.5700024730
• Car Free Sunday, 20 September 2026 — City of Brussels: https://www.bruxelles.be/dimanche-sans-voiture