From Tomorrowland to Fireworks: Your Brussels National Day Plan

Your Belgian National Day schedule at a glance

• Friday, July 17 — Tomorrowland W1, Day 1 in Boom 🎧
• Saturday, July 18 — Tomorrowland W1, Day 2 in Boom 🎧
• Sunday, July 19 — Tomorrowland W1, Climax and Finale in Boom 🔥
• Monday, July 20 — National Ball at Place du Jeu de Balle, Marolles 🎶
• Tuesday, July 21 — National Day: Parade, Village in the Park + fireworks at Cinquantenaire 🎆

➕ Bonus Wednesday, July 22 — Gasolina at C12, the Hottest Reggaeton Night 🌶️

🎡 Ongoing from July 18 to August 23 — Foire du Midi, the 146th edition on Boulevard du Midi 🍩

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July 18: The Midi Fair Brussels opens its doors

Belgium’s largest funfair returns to the Boulevard du Midi from Saturday, July 18 to Sunday, August 23, 2026. Official opening Saturday at 2 PM, with Jean-Luc Fonck as patron for this edition.

• Hours: every day 2 PM → midnight (11 AM for food stalls), 2 PM → 1 AM on weekends and eves of public holidays.
• Access: metro Gare du Midi, Anneessens, tram 51/82.
• Expected: over 1 million visitors over 5 weeks, hundreds of rides, ''croustillons'', shooting galleries, cotton candy, thrills, and XXL attractions.
• Official program: foiredumidi.brussels · brussels.be/midi-fair

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Why Brussels is the place to be in mid-July

A rare sequence of events: Tomorrowland kicking off in Boom, the National Ball in the Marolles, National Day on July 21 with its fireworks at Cinquantenaire, and — to end the summer in style — the Gasolina at C12 party on July 22, the official after-party of Bad Bunny’s concert.

Here’s the program, in order, so you don’t miss anything.

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July 17-19: Kicking off with Tomorrowland

The whole world is watching Boom, 30 minutes from Brussels. The 1st weekend of Tomorrowland transforms Belgium into the electronic music capital of the world: 400,000 festival-goers expected over two weekends, more than 15 stages, the legendary Mainstage, and artists from all 5 continents.

From Brussels:

• Direct SNCB trains reinforced to Boom (nearest station) and Antwerpen-Berchem.
• Official Global Journey shuttles from several European cities.
• After the festival, the night train Boom → Bruxelles-Midi runs until early morning.

Brussels vibrates in echo: rooftops, urban beaches, terraces in Sablon and along the canal fill with visiting festival-goers. Return planned Sunday evening — to be fresh for Monday. 😉

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July 20: Dance the night away at the National Ball

🎺 The official poster features two free events in the Marolles: the National Ball on 20.07 (concerts, popular dances, neighborhood atmosphere) and the National Restaurant on 21.07 (large convivial table at Place du Jeu de Balle, fries, mussels, Brussels specialties).

Back to Brussels for the July 20th institution. At the Place du Jeu de Balle, in Marolles, the National Ball brings together over 30,000 people in an electro-guinguette atmosphere: DJ sets, multiple stages, fries and beers, black-yellow-red flags as far as the eye can see.

• Free, from 8 PM until ~2 AM.
• Metro Louise, Porte de Hal, Anneessens.
• The entire neighborhood — Sablon, Rue Haute, Rue Blaes — is pedestrianized and vibrant.
• Official program: bruxelles.be/bal-national

It’s the largest free popular dance in the country. The must-attend event for Brussels residents before National Day.

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What to do in Brussels for Belgian National Day?

10 AM: The morning’s Te Deum ceremony

Ceremony in the presence of the Royal Family at the Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula. Open to the public — arrive 1 hour early.

1:30 PM: The Brussels National Day Parade

Place des Palais, in front of the Royal Palace. Parade of the Belgian Defence, emergency services, civilian units, associations. Aerial flyover by the Air Force (F-16s and, if scheduled, the Red Devils). Best spots: Rue Ducale and the upper lawn of Parc de Bruxelles.

From 2 PM: Free things to do in Parc de Bruxelles

The Parc de Bruxelles and Parc Royal become a huge family village: associative village, sports demonstrations, initiations, food trucks, free music stage. Official program: belgium.be.

10:30 PM: Where to watch the fireworks at Cinquantenaire Park

The highlight of July 21st. Since 2013, the national fireworks display has been launched from the Cinquantenaire Park. ~25 minutes of synchronized firing to music, with a monumental finale above the Cinquantenaire Arch illuminated in black, yellow, and red.

Top 5 spots to see the fireworks:

1. Central Esplanade of Cinquantenaire — the full experience (arrive before 9 PM).
2. Avenue de la Renaissance — frontal view of the arch.
3. Rooftop terrace of the Art & History Museum — if you know a guest.
4. Square Ambiorix / Marie-Louise — quieter, bouquet visible higher up.
5. Rooftops of the European quarter — Résidence Palace, hotels around Schuman.

STIB: metros Mérode and Schuman reinforced until 1 AM. Trams 7, 25, 27, 81. No cars — the area becomes pedestrianized from 6 PM.

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July 22: Visit the Royal Palace for free

A centenary tradition: from July 22nd and throughout the summer, the Royal Palace opens its doors for free. Throne Room, Hall of Mirrors, Empire Room, Beetle Room (Jan Fabre’s elytron ceiling — the palace’s most stunning piece). Free admission.

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The party continues: Gasolina at C12

A month later, we’re keeping the maximum energy. On Saturday, July 22, Gasolina takes over at C12 (Galerie Horta) as the official after-party for Bad Bunny’s concert in Brussels. 7 consecutive sold-outs, reggaeton-dembow-latin house from 11 PM. The hottest party in the capital.

🎟️ Tickets: Xceed ·

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Practical tips for enjoying the festivities

• Picnic + blanket + water on the 21st: it’s a long day.
• Bike/scooter: Villo! reinforced at the 3 poles (Palace / Cinquantenaire / Canal).
• Families: kids' village at Parc de Bruxelles, Rue de la Loi side, from 2 PM.
• PMR (People with Reduced Mobility): reserved stands for the parade and a dedicated area for the fireworks (registration via belgium.be).
• For Tomorrowland: SNCB round-trip train + Brussels accommodation remains more economical than a last-minute DreamVille.

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A celebration for everyone, open to all

Just one week. A global festival 30 min away. The country’s biggest popular ball. A free national holiday. Fireworks under an illuminated arch. And to top it all off, the city’s hottest Latin night. No VIPs, no mandatory tickets, no barriers — just Belgium vibrating. And Brussels at the center stage.

🔗 Sources & Verifiable Links

• Tomorrowland: https://www.tomorrowland.com/
• SNCB — Tomorrowland trains: https://www.belgiantrain.be/
• Official National Day Program: https://www.belgium.be/frfr
• National Ball — City of Brussels: https://www.bruxelles.be/bal-national
• Royal Palace (public opening): https://www.monarchie.be/fr
• Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula: https://www.cathedralisbruxellensis.be/
• Art & History Museum: https://artandhistory.museum/
• STIB: https://www.stib-mivb.be/
• Gasolina Brussels: https://www.gasolinabrussels.com
• Gasolina — Xceed: https://xceed.me/fr/brussels/event/gasolina-latino-boiler-club-reggaeton-party-1/224609