10 Belgian festivals to go to this summer

Summer in Belgium means two things. Desperately chasing the sun. And festivals. Some of the best in the world. Here’s our pick of 10 weekenders to book your tickets to.

Gent Jazz festival

When: 7th to 16th July

Line-up hotshots: Kamasi Washington, Sons of Kemet, Ibrahim Maalouf “Kalthoum”, Jill Scott, The Budos Band and De Beren Gieren.

Why we like it: For the festival’s mix-and-match magic: both heavyweights and little-known locals grace its stages.

Where it is: In the centre of Ghent.


P’tit Faystival

When: 9th July

Line-up hotshots: Wolf Mountains, YZ, Jinaka Takuto

Why we like it: It’s basically a town fair that somehow boasts a killer line-up.

Where it is: In Petit Fays, a small village not too far from Namur.



When: From 28th to 31st July

Line-up hotshots: Tourist le MC, The Van Jets and Marc Lanegan Band

Why we like it: It’s a collaboration between M Leuven and Het Depot, two forward-thinking contemporary art and music institutions respectively

Where it is: In the centre of Leuven


Micro Festival

When: 5th and 6th August

Line-up hotshots: The Ex, Goat, Jambinal, Marc Melia, Duane Serah.

Why we like it: The kind of festival where everyone knows your name.

Where it is: Bang in the centre of Liège.


Absolutely Free Festival

When: 5th and 6th August

Line-up hotshots: Cocaine Piss and It It Anita.

Why we like it: ‘coz it’s free. Duh.

Where it is: Genk.


Different Class

When: 13th August

Line-up hotshots: BEA1991, Syracuse, Pruikduif, Asa Moto.

Why we like it: Organised by music monthly Subbacultcha. ’nuff said.

Where it is: In Ghent’s 019, an artist-run space housed in a former welding factory.


Yellowstocks Festival

When: 13th and 14th August

Line-up hotshots: Kiss The Anus Of A Black Cat, The Glucks.

Why we like it: Mosh pits guaranteed.

Where it is: In Geel, 40 minutes or so from Antwerp, just over an hour away from Brussels.


Deep in the woods

When: 2nd, 3rd and 4th September

Line-up hotshots: Benny Sings, De Portables, Condor Gruppe and Dijf Sanders

Why we like it: An expertly-curated festival, deep down in the thick of a Belgian forest. What’s not to like?

Where it is: Heer, 40 minutes South of Namur.


Horst Festival

When: 9th and 10th September

Line-up hotshots: Julio Bashmore, Machinedrum, Deetron, Strictly Niceness.

Why we like it: The two-day festival actually acts as the opening ceremony for a two month-long outdoor art festival. And the entire thing takes place in a castle.

Where it is: Holsbeek. 10 minutes from Leuven, 30 minutes from Brussels and 50 minutes from Antwerp.


Meakusma Festival

When: From 23rd to 25th September

Line-up hotshots: Ben UFO, DJ Nigga Fox, Babyfather, Toresch, Ssaliva, Aymeric de Tapol, soFa and Nosedrip.

Why we like it: Because pretty much anything Meakusma does, they do it right. And the line-up’s all killer.

Where it is: In Eupen, in the German- speaking region of Belgium.