⭐ Our 3 ideas to book this week – August 10 to August 16, 2026
The 3 activities that are working every time at the moment with families: if you have to choose only a few, start withThis week, Brussels is slowly going into summer mode: free concerts, an open-air festival, creative workshops, cultural outings and ideas that are easy to organise with children.
Here is our selection to enjoy the week with your family, without necessarily planning a big budget.
The unmissable event of the week
THE BRUSSELS FLOWER CARPET
Every two years, the Grand-Place is transformed into a spectacular ephemeral floral work. For its 24th edition, the famous Flower Carpet puts Japan in the spotlight with a reinterpretation of The Great Wave of Kanagawa imagined by Japanese artist Hiro Sugiyama.
More than 700,000 flowers will make up this giant fresco of 1,680 m², visible for only four days. A truly exceptional event to see with the family, with also a sound and light show every evening.
Dates: August 13-16, 2026
Location: Grand Place, Brussels
For whom: the whole family
Note: possibility to admire the carpet from the balcony of the City Hall.
The free outing of the week
THE NOMADIC THEATRES FESTIVAL
For four days, the Bois de la Cambre is transformed into a real nomadic village dedicated to the performing arts. Street theatre, circus, puppets, tales, music and performances follow one another in a festive and family atmosphere.
Plus de 30 spectacles sont annoncés pour cette 19e édition. L’entrée est entièrement gratuite et la majorité des représentations sont accessibles librement, même si quelques spectacles sous chapiteau nécessitent une réservation.
Dates: August 13-16, 2026
Location: Bois de la Cambre, Carrefour des Attelages
For whom: the whole family
Price: free, participation in the hat possible
Reservation: only for certain shows
The exceptional visit of the summer
LAST WEEK TO VISIT THE ROYAL PALACE
This is the last week to walk through the doors of the Royal Palace of Brussels. After major renovation work, the administrative residence and main workplace of the King and Queen reopened to the public this summer.
The visit allows you to visit its emblematic rooms and lounges, including the Throne Room, but also to discover the garden and several temporary exhibitions. Allow about an hour for the complete route.
Dates: until August 16, 2026
Opening hours: from 10:30 am to 5 pm, closed on Mondays
Location: Place des Palais, Brussels
Price: €10 from 13 years old, free up to and including 12 years old
Reservation: required online.
News in August 2026 in Brussels
August events not to be missed with the family: concerts, festival, guided tours…
It’s free!
A selection of nice family events for which you won’t have to go out for €1
The good deals of the moment!
Let’s prepare for the start of the school year!
Découvrez les événements à ne pas manquer tout au long du mois de septembre à Bruxelles et dans ses environs.
Museums and monuments with the family in Brussels
In Brussels, museums are not just for adults! Giant dinosaurs, life-size trains, comic books, chocolate… Here, we have selected museums that speak to children and teenagers, with fun exhibitions, immersive staging and practical information to organize your family visit.
Immersive experiences in Brussels
Escape games, immersive exhibitions, light trails, “wow” experiences… Brussels has become a real playground for families. Here you will find all the immersive experiences suitable for children and teenagers!
Where to eat in Brussels with your family?
Our ideas for outings according to the age of your children
Because a good outing is not chosen in the same way with a child, an older person or a teenager, here are some ideas to keep on hand to find the activity that suits them more easily in Brussels.
- Ages 2 and up • LEGO® Discovery Centre Brussels
- From 3 years old • The Museum of Natural Sciences
- From 6 years old • Guided tour: Ixelles, Artists’ and Anarchists’ Quarter
- Ages 9 and up • Prison Island
- From 10 years old • Challenge Lab Brussels, a real-life video game
- From 12 years old • The Jury Experience
- 15+ years • Investigation into a murder in the heart of Brussels
🎟 Brussels Card – The smart pass to visit Brussels
Want to make the most of Brussels with your family? With the Brussels Card, you have unlimited access to 49 museums for 24, 48 or 72 hours, as well as discounts on attractions, guided tours, restaurants and shops.
It’s the smart pass for a weekend or a city trip in Brussels, which allows you to multiply your visits while controlling your budget.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The great kids-friendly classics: the Museum of Natural Sciences (huge Dinosaur Gallery), Train World (giant locos and staging), Mini-Europe (models + quizzes), the Atomium (panoramic view), the Comics Art Museum (comics, Smurfs, etc.), and the Parlamentarium (European Parliament visitor centre, free).
Yes. On the STIB network, children under 6 years old travel free of charge (accompanied) and strollers are allowed; think of lifts/PRM spaces in the metro/tram. 6–11 year olds can benefit from a free “J” season ticket (MOBIB required). By train (SNCB/NMBS), up to 4 children under 12 years of age travel free of charge with a paying adult (“Kids Free”, also valid to/from the airport at no extra charge).
The most direct: the SNCB train from “Brussels Airport – Zaventem” to Brussels-Central/Midi/Schuman; fast, luggage space and free Kids Free (no airport supplement for accompanied children).
Several museums are free every 1st Sunday of the month (e.g. Museum of the City of Brussels, Museum of Fashion & Lace, Sewer Museum). The Magritte Museum is free on the 1st Wednesday afternoon.
Bet on interiors: Train World, Museum of Natural Sciences, Autoworld (cars), Comics Art Museum, Parlamentarium (free and interactive), or a chocolate workshop at Choco-Story.
The Bois de la Cambre (playground, boat/pedal boat at Chalet Robinson), the Parc du Cinquantenaire (playgrounds and lawns), the Parc Tenbosch (small shaded arboretum), and the Parc Josaphat (wide open spaces and areas).
Generally yes, but some stations/trams are old. STIB lists accessibility (lifts, ramps) and reminds people to give priority to wheelchairs; strollers are allowed in PRM areas.
As in any capital, vigilance against pickpockets around train stations and tourist sites. In case of emergency: 112 (ambulance/fire brigade), 101 (police).
In winter, “Plaisirs d’Hiver/Winter Wonders” (giant Christmas market, ice rink, Ferris wheel). In the autumn, the Comic Strip Festival (workshops, exhibitions, free activities).
Brussels is officially bilingual (French/Dutch) and most tourist sites also offer English. The Parlamentarium, for example, operates in all 24 official EU languages.