From 12 March until 23 April 2026, over 40 Brussels museums will be participating in the annual Nocturnes event. On Thursday evenings, they will exceptionally open their doors to the public after nightfall and the programme looks very promising.
For museum enthusiasts, Brussels is a perfect destination year-round. The Belgian capital offers a wide variety of museums in a wide variety of themes, ranging from classical art all the way to beer and everything in between. Yet once a year, the city becomes even more interesting museum-wise thanks to the now well-established Nocturnes, an event which has been going for over 30 years.
During the Nocturnes, a selection of Brussels’ museums remains open later than usual on Thursdays, allowing everyone to spend a night at the museum after hours. It is the perfect way to end a day of sight-seeing in the city, to calm down after a day at the office, or to start a night out in a different way than usual.
In 2026, the Nocturnes take place on Thursday evenings between 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm from 12 March until 23 April and more than 40 museums participate in this year’s edition. The list of participants includes a range of newcomers and museums that haven’t taken part in the Nocturnes for some time, such as the Espace Vanderborght, the ULB Museum of Zoology and Anthropology, A Foundation, the Museum of Evere (Food and Mill), Clockarium, Belgian Chocolate Village, and Brussels City Hall.
Spread over seven consecutive Thursdays, all of the participating museums will open their doors to the public at least one evening during the Nocturnes. In order to celebrate the occasion, many will be organising special events and behind-the-scenes tours for visitors, allowing them to get to know a different museum or offering an excuse to revisit old favourites. For example, the Erasmus House in Anderlecht will be organising a beer tasting featuring herbs from the garden, while the KBR will organise an introduction to medieval dance.
For the 2026 season of the Nocturnes, three types of tickets will be available: standard tickets, tickets with reservation, and special event entrances. Some passes, such as the MuseumPassMusées and the Art Nouveau Pass, may offer free entrance to a selection of venues, and some museums are free for everyone. Details about pricing and reservations can be found through the Nocturnes website.
