Top things to do in Brussels in January!

What to do in Brussels in January The end-of-year festivities are well and truly behind us, but that doesn’t mean we have to let ourselves fall into post-holiday depression. The editors of Bruxelles Secret have rolled up their sleeves to put together a list of ultra-desirable cultural activities and outings. Exhibitions, cultural and immersive experiences, shows, parties… Follow our schedule, you won’t be bored!

The Sound of Music on January 6

Brussels is transformed into Broadway for one evening. On January 6, 2024, the Ars Lyrica company will perform the eponymous musical “The Sound of Music” in a new, unusual setting: the Cirque Royal de Bruxelles. A major show (35 musicians and singers on stage) not to be missed under any circumstances. What’s more, the original music is by Richard Rodgers!

📍Cirque Royal de Bruxelles. Rue de l’Enseignement 81, 1000 Brussels

Rock Sympho Show 2024 on January 10

On January 10, the Rock Sympho Show 2024 promises to turn the Brussels music scene upside down with an unprecedented event: an atypical concert combining rock and symphonic music in an XXL show. The Prime Orchestra brings together 35 musicians and singers on the Cirque Royal stage. Percussive guitar solos and lyrical melodies pay tribute to the greatest hits in rock history (Led Zepellin, Queen, Pink Floyd, ACDC, Nirvana, etc.). Expect to be surprised!

📍Cirque Royal de Bruxelles. Rue de l’Enseignement 81, 1000 Brussels

The Dinos Alive immersive experience

If your resolution for 2024 is to know more and more, we’ve got just the ticket. An impressive immersive dinosaur experience has opened in the Belgian capital. With Dinos Alive, visitors are immersed in the geological systems of the Jurassic, Triassic and Cretaceous eras, thanks to a series of attractions each crazier than the last: animated XXL dinosaurs, a virtual aquarium, a merry-go-round and themed workshops.

📍Place Rogier, 1000, Brussels

Do you Remember? the unusual evening at Mont des Arts

Nostalgic fans beware. Starting January 19, an immersive experience in Brussels will take you on a journey through four decades. 360º projections, spatialized sound, colorful cocktails, karaoke… It’s all part of a deliciously retro journey. With family or friends, treat yourself to a leap back in time by trying Do you remember? the most fun experience of the moment at Plein Publiek.

📍Plein Publiek, Mont des Arts, 1000 Brussels

Small is Beautiful miniature art exhibition

In January, we’re replacing the crib and Santons with adorable XXS figurines and models. The Small is Beautiful miniature art exhibition showcases miniature works to maximum effect, inviting visitors to experience art on a different scale. Through a collection of small-scale works (from photographs to micro-art visible only through a magnifying glass or microscope), unexpectedly staged in an immersive environment, 18 artists surf on current social themes, questioning viewers’ perspectives. An exhibition as unusual as it is enriching, to be found at Grand Place until January 31.

📍Small is Beautiful, Grand Place 5, Brussels

The immersive Bubble Planet experience

To escape the autumn greyness and winter cold, Bubble Planet warms the hearts of curious Brussels residents and adds color to their daily lives. On the program: a wildly immersive experience in a world of giant bubbles. Balloons, ball pools and sets straight out of a Pixar film, such as this multicolored hot-air balloon simulator reminiscent of the one in Là-Haut. Just like this little animated gem, you’ll discover for yourself that this experience is full of magic!

📍7/11 rue Picard, 1000 Brussels

STUDIOLO by Jean Jullien at MIMA

To turn your winter into a rainbow of colorful shots, STUDIOLO is coming to MIMA. In this solo exhibition, illustrator Jean Jullien (followed by 1M subscribers on his Instagram account), shares with visitors a universe filled with humor and tenderness, embodied by funny and endearing characters, staged in the form of installations, paintings, sculptures, and even drawings scratched right on the wall! A must-see at MIMA Museum before the exhibition closes on January 7!

📍MIMA Museum, 39-41, Quai du Hainaut

Mons en Lumières Festival

Just an hour’s drive from Brussels, the Mons en Lumières festival awaits you from January 25 to 28. On the program: no fewer than 26 installations and light projections to discover in the city center of the pretty town of Mons, just 1 hour from Brussels by car or train. And what’s more, it’s free… Go for it!

📍Mons, 53053

La Semaine du Son

From January 22 to 28, the 14th edition of La Semaine du Son invites you to think differently about music by exploring the theme of sounds emitted by nature. A blend of art and ecological awareness, the event will feature concerts, conferences and exhibitions in various Brussels venues, including the Museum of Musical Instruments and the ANDERLECHT Academy.

Various locations in Brussels

The immersive Van Gogh experience

In 2024, we bid farewell to traditional museums and welcome museums 2.0. In this immersive exhibition dedicated to Van Gogh, we’re not just using our eyes, but all our senses! Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience invites visitors not only to look, but also to listen to and touch never-before-seen reproductions of original works by the doomed artist. A multi-sensory experience, this playful exhibition combines virtual reality and a 360º digital show to teach us to appreciate art in a different way.

📍Galerie Horta – 116 rue du Marché aux Herbes, 1000 Brussels

Dining in the Dark

If you’ve promised your partner more time together in 2024, we’ve got THE plan for you. It happens every Wednesday in January at Restaurant Mylène. During a blind dinner (unusual but terribly romantic!), you’ll have to use all your senses to guess what’s on your plate. Fish, meat or vegetarian menu? You’ll be spoilt for choice with this secret three-course menu, specially prepared for the occasion!

📍Restaurant Mylène, Av. de la Couronne 463, 1050 Ixelles

Fondue perched on a rooftop

The season of cheese dishes has just begun! So why not dive under a mountain of cheese with a fondue perched atop one of the city’s trendiest rooftops, facing a breathtaking view of Brussels? Head to Saint-Gilles, on the 7th floor of the Rooftop Perché, to enjoy a tasty, vertiginous fondue accompanied by cocktails to share with your better half.

📍Rooftop Perché, Chaussée de Charleroi 132, Saint-Gilles, 1060