Brussels Pride 2023

Brussels welcomes as always the first Pride of the European continent in the week surrounding 17 May, day of fight against LGBT-phobias. This year, 150,000 people are expected in the capital with the aim of defending our rights and celebrating diversity.

Brussels welcomes as always the first Pride of the European continent in the week surrounding 17 May, day of fight against LGBT-phobias. This year, 150,000 people are expected in the capital with the aim of defending our rights and celebrating diversity.

The Brussels Pride (The Belgian & European Pride) is an opportunity to celebrate diversity but also to defend and claim LGBTQIA+ rights, all with the aim of making society more inclusive and egalitarian. With Pride Week starting on 10 May, a 10-day program combining festive and protest aspects awaits you. Come and show the power of diversity and equality in an inclusive celebration, an ode to love in all its forms.

On the organizational side, there has been a restructuring, hence the change of name of the event to mark its anchorage in Brussels in the heart of Europe. It is now the 3 community domes (Cavaria, Prism and RainbowHouse Brussels) that are in charge, overseen by Visit Brussels with the friendly support of Brussels Rainbow Village.

Protect the protest

The theme this year is “Protect the Protest”, as a call for respect for the fundamental right to demonstrate, which is still too often flouted in many countries around the world. This is also the theme of an Amnesty International campaign. For LGBTQIA+ people, and we know this very well in Belgium, freedoms of association and speech are crucial to progress. These rights must therefore be granted or maintained, in Belgium, in Europe and throughout the world! It’s an opportunity to remember we celebrate this year the 20th anniversary of Marriage Equality in Belgium.

Pride Week

It all starts on Wednesday 10 May. The kick-off is the Mini Pride with its procession which will stroll through the streets of the Saint-Jacques district starting from the City Hell then passing near Manneken-Pis and the Grands Carmes. From this moment until 20 May, a large cultural program is organized thanks to many LGBTQIA + artists, associations and projects. During the same period, as usual, many buildings across the Brussels-Capital Region will be illuminated and decorated in the colors of the rainbow flag. 

20 May

On Saturday 20 May, the Pride Parade will set off at 14:00 from Mont des Arts to march through the streets of the center. You can take part as a spectator along the route or join one of the many participating associations to walk in solidarity. After that, in addition to the stage located on the Pride Village site, two other stages will be set up at Bourse and De Brouckere with a host of artists from the LGBTQIA+ community to make this event an important and unforgettable day. Of course, the Rainbow Village bring the party out onto the street. The bars and shops, in Marché au Charbon, Rue des Pierres and Petite Rue au Beurre, will vibrate throughout the weekend with lots of entertainment for everyone. 

Pink is the color

At Spit It Out, both in the store and in the adjacent bar, the color will be pink because, as Edith Piaf sang, it's so much better to see "la vie en rose". Here, no DJ but a friendly terrace where everyone will be welcome from 11:00 in the morning with a breakfast to settle the stomach before parading. As usual, the various fetish components will be particularly expected. The community flags of the different communities are also on sale at the store because everything you need to equip yourself for this very special day is here.

You understood, so many things are going to happen that it would be difficult to detail everything here. All the information can be found on brusselspride.eu. To conclude, be proud of who you are, of what you are, of who you love, of what you love, and say “f*ck off” to those who disagree with it!