Brussels Special Venues will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a special Experience Event in September 2026, bringing professional event organisers closer to some of the city’s leading venues. The two-day programme will feature guided tours across Brussels and highlight the city’s growing role as a major European destination for meetings, conferences, incentives, and business events.
The anniversary event will take place on 14 and 15 September 2026. It will be open only to professional event organisers, including event agencies, corporate planners, and association managers who arrange meetings and large-scale gatherings.
Founded in 2006, Brussels Special Venues is a non-profit association created to connect event venues across Brussels through one central platform. Its goal is to strengthen the city’s position as a leading location for the MICE sector, which includes meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions.
Over the past two decades, the association has grown from a small group of six venues into a network of nearly 60 locations. Together, these venues offer more than 340 event spaces across the Brussels region.
The network includes some of Brussels’ most recognised landmarks and modern event locations. The portfolio features venues such as Atomium, Tour & Taxis, and BOZAR. It also includes heritage buildings, rooftop spaces, and flexible locations designed for different types of events.
Through its venues.be platform, Brussels Special Venues allows organisers to compare venues and connect directly with locations. The platform removes the need for commission-based intermediaries and provides a simpler way for planners to find suitable event spaces.
Heidi Martens, Association Manager at Brussels Special Venues, said the anniversary reflects the strength of Brussels as a European events hub. She highlighted the wide range of venues available in the capital and the importance of cooperation between the association, its members, and local tourism partners.
The 2026 Experience Event will offer participants a closer look at Brussels’ event infrastructure through organised venue visits. The programme is designed to help professionals discover different venue styles, capacities, services, and possibilities for future meetings and events.
The selected venues for the anniversary edition include Atomium, Tour & Taxis, BOZAR, KBR, Residence Palace, and the new KANAL-Centre Pompidou. Each location represents a different part of Brussels’ event offering, from historic architecture to modern cultural spaces.
The programme will begin each day with a welcome gathering at Plein Publiek. Participants will then travel through the city to explore several venues and learn more about their facilities and event options.
The first day will end with a walking dinner, giving attendees an opportunity to connect with other professionals and discuss future event opportunities in Brussels.
Participation in the Experience Event is limited. Interested event organisers must submit an application through the official Experience Event website before 1 August 2026. Selected participants will receive a personal invitation to complete their registration.
The anniversary programme is organised in partnership with visit.brussels and supported by Brussels Booking Desk, Eurostar, and Brussels Airlines. Several hotel partners, including nhow, Cardo, Hilton, Warwick, and Thon Hotels, are also supporting the event.
Brussels Special Venues said the 20th anniversary celebration will showcase the city’s diverse event locations while strengthening connections among international event professionals. The Experience Event aims to highlight why Brussels remains an important destination for conferences, corporate meetings, and global gatherings.
As the association enters its third decade, it continues to promote Brussels as a competitive and attractive location for the international events industry. The 2026 celebration will mark a significant milestone in its mission to connect organisers with unique venues across the Belgian capital.
