For three days, the Lotto Brussels Jazz Weekend invites audiences to discover, experience, and connect through music. Brussels’ city centre will be transformed into a vibrant open-air stage, showcasing top-tier jazz with a strong focus on Belgian talent, innovative new music projects, and leading artists from the contemporary scene. The festival’s programme is once again being curated in collaboration with Les Lundis d’Hortense, VK, and Greenhouse Talent. Stéphane Thiery (chairman npo Jazz Projects): “Not only are we strengthening our links with the Brussels music scene, but we are also ensuring that the Lotto Brussels Jazz Weekend is an authentic reflection of the talent and musical diversity of our capital city. Our festival also aims to support the economic development of the Region: the previous edition generated nearly 30 million euros spent by visitors during the festival, and these expenses helped support employment and businesses.”
At the Grote Markt, ‘Contemporary Jazz’ takes the spotlight on all three days. Friday kicks things off with an eclectic mix of sounds: Orson Claeys, Woolvs Large Ensemble, Rêve d'Eléphant Orchestra and Manou Gallo set the tone. On Saturday, the energy intensifies as Jeremy Dumont, Laurent Doumont Sextet, Marco Mezquida Trio, and Flat Earth Society deliver an evening of powerful live performances. Sunday, traditionally curated by Les Lundis d’Hortense, highlights Pauline Leblond Double Quartet invites, Nathan Surquin 4tet, I’m Not Done Cooking, and SLR5.
Meanwhile, at Beursplein, the programme ventures beyond boundaries with Jazz & Beyond. On Friday, C-Rhyms, Glass Museum, Kaito Winse and Wet Enough kick off the weekend. Saturday’s programme features acts such as FOꓘKOP.EЯA, a Brussels-based hip-hop collective who blend punk, rap, and jazz-infused spoken word in a bold, experimental way. Also on the same bill is the introspective band, Ciao Kennedy. On Sunday, curator VK presents a dynamic and exciting line-up featuring amongst others Kunde. More names will be reveiled very soon.
At Sint-Katelijneplein, audiences can once again experience what the future of jazz sounds like. With the second edition of Brussels Jazz Vanguard, Lotto Brussels Jazz Weekend launched an open call for promising jazz bands. Bands still have three days left to apply. On Thursday 2 April, we will announce which bands—short-listed by VI.BE, Court-Circuit, the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles (CRB), and the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel (KCB)—have been selected. These artists will showcase their musical vision during the festival on 22, 23, and 24 May. A professional jury will award the strongest band, while the audience will vote for their favourite. Both winners will receive an exciting opportunity: an opening slot on one of the festival’s main stages in 2027.
Enjoying the afterglow of music can be just as meaningful as the first live experience itself. Last year, one live track from each participating band was recorded and released on the exclusive Brussels Jazz Vanguard 2025 vinyl. That edition quickly sold out, but due to overwhelming demand, the vinyl will return and be available once again.
While last year’s Busker Stages filled the city with outdoor performances, this year's festival sees whisky sponsor The Busker Whiskey opt for a more intimate approach, presenting a curated indoor programme at a unique location which will be reveiled soon. Six blues bands will take over the stage each evening, featuring both a support act and a headline band. Also, dozens of cafés and bars—including some of Brussels’ most iconic jazz venues—will once again bring the city to life by presenting an extra dose of live music. The full programme for these venues will be announced very shortly.
