Experience

Brussels Pride 2025 on 17 May: ‘Unite, time to protect our rights’

Posted by Timothy on

Brussels Pride, the successor of the Belgian Pride, returns to the streets of Brussels on Saturday 17 May 2025. International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. IDAHOT or IDAHOBIT. This year, the theme ‘Unite, time to protect our rights‘ will call for a society where everyone’s fundamental rights are respected daily. A powerful and unifying message, more essential than ever in these troubled times when the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community are still too often challenged.

The capital of Belgium and of the European Union kicks off the European pride season. No fewer than 200,000 people are expected in the streets of Brussels to defend their rights and celebrate diversity. 

“A necessary demonstration to ensure the protection of the fundamental rights of the LGBTQIA+ community”, the press release says.

This year, Brussels chose the theme ‘Unite, time to protect our rights’. In 2025, Pride is calling for unity to defend the rights, freedoms, health, identity, diversity, existence, and struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Adversity to diversity

The Belgian, European, and global political landscape increasingly endangers the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community through bans and threats. 

“Institutional pressure remains constant. Pride is an opportunity to peacefully remind political leaders of the importance of defending these rights and the need for governments to act in accordance with international human rights conventions.” 

Today, it is essential to come together and support every individual, regardless of their origin, gender, religion, culture, skin colour, disability, or any other aspect of their identity. The LGBTQIA+ community still too often faces violence and discrimination, whether physical, verbal, online, in daily life, in private, or in public spaces. It is crucial to unite, beyond our differences, across generations, across Belgian and European borders, to protect one another.

Pride stalwarts 

On Saturday 17 May, the Brussels Pride March will take over the streets of the city centre, while the Pride Village will welcome associations. 

LGBTQIA+ artists and allies will perform on multiple stages set up throughout the heart of the capital. In total, around a hundred partners, associations, and artists will collaborate to make this event a significant and memorable day.

The Rainbow Village and its LGBTQIA+ venues, located in the Saint-Jacques neighbourhood at the heart of the capital, will once again be partnering the event this year, bringing life to the city’s iconic streets throughout the weekend.

Inclusion

Brussels Pride is an inclusive event open to everyone. To ensure that all participants can enjoy the celebration in a safe and welcoming environment, a Safer Zone will be organised. 

This space will provide a place for anyone to take a break, receive medical assistance if needed, and/or report any inappropriate or offensive behaviour related to their gender and/or identity.

Brussels Pride Week

Brussels Pride is not just about 17 May, it starts in the capital ten days earlier. Everything kicks off on Wednesday 7 May 2025, with the launch of Brussels Pride Week, which will highlight, among other things, the recognition of Brussels Pride as part of the intangible heritage of the Brussels-Capital Region. 

Throughout the week, RainbowHouse – the Brussels federation of LGBTQIA+

associations – along with various activist and artistic collectives, will be taking over Grands Carmes and other venues to offer a rich and diverse programme of events. 

Mini-Pride

On Thursday 15 May, it’s time for Mini-Pride. This festive parade will make its way through the streets of the Saint-Jacques neighbourhood, officially kicking off the weekend celebrations. 

Along the way, it will pay tribute to the iconic Manneken Pis, who will be dressed in a specially designed costume for the occasion.

The cultural sector will also be participating in the event, featuring LGBTQIA+ artists and projects in collaboration with Brussels Pride.

Illumination

Finally, during Pride Week and Brussels Pride, numerous buildings across the Brussels-Capital Region will be illuminated and decorated in the colours of the rainbow flag.

Advocacy

Brussels Pride is much more than a celebration of diversity, it’s a call for inclusion and equality.

Beyond its festive aspect, Brussels Pride remains, more than ever, a crucial moment to advocate for the rights and demands of the LGBTQIA+ community and to reignite political discussions on these essential issues.

Brussels Pride: Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Brussels-Capital Region

In October 2024, the Brussels-Capital Region added Brussels Pride to its intangible cultural heritage list, along with the Ommegang, chips and comic strips. 

As a result, Brussels Pride became only the second pride in the world to benefit from such institutional recognition. 

In terms of long-term goals, a transnational application, led by Amsterdam, will be submitted to UNESCO in a few years’ time, with a view to gaining official recognition for pride throughout the world, thereby strengthening the guarantee of the rights of LGBTQIA+ people on a global scale, at a time when there have sadly been too many setbacks.

Visit Brussels

Since the demise of the Belgian Pride co-operation of the LGBTQIA+ umbrella organisations from Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia, it’s the Brussels-Capital Region’s tourism office Visit Brussels which organises the event now rebranded as Brussels Pride. 

But for how long? the region still hasn’t a government since the June 2024 general elections. Will the new government be as queer-friendly as they current one? Belgium is not immune to anti-woke, conservative, minimalist, populist trends. 

The latest on LGBTQIA+ events such as prides in Belgium