From 15 June to 15 July 2025, the former Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art (MIMA) building on the Quai de Hainaut / Henegouwkaai in St. John’s Molenbeek (Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Sint-Jans-Molenbeek) in Brussels served as the temporary home of the Pride Museum, a new cultural initiative dedicated to queer history and expression.
The pop-up attracted around 4,000 visitors in just four weeks, despite the fact that organisers had only three weeks to prepare the site before opening, BRUZZ reports.
Preview of a future queer museum
The Pride Museum pop-up offered a multidisciplinary programme featuring performances, talks, workshops, DJ sets, and the exhibition ‘What About Queer?’.
Some thirty artists and collectives from Brussels and beyond took part. The event provided a first public look at the organisers’ long-term ambition: to create a permanent queer museum in the Belgian capital. The museum would focus on the richness and diversity of queer history, activism, and cultural production in Belgium and internationally.
Public response confirms demand
According to co-founder Giorgi Tabagari, the large turnout and positive feedback from both visitors and participants confirmed the need for a dedicated queer museum in Brussels.
The audience included local residents, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, tourists, and visiting groups. The organisers see this level of engagement as evidence that such a museum would be both culturally relevant and publicly supported.
Permanent location still under discussion
Although the Pride Museum currently lacks a permanent home, the former MIMA building is seen as a strong candidate.
Discussions with the building’s owners are ongoing, while other possible sites in Brussels are also being considered.
The team is now compiling the results of the pop-up edition to present to potential partners and funders.
Broader European context
The Brussels Pride Museum initiative follows in the footsteps of similar efforts elsewhere in Europe, such as the Schwules Museum in Berlin and the Queer Britain Museum / British National LGBTQ+ Museum in London.
In Belgium, the project has received support from a range of queer activists, cultural professionals, and grassroots organisations. It aims not only to preserve queer history but also to provide space for contemporary queer voices and cultural engagement.
Events planned for autumn 2025
The Pride Museum will resume programming in autumn 2025, with several new events already in development. While the search for a permanent venue continues, the organisers remain committed to keeping the project alive and visible through temporary events and collaborations.
Exploring Brussels
- REVIEW | ‘Jules Verne 200: An Immersive Journey’ in Brussels.
- REVIEW | ‘A Century of Belgian Comics’ at the Comic(s) Art Museum Brussels by the Belgian Comic Strips Center.
- MUSEUM | House of European History in Brussels.
- Visiting the European Parliament in Brussels.
- RIDE & DINE | Brussels Tram Experience.
- REVIEW | M-Gallery Le Louise in Brussels.
- Inside the Royal Palace of Brussels.
- Brussels’ Atomium.
- REVIEW | Orient-Express exhibition at Train World, Brussels’ railway museum.
- The orange world of Design Museum Brussels.
- AfricaMuseum in Tervuren near Brussels.
- Brussels Planetarium.
- Brussels’ Gare Maritime.
- Brussels’ Pannenhuis Park and L28 Park.
- Brussels’ Senne Park.
- The Hotel. Brussels.
- REVIEW | ‘Royals & Trains’ exhibition at Train World in Brussels.
- Ducal and Imperial Palace of Coudenberg in Brussels.
- MIMA – Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art in Brussels.
- Villa Empain in Brussels.
- Pullman Brussels Centre Midi.
- Autoworld automobile museum in Brussels.
- Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels, Belgium.
- Royal Military Museum, War Heritage Institute, Brussels, Belgium.
- PHOTOS | Train World railway museum in Brussels.
- Josaphat Park and residential Schaerbeek.
- BRUSSELS | BELvue Museum of Belgium.
The latest on LGBTQIA+ events such as prides in Belgium
- Beyond Darklands 2026 from Tuesday 3 to Monday 9 March at the Antwerp Waagnatie.
- Limburg Pride 2025 prepares for its first march in Hasselt.
- Mechelen to organise a Pride Week from 2026?.
- Bruges Pride Parade 2025 on Saturday 14 June.
- Mons Pride 2025 on Saturday 31 May.
- BRUSSELS | Pride Museum takes over MIMA from 15 June to 15 July with ‘What About Queer?’.
- NAMUR PRIDE 2025 | Pride Day, Solidarity March and community celebration.
- BRUSSELS PRIDE 2025 | Forbidden Colours calls out EU pinkwashing as Commission participates in pride but abandons LGBTQIA+ in Hungary.
- Pride Express links Ghent, Brussels and Antwerp to Pride Amsterdam on Saturday 2 August 2025.
- Leuven Pride 2025 on Saturday 27 September.
- ANTWERP PRIDE 2025 THEME | Do Not Just March.
- Queer March Ghent 2025 from 1 to 31 March.
- Belgium to host Eurovision Song Contest 2026? But in which city?.
- PinX LGBTQIA+ Film Festival in Ghent and in Antwerp from 29 January to 2 February 2025.
- ANTWERP 2025-2030 | City government agreement supports bid for EuroGames in Antwerp in 2028.
- Liège Pride 2025 on Friday 22, Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 August.
- CHARLEROI PRIDE | Three days of inclusivity and festivities.
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