Brussels “will shine brighter than ever” on Saturday 16 May 2026, as the city celebrates the 30th anniversary of Brussels Pride. This milestone edition, organised under the powerful theme ‘When times get darker, we shine brighter‘, is expected to draw around 200,000 people to the capital of Belgium.
Tag: Hungary
Belarus adopts sweeping anti-gay information law, joining global crackdown on queer rights, criminalises “promotion” of homosexuality, gender transition, and childlessness
Belarus has adopted a controversial law banning the “propaganda” of consensual same-sex relationships, gender reassignment, and voluntary childlessness, aligning itself with a growing number of nations that criminalise discussions and positive portrayals of LGBTQIA+ identities.
Leuven wins silver at European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Awards
The city of Leuven (Louvain) in Flemish Brabant, Flanders, Belgium received a silver award at the fifth European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Awards, held in Brussels on Tuesday 21 April 2026. The awards, organised by the European Commission, recognise cities, municipalities, and regions that excel in promoting inclusion, diversity, and combating discrimination.
Brussels Airlines & Lufthansa Group end free hand luggage on short- and medium-haul flights
Brussels Airlines, alongside its sister carriers within the Lufthansa Group, is set to introduce a new fare structure that will see the end of free hand luggage on short- and medium-haul flights. The new Economy Basic fare will include only one personal item, such as a laptop bag or small rucksack, with passengers required to…
BRUSSELS PRIDE 2026 | “When times get darker, we shine brighter”
Brussels Pride will return to Belgium‘s capital on Saturday 16 May 2026, celebrating its 30th anniversary with a strong political message about visibility, solidarity and resistance. Organisers expect around 200,000 people to gather in the city centre for the annual march and celebrations.
BELGIUM | Safer in theory, harsher in reality: polarisation and violence mark 2025 for LGBTQIA+ people
Belgium remains one of Europe’s front-runners when it comes to legal protection for LGBTQIA+ people. Yet 2025 exposed a widening gap between progressive legislation and everyday reality, one can read in ILGA-Europe‘s Annual Review. Civil society organisations report a continued rise in homophobic and transphobic violence, declining acceptance among young people, and growing polarisation in…
ILGA-EUROPE | Europe reaches new low as LGBTQIA+ people face renewed criminalisation
From Pride bans in the European Union to prosecutions under ‘propaganda’ and ‘extremism’ laws, a new report from ILGA-Europe shows that attacks on LGBTQIA+ communities have evolved into systemic suppression of dissent and individual freedoms.
FINLAND | Enjoying the white nights of Helsinki
In the summer of 2025 I went to Helsinki in Finland when Midsummer was celebrated. On this longest day of the year Finnish people head into nature and celebrate what it means to be a Finn. I decided to stay in the capital for one and a half week to get a real first impression…
Nox night trains: a smart new cabin concept or just an unachievable dream?
Announced in June 2025, the Franco-German night train initiative Nox (Latin for ‘night‘) has drawn immediate comparisons with the defunct start-up Midnight Trains, which folded in 2024. Back-on-Track.eu’s Juri Maier weighs up the viability of Europe‘s latest night train start-up.
Belgium 16th safest country in 2025
Belgium has been ranked among the world’s 20 safest countries for 2025, according to the latest edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI). The country placed 16th overall, achieving a score of 1.492 out of 5, where lower scores indicate higher levels of peace.