The year in Mechelen
The big moments of the year in Mechelen: Sintstad, BRAND! jazz festival, Christmas market and more, with their dates.
Sintstad
Sinterklaas has gone missing in the town hall, and children help his helpers find him: a family adventure of about 40 minutes. Everyone needs a ticket, adults too.
BRAND! jazz festival
Four days of jazz from Denmark, the eleventh edition of nona's jazz festival, at nona, the Predikherenkerk and the Stadsschouwburg.
Christmas market
About 50 stalls with winter food, drinks and gifts on the Korenmarkt, the Haverwerf, the Van Beethovenstraat and the Vismarkt, not on the Grote Markt. Open Friday to Sunday, and every day from 21 to 24 December.
Predikheerlijke Winter
A winter series of ten classical concerts in the Predikherenkerk, with Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven and Gershwin, played by ensembles from the region.
De Warmste Week
VRT's yearly charity week comes to Mechelen, at the De Nekker sports and recreation centre. The 2026 theme is a warm home for everyone.
Jumping Mechelen
Five days of World Cup show jumping, dressage and four-in-hand driving in the Nekkerhal, with shows and a Christmas village around the arena.
New Year's Eve on the Grote Markt
A New Year's Eve party on the Grote Markt with Mechelen DJs. Private fireworks are banned in the city.
Oh La La La Festival
One night of new Belgian bands in three halls of the Cultuurcentrum, from punk and electronica to hip-hop and soul, during the Week of Belgian Music.
Hanswijk Procession
A procession through the city that has carried the statue of Our Lady of Hanswijk every year since 1272, with music, dance and horses. Every 25 years it becomes the much bigger Hanswijk Cavalcade.
Summer carillon concerts
Free carillon concerts on summer Monday evenings, played from St Rumbold's Tower and sometimes from the Church of Our Lady across the Dijle.
Maanrock
The big free city festival, running since 1996: four days of rock and pop on stages across the centre, the main one on the Grote Markt.
