From 11 to 13 September, Parc du Cinquantenaire became the beating heart of urban culture as Brussels Urban Sessions returned for its fifth edition.
Over three unforgettable days, more than 27,000 visitors and 240 athletes representing over 20 nationalities came together to celebrate urban sports, music and street art in one of Brussels’ most iconic locations.
BMX Freestyle takes centre stage
As the flagship discipline of Brussels Urban Sessions, BMX Freestyle once again delivered an incredible spectacle.
World champions, Olympic medallists and some of the leading riders on the international scene competed on a park specially designed for the event. From the first qualifying runs to the final stages of the competition, the athletes pushed their limits in front of an enthusiastic Brussels crowd.
In the Elite Women competition, Germany’s Kim Lea Müller claimed victory ahead of Natalya Diehm from Australia and Great Britain’s Elsa Rendall Todd.
Kieran Reilly took the win in the Elite Men category, with American rider Justin Dowell finishing second and Dylan Hessey completing the podium in third place.
The competition also offered the Belgian public an opportunity to discover and support several national talents, including Antonin Lallemand, Léopold Gorin or Cas Maleux.
An Urban Festival open to everyone
Brussels Urban Sessions is about much more than elite competition. Across the festival site, visitors could discover skateboarding, 3x3 basketball and parkour through competitions, demonstrations and introductory sessions.
More than 1,000 people took part in the different initiations organised throughout the weekend, reflecting the festival’s ambition to make urban sports accessible to as many people as possible.
Thanks to the support of our partners, access to the Urban Festival remained free, allowing families, enthusiasts and curious visitors to explore the disciplines, meet the communities behind them and experience the energy of urban culture firsthand.
Couleur Café’s Black Stage beneath the arches
Music was also at the heart of this fifth edition.
In collaboration with Couleur Café and Tipik, the iconic Black Stage temporarily left Osseghem Park and moved beneath the arches of Parc du Cinquantenaire.
With its circular layout and immersive 180-degree experience, the stage provided a unique setting for performances by HEAVEN SAM, BLCK MAMBA, SHINSHAN SALAZAR, ASSIA MK, SURYA and KEVIN KOFII.
During two TIPIK Afterparty by Couleur Café evenings, the artists kept the energy going after the competitions and brought festivalgoers together around a line-up reflecting the diversity of today’s urban music scene.
Street art takes over the festival
Street art was once again an essential part of the Brussels Urban Sessions experience.
In collaboration with Cour des Arts, eight Belgian and international artists created their work live throughout the weekend. The Street Art Boulevard, murals displayed across the festival site and interactive workshops gave visitors the opportunity to observe the creative process, meet the artists and try street art for themselves.
Together, the participating artists created 80 original artworks during the event.
A fifth edition to remember
By combining elite sport, music, art and participatory experiences, Brussels Urban Sessions continues to establish Brussels as an international destination for urban culture.
This fifth edition would not have been possible without the involvement of more than 150 volunteers and staff members, as well as the support of 32 partners.
A huge thank you goes to all the athletes, artists, teams, volunteers, partners and visitors who helped bring Parc du Cinquantenaire to life and contributed to the success of Brussels Urban Sessions 2026.
Brussels Urban Sessions 2026 in numbers
27,000 visitors over three days
More than 240 athletes
More than 20 nationalities represented
More than 1,000 participants in introductory sessions
6 music artists
8 street artists
More than 150 volunteers and staff members
32 partners involved
See you next year for another celebration of urban sports and culture in the heart of Brussels!