The Loop

In April, following several meetings initiated by the Conseil de la Nuit and hub, the Economic Coordination Council’s nightlife task force was set up, facilitating a meeting between L. Hublet and his teams, numerous Brussels authorities and representatives active in the nightlife sector – including BBN – to outline the key issues, put forward requests and exchange views. Further meetings of the Economic Coordination Council (ECC) will follow in order to better coordinate the authorities and public policies that benefit the nightlife sector.

Since July 2025, BBN has been campaigning alongside Horeca Brussels in favour of a proportionate implementation of the ban on smoking on outdoor terraces and, above all, the ban on smoking rooms, which may come into force in January 2027. Since March, we have joined forces with the City of Ghent to defend the few clubs that would suffer from the outright closure of their smoking rooms. Whilst the ban on smoking on outdoor terraces may be justified on public health grounds, the ban on smoking rooms raises questions: these are regulated spaces, which have required thousands of euros of refurbishment, are not frequented by non-smokers, and, above all, help to prevent unmanageable crowds at club entrances – crowds that would pose enormous problems in terms of nuisance and safety. Reports have been submitted and options for exemptions are to be analysed. A negative opinion was issued by the Flemish and Brussels mayors at the start of the year, and we will continue to challenge this implementation, which appears set to be chaotic and carried out without consultation with the sector.

Federal (economy), regional (harm reduction, attractiveness, urban planning), community (support fund), municipal (open-air events, urban planning).

BBN has continued its multi advocacy work, particularly following the formation of the new government: harm reduction, sector support funds, mobility and new venues, and economic analysis: the priorities remain unchanged, but the pace of meetings has intensified. Regular contact is maintained with the federal authorities, but above all with local authorities, in order to more actively promote the need for a strategy and a well-developed vision of festival policies for municipalities outside the 1000 Brussels area. Discussions are ongoing with 1000 BXL, particularly on issues relating to public space, urban planning and harm reduction.