From 18 to 21 September 2025, Brussels will once again become the European capital of queer water polo. For the fifth time, the Brussels Mannekenfish are hosting their international tournament, gathering more than 280 players from 11 LGBTQIA+ clubs across Europe, from London and Manchester to Copenhagen, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Barcelona and Valencia. And you are all invited to join the party!
The matches will take place on 19 and 20 September at the Louis Namèche swimming pool in Molenbeek. With four levels of competition, everyone from absolute beginners to seasoned competitors can jump in and play at their level. For the first time, teams will be mixed between clubs, creating even stronger connections and friendships across borders.
Beyond the pool
As always, the weekend is about much more than sport. Participants will enjoy a Superqueeroes themed dinner, fun poolside activities, and plenty of time to connect with the European queer sports community.
The highlight will take place on Saturday 20 September at the Mannekenfish Club Night in RESET Club, a major celebration open to all, with renowned Brussels DJs lighting up two dancefloors: one for pop and electro, and one for techno.
Tickets are already available online at www.mannekenfish.weebly.com.
Why “Rainbow Power”?
This edition carries a powerful name: Rainbow Power, Rise and Play.
At a time when LGBTQIA+ rights are increasingly under attack across Europe and the world, the tournament is more than a sporting event. It is a space of joyful resistance, a safe arena where queer bodies and identities are celebrated, and a vibrant reminder that our communities are strongest when we come together.
You may also like
-
A New Safe Harbor in Brussels: RainbowHouse Launches LGBTQIA+ Info Point
RainbowHouse Brussels is opening a brand-new door for our communities – and it’s one that
-
Ten Years of Balkan LGBTQIA: A Decade of Fighting Borders, Discrimination and Silence
Created in Brussels by volunteers from across the Balkans, Balkan LGBTQIA has spent ten years
-
Queens of the South: When Nice Turns Carnival into Queer Celebration
On 27 February 2026, Place Masséna in Nice will shimmer a little brighter. Lou Queernaval,
-
Safer on Paper, Not in Reality”: ILGA Warns of Rising Anti-LGBTQIA+ Violence in Belgium
Belgium still ranks among Europe’s most protective countries for LGBTQIA+ people on paper – yet
-
“March Is for the Queers”: Why You Should Put Queer March Ghent 2026 on Your Radar
Every March, Queer March turns Ghent into a month-long celebration of queer life, resistance, and
English 
Français de Belgique 
Nederlands (België)