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
-
Pride jazz in the heart of Brussels: a free concert at The Music Village
On 16 May, while Brussels Pride is turning the city into a giant rainbow, one of
-
Beyond One Parade: Saint-Gilles Lives Pride All Month Long
Saint-Gilles is not waiting for Pride Saturday to raise the rainbow. With its “Mois des Fiertés”
-
When Cruising Excludes: Rethinking Darkrooms at Pride
During Brussels Pride 2026, Stammbar is once again proving it is more than a cruising bar.
-
PAC and Tels Quels invite Brussels Pride-goers to turn slurs into political joy
During Pride Week, PAC and Tels Quels are hosting a collective reading and discussion around Julien Marsay’s Queer – Riposter à
-
Yallah Zouz! turns La Tricoterie into a day of shared memories and living cultures
On 30 May, La Tricoterie in Saint-Gilles will host the first edition of Yallah Zouz!, a Judeo-Arab-Amazigh festival built around one
