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
-
Mpox in Brussels: staying vigilant without giving in to panic
While mpox (formerly “monkeypox”) seems to have disappeared from the headlines, the virus is still
-
Expressions Mixtes 3: Brussels gets a festival where queer stories refuse to fit in one box
Every June, Brussels quietly grows a new kind of Pride: one made of dance floors,
-
European Testing Week: turning testing into queer self‑care
If Pride is about visibility and joy, European Testing Week is about something just as vital: making
-
IDAHOT DAY 2026 – After 216,000 people in the streets, the fight doesn’t go on pause
Yesterday, Brussels Pride marked its 30th edition with an estimated 216,000 people filling the city centre. Under the banner “When Times Get
-
Brussels Pride at 30: a city that really showed up
Brussels wanted to prove it could still shine brighter after 30 years of Pride. It