Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book? What are our prices? How do I get around during the festival? You’ll find all the answers to your questions here.
What is “BANAD”?
What is the concept behind BANAD? What are Art Nouveau and Art Deco? You’ll find all the answers here.
How to Book
The BANAD Festival 2026 will take place from 14 to 29 March 2026. Bookings open on Tuesday 3 February 2026.
A specific question?
You’re sure to find the answer in this list. If not, you can contact us by email or telephone.
Prices per interior visit
Full price
€13
+ a surcharge for certain tours
Concessionary rate*
6,5€
Sliding scale
Up to a maximum of 5 visits
– 1 / – 0.5* € per additional visit
Mobility
To get to the various venues open to visitors during the BANAD Festival, please opt for sustainable transport such as cycling or public transport.
At Pro Velo, you can enjoy a 20 per cent discount on bike hire when you show your BANAD ticket.
Available slots
Fancy finding out where there are still tickets available? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! The link below shows you where you can still book tickets.
Partner venues
Would you like to extend your BANAD Festival 2026 experience by enjoying a meal in a modernist setting? Are you looking for somewhere to stay between 14 and 29 March 2026?
Come and visit our partner venues.
FAQs
Important dates
When do bookings for house tours open?
Bookings for the 2026 BANAD Festival open on 3 February 2026 at 2.00 pm.
Is it possible to make bookings for groups?
Online bookings are available for up to 5 people at a time.
If you are a larger group, you can find out which venues are open to groups on our Group Visits page and contact Naïm Hamzaoui with any enquiries via naim@explore.brussels.
When does the booking period for house viewings end?
Bookings close at 10.00 am on the Friday before the weekend in question.
I wasn’t able to buy my ticket because bookings had already closed. Can I still take part in the tours?
If you haven’t booked in advance, you can go directly to the venue: tickets may be available for purchase, subject to availability.
How to Book
Can I book by telephone or email?
No, it is not possible to book by telephone or email.
Bookings can be made on the website https://booking.explore.brussels/ or by appointment at the office. The office is located at Rue des Liégeois 75, 1050 Ixelles.
However, we do not recommend making an appointment at the office as, due to the workload involved in opening bookings, we will only be able to see you the following week at the earliest. Many tickets will already have been sold by the time you visit our offices.
I’d like to book an appointment at the office. How do I go about it?
To book an appointment, you can call us on +32 2 319 50 01 from Monday to Friday, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. You can also email us at info@explore.brussels.
However, we do not recommend booking an in-person appointment as, due to the workload involved in opening bookings, we will only be able to see you the following week at the earliest. Many places will already have been sold by the time you visit our offices.
Do I need to create an account on the booking website?
No, since the 2026 BANAD Festival, you no longer need to create an account to book activities.
However, when booking, you will still have the option to create an account so that you can access your orders more easily later on.
When can I start booking?
Bookings usually open on the first Tuesday in February at 2.00 pm. To stay up to date, sign up for our newsletter.
If you’d like to book in advance and support our organisation, join the Friends of Explore.
How many people can I book onto a tour?
Bookings are limited to a maximum of 5 people at a time.
This limit of 5 people has been set by Explore.Brussels to allow as many people as possible to take part in this exceptional event, the BANAD Festival.
The number of people must be the same for all tours included in a booking.
For a group tour, please see our Group Tours page.
How do you choose which attractions to visit?
Why do I see a timer when I try to log in?
In the event of high visitor numbers, a large number of visitors may attempt to access the site at the same time.
A virtual queue is then set up to ensure the site remains stable and that everyone has fair access.
The queue is an automated system that regulates access to the site when demand is high. When it is your turn, you will be automatically redirected to the booking platform.
How long can I keep my booking in my basket?
When you log in to the booking website, a queue is created to prevent disruptions or technical issues caused by too many people being online at the same time.
Once you have added your first booking to your basket, you will have 60 minutes to complete and pay for your order.
Why? Because during these 60 minutes, the places are pre-booked for you and are therefore guaranteed once your order is confirmed.
We realise that this countdown can be stressful. However, it is the best way to ensure we can allocate the tours you have pre-booked whilst allowing other visitors to do the same.
Never click the ‘Back’ arrow on your browser whilst making a booking, as you risk losing your order – just as you would with any e-commerce system. ‘Back’ buttons are provided for this purpose on the website itself.
What are the payment terms?
We use the “Mollie” system, a recurring payment system.
This system allows you to pay by credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express), via Bancontact, via the KBC/CBC payment button or via the Belfius Pay button.
How do I receive a booking confirmation?
Your booking is only confirmed once payment has been received and you have received a confirmation email.
If you have any queries or encounter any problems, please contact us at the following address: info@explore.brussels.
The tours I’m interested in are fully booked. Is there a waiting list?
No, we do not have a waiting list.
However, in the event of a cancellation on the day itself, tickets may be made available for sale at the entrance, subject to availability. Tickets may also be sold in the event of a cancellation, from 5 minutes after the tour has started. After this time, no further admission will be permitted so as not to disrupt the guided tour in progress.
Guided tours
How long does a visit last?
The duration of a tour depends on the venue. In most cases, they are scheduled to last 45 minutes, up to a maximum of 1 hour 15 minutes.
Information on the duration of each tour is provided on the page dedicated to each venue. This information can be found on our Venues page.
Reduced rates, discounted rates & supplements
Who is eligible for the reduced fare?
We have introduced a reduced-price scheme to make interior tours accessible to as many people as possible.
Those eligible for the reduced rate are:
- students under the age of 26,
- students at the ULB and the VUB,
- holders of the ULB Culture Card,
- people with disabilities,
- jobseekers.
This rate is 50 per cent of the full price, i.e. €6.50 per person per visit. This rate is separate from any fixed surcharge that some venues may charge.
The reduced rate also qualifies for the sliding-scale pricing.
If you have booked at the reduced rate when you are not entitled to it, Explore.Brussels will charge you the difference as well as a fine of 50 per cent of the total amount of your booking.
Can I buy a ticket under Section 27?
Yes, those eligible under Article 27 can purchase one seat per Article 27 ticket.
The price of this place is €1.25. This does not include any fixed surcharge that some venues may charge.
Please note: those eligible under Article 27 must book at the Explore.Brussels office by the Wednesday before the chosen tour at the latest, or turn up at the venue on the day of the tour (not recommended due to high visitor numbers).
What is the ticket price for children under 12?
Children under 12 go free, but their seats must be booked via the booking system.
How does the sliding-scale tariff work?
The BANAD Festival applies a sliding-scale pricing structure based on the number of guided tours booked for the same person per booking. This calculation applies to a maximum of five tours and is applied automatically at the time of booking.
For example, a single tour at the full price costs €13 per tour, whilst five or more tours at the full price cost €9 per tour.
Tickets purchased on the day are not eligible for the sliding-scale pricing.
Detailed table of discounted rates
|
Number of visits selected
|
Full price (per person)
|
Reduced rate (-50%)* (per person)
|
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
13 €
|
6,5 €
|
|
2
|
12 €
|
6 €
|
|
3
|
11 €
|
5,5 €
|
|
4
|
10 €
|
5 €
|
|
5 +
|
9 €
|
4,5 €
|
Which venues require an additional charge?
Due to their specific circumstances, nine of the venues opening their doors to us require an additional charge. This charge is the same for all visitors (including children).
The following venues are affected:
- Hôtel Solvay (+€25),
- Hôtel Max Hallet (+€15),
- Old England – Museum of Musical Instruments (+€5),
- Hôtel Winssinger (+€5)
- Former Waucquez shops [Belgian Comic Strip Centre] (+€3)
- Hannon House (+€10),
- Villa Empain – Boghossian Foundation (+€10)
- Tour of the restoration site of architect Victor Horta’s former home and studio [Horta Museum] (+ €5)
- Van Buuren Museum and Gardens (+€10) and
- Van Eetvelde House (+€5)
What benefits does my ticket entitle me to?
On presentation of your ticket, and without the need for a booking, you can enjoy free entry to the Objets fair on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 March.
“Explore+”, tours adapted for people with disabilities or ASD
What is “Explore+”?
Explore.Brussels offers guided tours tailored to people with disabilities as part of its Explore + programme. Use the links below to discover our selection of tours adapted to different types of disability.
We organise accessible tours for:
- blind and visually impaired people
- people with an intellectual disability
- deaf and hard-of-hearing people: tours in sign language (LSFB & VGT)
- people on the autism spectrum (ASD)
These tours are developed in collaboration with specialist partner organisations.
For further information and contact details, please visit our Explore+ page.
The packages
The disappearance of packages
In 2026, Explore.Brussels will not be offering any package deals. If you’d like to plan your itinerary before bookings open to the general public, you can become a Friend of Explore. As well as supporting our organisation, your membership fee gives you the chance to book first. If you need advice on putting together your programme, please do not hesitate to contact us by phone or email.
Contact us
