Here are 13 tips for FCKNYE Festival 2026, from the ticket you pick to the ride home on 2 January. Every one comes from the festival's official information.
Before you leave
1. Pick the ticket that fits your nights
A pass lets you leave and come back as often as you like while it runs. A day ticket doesn't: once you're out, you're out for the day. Planning two nights? The 2-Day Pass comes as 30 and 31 December, or as 31 December + 1 January. All three? That's the 3-Day Pass.
VIP comes in the same days and passes, with a private fast-lane entrance, a grandstand facing Count:Down and free private lockers.
2. Buy only in the official ticket shop
A resale ticket can't be guaranteed. A PDF ticket can be sold several times, and only the first scan gets in. Upgrades to VIP go through TicketLive customer service. The tickets page sends you straight to the official shop, the same one that sells the indoor camping, the buses, the cashless cards and the merch.
Lost your tickets? Go to TicketLive's lost tickets page and enter the email address you used to order.
3. Pack your ID
16 is the minimum age, and your age is checked at the entrance against your ID. The name on the ticket isn't checked, so a ticket bought by a friend works, as long as you bring your own ID. Under-16s aren't admitted, even with an adult.
4. Get the official festival app in December
The map, the 3D map and the set times, stage by stage, land in December in the official festival app on the App Store and Google Play. Every act's night and stage is already on the line-up, so you can start planning now. Saw Kaaris on 30 December somewhere? That's the old date: he plays 31 December.
Getting there
5. Take metro line 6
Metro line 6 to Heysel is the way we recommend, and from every stop you follow the signs to the festival. Tap in with your bank card, phone or smartwatch and skip the ticket machines. Coming from further away? Buses leave from 51 cities: find yours on the bus page.
By train, get off at Brussels-Midi and take tram 3 to the Esplanade terminus: the entrance is 500 m from the stop.
6. Come early on 31 December
The midnight fireworks at the Atomium, right next to Brussels Expo, fill public transport on 31 December.
Several lines change in the evening: after 7 pm tram 7 ends at Esplanade, tram 35 doesn't run and tram 62 no longer serves Heysel, and after 6 pm bus 83 stops at Roi Baudouin. Leave early, and the full detail is in our getting there guide.
7. Know the last entry
On 30 December doors open at 5:30 pm, and on 31 December at 5 pm. On both nights the music runs from 6 pm to 6 am and the last entry is at 3 am: after that, the doors stay shut. On 1 January doors open at 5 pm and the music runs until 5 am, when the festival closes.
On site
8. Travel light
Suitcases aren't banned, but they slow down the security checks at the entrance. A compact bag gets you in faster. Leave the umbrella, the Camelbak, the laser pointer and the camera at home: they're on the banned list, with glass bottles, alcohol and drinks.
9. Bring an empty bottle
Empty bottles are allowed and the drinking water fountains on site are free. Refill there, not at the hand basins: that water isn't drinkable. The indoor camping has its own free water points.
10. Pay by card
Every bar, food and merch stand takes bank cards, and none of them takes notes or coins.
Bringing cash? Turn it into a cashless card on site, or preload a card ahead in the ticket shop and collect it at any cashless desk with your QR code. Ordered merch? Keep that QR code too: it gets your order at a merch stand, in the chill zone or at the indoor camping.
11. Plan your locker
Lockers come in several sizes on the festival site and at the indoor camping. They're paid and can't be booked ahead, so travel light enough to manage without one. With VIP, free private lockers wait for you all night.
12. Look out for your crew
An awareness stand and a Red Cross post are on site. Not feeling well, or need help? Go there, or talk to any team member. Modus Fiesta also runs a prevention stand with harm reduction supplies and advice.
After the night
13. Plan your ride home
On the night of 31 December to 1 January, public transport is free from midnight to 5 am. Driving? Pick a sober driver: the legal limit in Belgium is 0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood.
Taking the bus back? The return time and the meeting point are on your bus ticket, and you need to be there 15 minutes early. Sleeping on site? The indoor camping closes on Saturday 2 January at 4 pm, so pack your tent before then.
Two nights or three, the tickets page has every day ticket and pass.
· AI assistant