Some weekends stand out every year. In 2026, there is one weekend that brings everything together. From Friday 17 to Sunday 19 July 2026, three major events coincide: the start of the Ghent Festivities (Gentse Feesten), the first weekend of Tomorrowland in Boom and the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
For owners in Ghent, the province of Antwerp and Wallonia, this is an exceptional opportunity. At the same time, it calls for good preparation. If you adjust your prices and rules now, at the start of June, you will get the most out of this weekend and avoid surprises.
Three events, one weekend
Here are the dates at a glance:
- Ghent Festivities 2026: from Friday 17 to Sunday 26 July 2026 inclusive.
- Tomorrowland 2026 in Boom: the first weekend runs from 17 to 19 July inclusive, the second weekend from 24 to 26 July 2026 inclusive.
- Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix 2026: the race takes place on Sunday 19 July 2026 at Spa-Francorchamps.
On top of that comes the national holiday. 21 July 2026 falls on a Tuesday. Many people take Monday 20 July off as a bridge day. For some visitors, the weekend therefore becomes a long weekend until Tuesday.
What is more, all of this falls in the middle of the summer holidays. The Flemish school holidays run from 1 July to 31 August 2026 inclusive. In the Netherlands, the North and South regions are already on holiday by then, and the Central region starts on 18 July.
What this means per region
Ghent. The Ghent Festivities draw a lot of visitors to the city for ten days. In addition, the 21 July bridge weekend falls in the first half of the festivities. Properties in and around the centre are then in high demand.
Province of Antwerp. Tomorrowland itself is in Boom, but festivalgoers and their companions stay overnight across the whole region. Think of Antwerp, Mechelen and the municipalities between the two. Because there are two festival weekends, the higher demand also applies to 24 to 26 July.
Wallonia. The Grand Prix draws visitors from Belgium and abroad to the area around Spa. Properties some distance from the circuit also get demand, especially if they are easy to reach.
Set your prices right, early
For events like these, bookings are often made well in advance. The biggest risk is that your property has already gone at a normal summer price, long before you realise how big the demand is.
So check your calendar now:
- Are the nights from 17 to 19 July already open at a higher price?
- Have you allowed for the night from Sunday to Monday and from Monday to Tuesday, because of the bridge day?
- In the province of Antwerp: have you also raised prices for the second Tomorrowland weekend from 24 to 26 July?
- In Ghent: does the higher price run across the whole period of the festivities?
Is your property already booked? That is no disaster. Use the experience for the next edition and check whether the remaining nights are still priced correctly.
Also look at comparable properties in your area. How many are already fully booked, and what are the ones still available asking? That gives a better picture than a fixed rule.
Minimum stay around the event
With an event like this, you want to avoid someone booking only the Saturday night. Friday and Sunday then often stay empty.
- For the weekend of 17 to 19 July, a minimum of two or three nights makes sense.
- In Ghent, you can also encourage longer stays during the festivities, for example with a lower rate per night from four nights.
- Around Spa, a minimum of three nights fits well with visitors who arrive on Friday and leave on Monday.
Keep an eye on things in the last two weeks before the event. If single nights remain open, lower the minimum for those specific days.
Festivalgoers and house rules
Festival guests are not difficult guests by definition. Many groups are quiet and considerate. Still, it pays to be clear in advance, especially with Tomorrowland and the Ghent Festivities.
A few points to watch:
- State the maximum number of guests clearly, and check at the time of booking how many people are coming.
- Put in your house rules that parties in the property are not allowed.
- Ask politely at the time of booking about the purpose of the stay. That helps you align expectations.
- Consider a security deposit, if your platform allows it, and mention it clearly.
- Make sure you have good third-party liability insurance and check with your insurer whether holiday letting is covered.
Word your rules in a friendly and concrete way. A guest who knows what the arrangements are will generally stick to them.
Check-in, check-out and noise
Festivalgoers and race visitors often keep a different rhythm from families on holiday. They sometimes arrive late and leave early, or in fact late. So plan carefully:
- Make sure guests can check in on their own, even late in the evening.
- Set clear times for check-in and check-out, and communicate them more than once.
- Plan the cleaning with some margin. On Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 July, many guests leave at the same time.
- Provide extra towels and bin bags.
Noise is a point to watch, especially in flats. Remind guests of the neighbours' night-time rest, with a friendly request in your welcome guide. Also let your neighbours know it will be a busy weekend and give them a number on which they can reach you. That prevents a lot of irritation.
Also bear in mind the local rules for holiday letting in Ghent and Antwerp. Check with your municipality what applies.
Checklist for the coming weeks
- Check your prices for 17 to 21 July, and in Antwerp also for 24 to 26 July.
- Set a minimum stay that suits the event.
- Update your house rules and state the maximum number of guests.
- Arrange self check-in and plan the cleaning for Monday and Tuesday.
- Inform your neighbours.
Help with a peak weekend
A weekend like this calls for quick follow-up and good planning. YourDomi sets prices daily based on market data, communicates with your guests 7/7 in several languages and works with smart locks with a code per stay. Would you like to know what that could mean for your property? Request a personal proposal.
