La Demence, Brussels: Europe’s Wildest Gay Party. Our complete guide to one of the most legendary gay parties we've ever been to. Here’s how we danced, sweated, and somehow lived to tell the tale.
You haven’t really been to Brussels until you’ve survived La Demence — and by “survived,” we mean stumbling out of Fuse at sunrise, blinking like a newborn mole, wondering what year it is. Or worse — making it to the ING Arena for the Saturday main event and realising you’ve basically signed up for a gay marathon with lasers.
La Demence is one of those parties that starts as a night out and somehow becomes a life event. There’s no dress code, just a slow but inevitable shedding of clothing until everyone looks like they’ve been tumble-dried in testosterone. The music? Filthy good. The crowd? Pure bedlam. The energy? Relentless.
We lost track of time, dignity, and possibly a shoe. But we gained memories, new friends, and a renewed respect for Brussels’ ability to party like it’s hosting the Gay Olympics.
La Demence didn’t just test our limits. It redefined them — loudly, sweatily, and with lasers.
What is the La Demence gay party?
We’d heard about La Demence for years, whispered in dark corners of gay bars like some mythical creature… “You haven’t lived until you’ve done La Demence,” they said. Turns out, they were right…
It all started back in 1989 and has gone from strength to strength every year since. La Démence is French for ‘the madness'. Accurate. After a weekend there, we totally got it.
The main event is the Halloween weekend: 3 nights that test the limits of your stamina, your hydration levels, and your self-respect. Friday and Sunday happen at Fuse, a dark, sweaty labyrinth where shirts mysteriously vanish. Saturday moves to the massive 15,000 capacity ING Concert Arena, where thousands of men descend for what feels like the gay Olympics meets an emotional breakdown – with lasers.
There’s also the New Year’s Day edition, a full-blown resurrection party where everyone crawls out of the previous year and straight back onto the dance floor.
La Demence isn’t the kind of party you go to. It’s the kind that swallows you whole, chews you up, and sends you home smiling, dehydrated, and already planning your next round.
When and where does La Démence happen?
The main La Demence party takes place over the Halloween weekend end of October and early November in Brussels. The opening party takes place on the Friday night of that weekend at Fuse club, the large main event at the ING Arena (10,000 capacity) on the Saturday evening, and the closing party back at Fuse club on the Sunday evening.
These are each huge parties! They start around 10 pm and go on until 9 am the next day – the opening party until 12 noon.
A second La Demence party happens on New Year's Day at the Fuse club. It's just as wild as the Halloween one and easily one of the best gay New Year's parties to check out.
And if you want EVEN MORE La Demence craziness, be sure to check out the next La Demence gay cruise, which takes place every July.
How much does it cost to attend?
The main gay Halloween La Demence parties each cost around €50, with some combo tickets available if you buy for 2 or all 3 events, making it cheaper. Check the tickets section on the La Demence website for more info.
Obviously, you'll also need to factor in the cost of your train/flight to Brussels, as well as the cost of your accommodation (see more on this below).
What should I wear for La Demence?
Our advice, the less you wear, the better 🙂 Think short shorts, jockstrap if you dare, and shoes you don't mind getting mucky. Throw in a harness for good measure. We also like sport socks that go up mid calves – not only do they look hot, but they're a handy place to store things like gum, lip balm, lube, and other candy treats you'll want quick access to. Don't worry, lockers are provided at both clubs.
The one thing we'd make a point of is finding a way to secure your mobile safely, as pickpocketing is rife at these parties, especially at the large Saturday party at the ING Stadium. I bought a running arm band to place above my calf to store my phone, which was fine. Seby had a small bag that hung across his body. However, this was not enough, and he got his phone stolen. Alternative options we would suggest include getting a low, hard-to-reach zip pocket on the shorts or a fanny pack/bum bag.
We recommend looking over our gay pride outfits article for ideas of accessories to get for the parties. One idea Seby had was flashing neon sunglasses you can get from Amazon, so we could find/locate each other if we ever got separated.
What's the crowd like at La Demence?
The first thing that hit us wasn’t the music. It was the sheer wall of men. Thousands of them. Everywhere.
La Demence is about 95% male, and about 94% of those are infuriatingly attractive. Think every accent in Europe colliding under one roof – Spanish, French, Italian, German, all communicating fluently in the language of sweat and side-eye. There’s no one “type” either: gym gods, leather guys, first-timers clutching their drinks like flotation devices, and plenty of regulars who clearly know exactly what they’re doing.
It’s hot, loud, and scented with that unmistakable mix of musk, sweat, and pure testosterone…basically, Eau de La Demence. In other words, heaven. Everyone’s friendly, flirty, and out for the same reason: to dance like it’s an Olympic event and make lifelong squirrel friends.
By sunrise, we’d lost our voices, our dignity, and possibly a sock. Worth it? Every sweaty second!
What's the music like?
If we had to sum it up in one word: relentless. La Demence doesn’t do “warm-up sets”. It’s full throttle from the moment you walk in until the lights come up and you realise your legs are no longer accepting commands from your brain.
The music is pure, unapologetic European gay club energy. Heavy tech-house, throbbing tribal beats, and those huge diva vocals that sneak in right when you think you’re done dancing. Then suddenly you’re back at it, arms in the air, screaming lyrics you don’t even know.
Each floor has its own flavour: Fuse’s main room goes deep and dirty, while the upstairs space gives more of that sweaty, hands-in-the-air euphoria that feels half spiritual, half scandalous. At the ING Arena, the scale is next level. Lasers, confetti cannons, and thousands of men moving in perfect rhythm to DJs like Ben Manson, Tom Stephan, Chris Bekker, and Ana Paula, who somehow manage to keep the energy peaking for eight straight hours.
By 7 a.m., we were convinced time had stopped. Or maybe, it was just our ability to count. Either way, the beat never does.
Our practical tips for preparing for La Démence
- Book your tickets in advance: as soon as you've committed to going, we recommend booking your tickets on the La Demence website as soon as possible, as they sell out, especially the opening night party at Fuse club. Ticket resales are usually available if this happens from others who have to cancel. Tickets are often available for sale at the door, but if an event sells out, this only happens from around 4 am.
- Stock up on €2 coins for Fuse club lockers: you'll need a locker to store your clothes. The lockers at the Fuse club require a €2 coin to open them, and an additional one if you return to them. Whilst you can get these at the bar, it's handy to just plan and come with several to save you time.
- Pre-book your locker for the Saturday party at the ING Arena: follow this link to do this, otherwise expect a long queue for one on the night.
- Taxis Verts: consider downloading this local app as an alternative to Bolt and Uber. The ING stadium is quite far from Brussels city center, and a ride on Uber can cost upwards of €70, especially in the early hours when everyone is searching for a driver.
- Parties go on till late! These are huge parties that go until 9 am the next day, the opening party until 12 noon, so our advice is to factor in plenty of relaxation and chill out time in between so as not to exhaust yourself!
- Pack your electrolyte supplements: let's be real, most will be taking an assortment of candy for these parties. Help your body recover in between each event and give it the TLC it needs, starting with electrolyte supplements.
- Pickpockets are everywhere! As with all big gay events that have tight-knit dark spaces, pickpocketing is rife! The best thing is to leave as much as possible in your locker. But if you must carry your phone/wallet with you, we recommend planning for a way to keep this as secure as possible, difficult for a pickpocket to steal.
- Get travel insurance: whether it's with your bank provider, mobile phone carrier, or a company like Heymondo, just make sure you're covered for loss. Seby got his new iPhone stolen, but thankfully, we were able to swiftly report it to the local police and claim a cash payout from our travel insurance.
Travel worry-free!
Don't skimp out on your travel insurance: make sure your trip is fun, frivolous, and free! Most importantly, good travel insurance will cover you for loss from petty theft, medical emergencies, flight cancellations, pricey hospital bills, car rental protection, and more.
We recommend reading our article about the importance of travel insurance so you can assess which policy is best for you.
Where is a good place to stay in Brussels for La Demence?
Each time we visit Brussels for La Demence, we strive to stay in and around the city center, preferably on the southern edge, as this is where Fuse is located. Staying within walking distance of Fuse was quite handy.
When it comes to searching for gay friendly hotels in Brussels, you're in luck. Belgium is one of the most gay friendly countries in the world, so you'd be hard-pressed to find a place that does not welcome gay travelers. Most hotels in Brussels have the Booking.com #TravelProud certification, including the Brussels Marriott Hotel Grand Place, Hotel Fleur de Ville, and the Pillows City Hotel.
On our recent visit to La Demence, we used Misterbnb to book an apartment close to the Brussels Midi Eurostar station, which is also a short walk to Fuse.
STAY WITH A GAY LOCAL!
Misterb&b is the Airbnb equivalent for the LGBTQ+ community.
Unlike on Airbnb, you know your host is gay, avoiding any nasty surprises when you check in. It is also a great way to meet gay locals and discover the underground gay scene together.
Read more about it and claim $10 off your first booking:
What else is there to do in Brussels for gay travelers?
Those who want to continue partying after the events finish will likely head to a chill or Macho Sauna. Obviously, we recommend prioritising rest and downtime in between the 3 big parties. The Brussels gay scene also includes gay bars like Stacion BXL and Le Dolores, and the cruising Stammbar. If you fancy a drag show, check out Chez Maman, the Potiche Cabaret Bar, and Cabaret Mademoiselle.
If you're in town long enough, there's plenty to do in Brussels, such as visiting the iconic Atomium building (close to the Saturday ING Arena party), exploring the city center, Grand Place, the quirky Manneken Pis statue, and the Royal Palace.
Brussels is also a joy for foodies, particularly those of us who love French fries (frites) as much as Seby does. Brussels is famous for them. Other culinary highlights to try include waffles, moules-frites (mussels with fries), and, of course, my favorite, Belgian chocolate.
Read more travel adventures like this in our book!
We've published our very own gay travel book called, ‘Out in the World'. It has all our practical safety tips, first-hand advice, and travel stories from some of our favorite destinations.
We hope it inspires you to have a fun and safe trip!
Click on the book to order:
For more inspo, you know you need to hit up these gems:
- Our take on what the most gay friendly cities in the world are
- Heading to London? Use our London gay guide to plan your trip
- One epic gay event we love is Maspalomas Pride in Gran Canaria
- We love a gay music festival, and Mighty Hoopla in London gives us LIFE
- Our Valencia gay guide will entice you to explore this region of Spain
