ING Arena Brussels: The Complete Guide to the Venue

Located on the Heysel Plateau in Brussels, the ING Arena (formerly Palais 12) has established itself as one of Belgium’s leading performance venues. From international concerts and sporting events to family shows and corporate events, its architectural flexibility makes it a versatile venue capable of adapting to a wide variety of audiences and event formats. Here’s a comprehensive overview of its capacity, seating configurations, and the events it hosts throughout the year—so you can learn everything there is to know about the ING Arena in Brussels.

AN ICONIC VENUE ON THE HEYSEL PLATEAU

Opened in 1989 and completely renovated in 2013, the ING Arena is part of the Brussels Expo. Its polyhedral roof, made of wooden panels assembled into triangles, rests on exterior concrete piles. This architectural design allows the interior space to be completely free of columns or pillars, a major advantage for both audience visibility and the artists’ stage design. The venue was renamed the ING Arena in September 2023 as part of a partnership with ING Bank, after having been known for decades as Palais 12.

WHAT IS THE CAPACITY OF THE ING ARENA?

The capacity of the ING Arena varies significantly depending on the type of event and the layout chosen by the organizer. The figures reported over the years have changed, but the venue remains, by and large, a very large venue—one of the largest in the country.

In its largest configuration, the venue can accommodate up to 15,000 spectators, particularly for standing-room-only concerts with a floor area. It was this format, for example, that allowed Muse to perform to a sold-out crowd in a 360-degree setup. For most seated concerts or mixed-seating events (floor + bleachers), capacity is typically around 12,000. Finally, for more intimate events (performances, showcases, corporate events), the venue can be scaled down to just a few hundred seats.

This versatility makes the ING Arena a rare venue on the Belgian market: it can host both an international concert with more than 10,000 fans and a more intimate event, without compromising on the quality of the experience or the sense of intimacy.

DIFFERENT ROOM SETUPS

The strength of the ING Arena lies in its ability to completely transform its interior layout depending on the type of show being presented. Several standard configurations are used regularly:

Front Stage Configuration

This is the most traditional layout: a stage is set up at one end of the venue, with a standing area in front of it and bleachers all around or arranged in a semicircle. This layout is suitable for the vast majority of pop, rock, rap, and variety concerts, and allows the venue capacity to be adjusted based on ticket sales (standing area only, standing area plus bleachers, or full configuration).

360-Degree Configuration

For more immersive shows, the stage is set up in the center of the venue, with the audience seated all around it. This format, which is more technically complex, literally transforms the ING Arena into a space where every audience member finds themselves at the heart of the show. It has been used in particular for electronic music events and concerts with elaborate stage designs, where the closeness between the artist and the audience is an integral part of the experience.

Compact or modular configuration

Thanks to blackout curtains and a retractable seating system, the venue can be “scaled down” for smaller events. This option is frequently used when ticket sales do not warrant opening the full capacity, allowing for a cozy, intimate atmosphere even in configurations with just a few thousand seats.

Sports or Event Setup

The ING Arena also features specialized facilities for sporting events (tennis, basketball, etc.) as well as for trade shows, award ceremonies, and corporate events, with fully customizable furnishings and staging to meet the organizer’s specifications.

WHAT KINDS OF EVENTS DOES THE ING ARENA HOST?

Thanks to this flexibility, the ING Arena’s programming is particularly diverse:

• International concerts: The venue has hosted artists such as Stromae, Muse, Angèle, Damso, Nicki Minaj, Santana, and Kaytranada, whose performance in a 360-degree immersive setting left a lasting impression.
• Ceremonies and award shows: For example, the ING Arena has hosted the MIAs, Belgium’s music awards ceremony.
• Sports events: tennis tournaments, basketball games, or other competitions held in a venue that can easily be converted into a playing area.
• Family shows and tours for young audiences: musicals, televised tours, or shows adapted for a wider audience.
• Corporate events and trade shows: conventions, corporate parties, or product launches—take advantage of the absence of pillars to create a custom-designed setting.

To learn more about upcoming events, feel free to check out our calendar !

THE ING ARENA: AN ASSET FOR EVENT ORGANIZERS?

The main advantage of the ING Arena lies in its ability to adapt to actual audience demand, rather than imposing a fixed capacity. An up-and-coming artist can thus perform in a smaller, more intimate setting, while an international headliner can fill the entire venue with a standing-room-only configuration. This flexibility, combined with acoustics that were upgraded during the 2013 renovation and accessibility features designed for people with limited mobility (elevators, a raised platform, and lowered counters), explains why the ING Arena remains a must-visit stop on European tours and a premier venue for event organizers in Belgium.

THE LOUNGE CLUB: THE VIP AREA AT THE ING ARENA

In addition to the performance hall itself, the ING Arena has its own VIP area: the ING Arena Lounge Club, designed to extend the concert experience far beyond the stage. The idea is to offer attendees who wish to do so a more intimate and comfortable way to enjoy their evening, featuring an exceptional concert, a refined dinner, and convivial moments over a drink.

In practice, this service takes the form of VIP Experience packages offered in conjunction with certain concerts, typically including expedited entry to the venue, a seated ticket with an unobstructed view of the stage, as well as additional perks such as a dedicated “ parking ” ticket located right next to the entrance. This type of offer is aimed both at fans who want to enjoy a concert under special conditions and at companies looking to host clients or partners in a more exclusive setting.

In addition to the ING Arena Lounge Club, the ING Arena also offers hospitality areas designed for professionals (boxes and VIP areas that can be reserved for business events), further enhancing the versatility of a venue capable of combining a mass-market experience with a premium experience within the same event.

IN SUMMARY

The ING Arena is not a static venue but a versatile space capable of hosting everything from a stadium concert for 15,000 people to a corporate event for a few hundred guests. This versatility, combined with its strategic location on the Heysel Plateau and its accessibility, makes it one of the most sought-after venues on the Belgian events scene today.