January 2027: public holidays, school breaks and world days in Belgium

Every date in January 2027 in Belgium: public holidays, school holidays, world days, sales and key moments and what each one means.

1. 2Wed

   Pre-sales waiting period, winter

   from Wednesday December 2, 2026 to Friday January 1, 2027 · Commercial moment

   The month before the winter sales: in Belgium, retailers may not advertise discounts on clothing, shoes and leather goods.

2. 21Mon

   Winter break (French-speaking schools)

   from Monday December 21, 2026 to Friday January 1, 2027 · Congé scolaire

   Christmas break for French-speaking schools: two weeks around the festive season.

3. 21Mon

   Christmas break (Flemish schools)

   from Monday December 21, 2026 to Sunday January 3, 2027 · Congé scolaire

   Christmas break for Flemish schools: two weeks around the festive season.

4. 1Fri

   New Year's Day

   Friday January 1 · Public holiday

   First day of the calendar year, a public holiday in Belgium and France.

5. 1Fri

   Dry January

   from Friday January 1 to Sunday January 31, 2027 · Commercial moment

   Challenge to go alcohol-free for the month of January, started in the UK in 2013.

6. 2Sat

   Winter sales

   from Saturday January 2 to Sunday January 31, 2027 · Commercial moment

   Belgium's legal winter sales period, from 3 to 31 January.

7. 6Wed

   Epiphany (king cake)

   Wednesday January 6 · Commercial moment

   Christian feast of the visit of the Magi, on 6 January; in Belgium and France the Church celebrates it on the Sunday between 2 and 8 January. People share a king cake: whoever finds the bean becomes king.

8. 8Fri

   Brussels Motor Show

   from Friday January 8 to Sunday January 17, 2027 · Event

   The Brussels Motor Show, at Brussels Expo in January: the key event for new models and show deals.

9. 17Sun

   International Day of Italian Cuisine

   Sunday January 17 · World day

   International Day of Italian Cuisines, on 17 January (Saint Anthony's day), launched in 2008 by the GVCI network of Italian chefs abroad to defend authentic Italian cooking.

10. 18Mon

    Blue Monday

    Monday January 18 · Commercial moment

    The third Monday of January, billed as 'the most depressing day of the year'. The idea came from a 2005 advertising campaign and has no scientific basis.

11. 25Mon

    Community Manager Appreciation Day

    Monday January 25 · World day

    A day honouring community managers, who run brands' social media. On the fourth Monday of January.

12. 28Thu

    Data Protection Day

    Thursday January 28 · World day

    Data Protection Day, on 28 January, an initiative of the Council of Europe.

See the full marketing calendar in Belgium Add the calendar to my agenda (.ics)