Practical information
2026 edition
Date Thursday 14 May 2026
Time Start at 14:30 (Dijver)
The Procession of the Holy Blood takes place on Ascension Day every year. In 2026 this will be on Thursday 14th May and in 2027 this will be Thursday 6th May.
The procession will start in the Dijver at 14:30. The passage of the procession will take about an hour and a half at any point along the route. Depending on the route location, the procession could pass by a little earlier or later. The procession will end at 17:30.
Music puts the city in a festive mood!
The Royal Speelschaar SFX band adds to the festive atmosphere in Bruges on the day of the Procession of the Holy Blood. The band has been in existence for over 75 years and was formerly associated with the Sint-Franciscus-Xaveriusinstituut. It still bears that name today. The band has a triple task on Holy Blood Day. A group of around 80 musicians gets the city into a festive mood in the morning: at 10:25, to the sound of the triumphal bell in the belfry, the relic of the Holy Blood is placed in the shrine on the Burg. In the form of a small “morning procession”, they accompany the relic, the Noble Brotherhood of the Holy Blood and a delegation from the city council to St. Salvator's Cathedral for the pontifical Eucharist. In the afternoon, they provide marching music for the procession, to which a group of flag wavers dance enthusiastically. Finally, they round off the day during the closing ceremony on the Burg.
Good to know: during the Procession of the Holy Blood , all the music is performed live, involving a total of more than 250 musicians.
Route
Legend
Route
Stands
Benches
First aid station: +32 476 08 34 15
- 1
Belfry
- 2
Basilica of the Holy Blood
- 3
Church of Our Lady
- 4
Saint Saviour’s Cathedral
Toilets
Information & tickets
- In&Uit Brugge (Concertgebouw, 't Zand)
- Tourist Info (Historium, Markt)
More information
Has there been an accident? Are you feeling unwell? Is there a medical emergency or do you need first aid? During the event, call the medical team on +32 476 08 34 15.
Explain:
- where you are;
- what is happening;
- who is injured.
No De Lijn buses will run on the procession route from 12:45 and until the procession is over.
Services will run via a modified route. Between 8:00 and 12:45, services are the same as on shopping days in function of the Morgenprocessie.
More info can be found at De Lijn or call 070 220 220.
The centre shuttle follows a modified itinerary and only serves the following stops:
L. Coiseaukaai - Calvarie (direction station) - Langerei (direction station) - Jan van Eyck (direction station) - Biekorf - H. Brugmansstraat (instead of Kiss & Ride station). The timetable may vary.
If the Procession of the Holy Blood is officially cancelled (e.g. due to bad weather conditions), there are two options for ticket holders:
- either you choose to rebook your ticket free of charge to the next edition in 2027. You can do that until 15 March 2027.
- or you choose to have your ticket refunded. You do so until 15 March 2027 as well.
In&Uit itself will contact all ticket holders for rebooking or refund with the procedure to follow.
Traffic and passage of all vehicles, bicycles and animals is prohibited:
- from 8:00 until after the Procession of the Holy Blood in Oude Burg, Nieuwstraat, Sint-Niklaasstraat, Oude Zomerstraat, Minderbroederstraat, Park, Pandreitje and Kartuizerinnenstraat.
- from 13:00 until after the procession passes in Wollestraat, Dijver, Gruuthusestraat, Guido Gezelleplein, Mariastraat, Simon Stevinplein, Steenstraat, Zuidzandstraat, Hauwerstraat, Maagdenstraat (between Klokstraat and Smedenstraat), Smedenstraat, 't Zand, Vrijdagmarkt, Noordzandstraat, Geldmuntstraat, Eiermarkt, Markt, Breidelstraat, Burg, Rozenhoedkaai and Braambergstraat.
- in all streets leading to the circulation in a ten-metre radius around all previously mentioned streets and squares.
The Procession of the Holy Blood works with the heritage app Erfgoedapp. Through this app, you can follow the procession for free via audio description or with clips in sign language that are also subtitled. More information and download the app via erfgoedapp.be.
On the day of the Procession of the Holy Blood, parking is prohibited in the following streets from 5:00 until after the procession: Minderbroedersstraat, Park and Pandreitje.
Parking is prohibited in the following streets from 7:00 until after the procession: Rozenhoedkaai, Wollestraat, Dijver, Gruuthusestraat, Guido Gezelleplein, Mariastraat, Simon Stevinplein, Steenstraat, Zuidzandstraat, Hauwerstraat, Maagdenstraat (between Hauwerstraat and Smedenstraat), Smedenstraat, 't Zand, Vrijdagmarkt, Noordzandstraat, Geldmuntstraat, Eiermarkt, Markt, Breidelstraat, Burg, Oude Burg, Nieuwstraat, Sint-Niklaasstraat, Oude Zomerstraat, Kartuizerinnenstraat, Schaarstraat (between Minderbroedersstraat and Violierstraat), Violierstraat (between Schaarstraat and house number 9) and Gevangenisstraat.
It is also forbidden to park within a ten-metre radius of these streets and squares, except in parking spaces designated by the City Council.
As an occupant of a building along the route of the Holy Blood Procession, you may place a maximum of two rows of chairs on the pavement in front of the building you occupy. You keep a passage of at least 90 cm clear on the footpaths.
Do not close off streets leading to the procession's circulation. Do not place any of chairs or benches there.
Visitors with disabilities
The Procession of the Holy Blood is an event for everyone. We value inclusion and accessibility. We help you experience this historic event to the fullest.
