Brussels accommodation tax increases from 1 January 2026

Last updated: 11 January 2026

Brussels has increased its regional tax on tourist accommodation from 1 January 2026. This Brussels accommodation tax change is a straightforward budgeting item for most visitors. For travelers, this is a straightforward budgeting item that can add up across multiple nights, multiple rooms, or group stays.

What changed in 2026

From 1 January 2026, the Brussels-Capital Region applies higher rates for the tax on tourist accommodation establishments:

• Standard rate: EUR 5 per overnight stay for each accommodation unit (including municipal surcharges)

• Homestays and camping sites: EUR 4 per overnight stay for each accommodation unit (including municipal surcharges)

An accommodation unit is defined as a bedroom or a space arranged for sleeping. In practice, this often maps to how many rooms or sleeping units are booked and occupied.

Brussels accommodation tax and your trip budget

This tax is typically collected by the accommodation provider and shown on your bill as a local or city tax type line item.

Examples:

• A couple staying 3 nights in a single hotel room can expect EUR 15 in this specific tax (EUR 5 x 3).

• A family booking two rooms for 4 nights can expect EUR 40 (EUR 5 x 2 rooms x 4 nights).

• A camping stay billed as a sleeping unit for 5 nights can expect EUR 20 (EUR 4 x 5).

Your final accommodation total may still include other items (room rate, VAT, optional breakfast, parking, etc.), so treat this as a separate fixed-per-night cost component.

Key traveler impact

• Higher total accommodation cost for Brussels stays in 2026, especially for longer trips.

• Group travel and multi-room bookings are most affected because the tax is per overnight stay per accommodation unit.

• Homestays and camping have a lower per-unit rate than standard accommodation, but it still adds a predictable nightly amount.

Practical tips before you book

• Check the price breakdown at checkout and look for lines such as “taxes and fees” or “city tax.” Some platforms show it separately, others add it at the property.

• Confirm how the property counts accommodation units if you are booking apartments, family rooms, or multi-bedroom setups.

• Budget a small buffer for local charges so you do not get surprised at check-in or check-out.

• If you are comparing Brussels with nearby cities for a short trip, include local taxes in your comparison, not only the nightly room rate.

Official source

Use these official Brussels pages for the current rule text and definitions:

• Tax on tourist accommodation establishments: higher rates from 1 January 2026

• Regional tax on tourist accommodation establishments (overview)