Flexi-job in Events, Sport and Culture: New Opportunities from April 2026

From 1 April 2026, flexi-jobs are possible in almost every sector of the Belgian labour market. Three of the most interesting new fields are events, sport and culture. Think of bar work at a festival, reception at a football club or ticketing in a theatre. What does this expansion mean in practice? Which roles are out there? And how much can you earn doing them?

What changes on 1 April 2026?

Until recently, the flexi-job system was limited to a small number of sectors: hospitality, retail, horticulture, logistics and a handful of others. Anyone working in a theatre or at a sports club did not fall under the favourable flexi-job status and had to be employed in some other way.

That changes fundamentally on 1 April 2026 thanks to the opt-out mechanism. The logic is reversed: from now on, flexi-jobs are allowed by default in nearly all sectors. Only sectors or joint committees that explicitly state they do not want flexi-jobs fall outside the system. Anyone who does not opt out is automatically included.

In practice, this means that hundreds of employers in sectors such as events, sport and culture can now use flexi-jobbers for the first time. For flexi-jobbers, this opens up a world of new jobs that were simply not available before.

The conditions remain the same

The expansion into new sectors does not change anything about the basic conditions of the flexi-job status. To be able to work as a flexi-jobber, you still have to meet the so-called T-3 condition: in the third quarter before your flexi-job starts, you must have worked at least 4/5 (80%) for another employer. This is checked automatically via the Dimona declaration.

Students who already do a student job can in some cases also work as a flexi-jobber, but the rules are different. Have doubts about your situation? Then take a look at the frequently asked questions on AnyShift for a clear overview.

Flexi-job in the events sector

The events sector is perhaps the most varied of the three new fields. From large music festivals to intimate conferences, from trade fairs to sporting events: the range of employers and roles is enormous. And the work is often exactly the kind that suits a flexi-jobber well: short, intense, at specific moments.

Which events and employers?

As a flexi-jobber in the events sector, you can work for a wide range of organisations and events:

• Music festivals – Tomorrowland, Pukkelpop, Rock Werchter, Couleur Café, the Gentse Feesten and dozens of smaller festivals throughout Flanders
• Concerts and shows – concert halls, the Sportpaleis, Lotto Arena, Ancienne Belgique and other venues
• Trade fairs and conferences – Flanders Expo, Brussels Expo, trade shows, corporate events and conferences
• Sporting events – marathons, cycling races, tennis tournaments, football matches with public-facing roles
• Local events – municipal festivities, markets, winter markets, street fairs with catering

Which roles are there?

The roles in the events sector are diverse and generally require no lengthy training. You can work as a:

• Bartender or bar assistant – serving drinks, operating the till, collecting glasses
• Catering and food service – food trucks, catering stands, serving at tables or counters
• Ticketing and access control – scanning tickets, welcoming visitors, guiding the flow of visitors
• Set-up and tear-down – putting up or taking down sets, stands, tents and stages
• Security services (steward) – guiding visitors, monitoring emergency exits, keeping escape routes clear
• Hostess or reception – welcoming visitors, handing out badges, giving information at trade fairs or conferences
• Cleaning and site maintenance – maintaining sanitary facilities, keeping the site clean during the event

Working at a festival as a flexi-job is attractive because you usually work a few intense days and are then free again. That fits perfectly with the definition of flexible work. Through AnyShift for Shifters you will find available shifts at events near you.

Flexi-job at sports clubs and organisations

Sport is big in Flanders. There are thousands of football clubs, hundreds of fitness centres, dozens of swimming pools and many other sports organisations that need people every week for all kinds of tasks. Until April 2026, however, the flexi-job status was not available for that sector. That has now changed.

Where can you work?

• Football clubs – from 1A to the lowest provincial divisions: clubs need people for the front desk, the canteen and event support on match days
• Fitness centres and gyms – reception, cleaning, support during group classes (as an assistant)
• Swimming pools and aquatic centres – till, changing-room management, hospitality in the pool café
• Tennis clubs and padel courts – reception, court management, bar service
• Sports complexes and elite sports centres – event support, technical assistance, catering
• Sports federations and organisations – office support at events, logistics during competitions

Which roles are there?

In the sports sector, the flexi-job roles are largely focused on welcoming people and the experience around sport, not on coaching or training itself. Think of:

• Reception and front desk – receiving members, processing registrations, answering questions
• Bar work and canteen – selling drinks and snacks at home matches or sporting events
• Maintenance and cleaning – keeping changing rooms, pitches and equipment clean after use
• Referee assistant or match-day desk worker – keeping forms, timekeeping, logistical support
• Event coordination – supporting the organisation at major sports days, tournaments or club events

If you are a fan of a sport or a member of a club, this is a way to earn something extra in an environment you already know well. The flexi-job at a sports club in Flanders is no longer an exception after April 2026 but the standard.

Flexi-job in the culture sector

Theatres, museums, cultural centres, libraries: the cultural sector always needs people to welcome and guide the public and make sure everything runs smoothly. Until recently, those people often worked as student workers or on precarious contracts. Flexi-jobbers could not work there. That changes in April 2026.

Where can you work?

• Theatres and concert halls – large companies such as NTGent, the Zuiderpershuis or local city theatres
• Museums and exhibition centres – reception, guiding groups, shop management
• Cultural centres (CCs) – almost every Flemish municipality has a cultural centre that regularly needs extra people
• Cinemas – depending on their joint committee, cinema operators can also use flexi-jobbers
• Event and festival organisers in the culture sector – arts festivals, literature weekends, open-air concerts

Which roles are there?

• Reception and audience services – welcoming visitors, answering questions, directing people to the right halls
• Guide and host – giving tours in museums or exhibitions (usually combined with training provided by the employer)
• Bar work and foyer – serving drinks before and after performances, staffing the catering stand
• Technical support – helping to build sets, assisting with lighting and sound (often with specific experience)
• Ticketing and till – selling tickets, processing reservations, access control
• Administrative support – helping briefly with administration at larger events or cultural institutions

Working in a flexi-job at a cultural centre or museum is something other than working a shift in hospitality. The atmosphere is calm, the visitors are motivated, and you often work at interesting times such as weekends and evenings. What is more, you get to know the institution from the inside. On the locations page of AnyShift you will find an overview of available shifts per region.

How much do you earn as a flexi-jobber in these sectors?

The legal minimum hourly wage for flexi-jobbers is €12.29 per hour (indexed for 2026). In practice, wages in the events, sport and culture sectors are often higher, certainly for roles that require some experience or responsibility. On top of that come possible supplements for evening and weekend work.

Sector	Role	Indicative hourly wage	Supplements possible?
Events	Bartender / catering	€12.50 – €14.50	Yes (evening, weekend)
Events	Ticketing / reception	€12.29 – €13.50	Yes (weekend)
Events	Set-up / tear-down	€13.00 – €16.00	Yes (early/late)
Sport	Reception / front desk	€12.29 – €13.50	Yes (weekend)
Sport	Canteen bar work	€12.29 – €14.00	Yes (evening, weekend)
Culture	Reception / audience services	€12.29 – €14.00	Yes (evening, weekend)
Culture	Foyer bar work	€12.50 – €14.50	Yes (evening)
Culture	Guide / host	€13.50 – €17.00	Sometimes

Remember: as a flexi-jobber, your gross income equals your net income. You pay no personal income tax and no personal social security contributions on your flexi-job wage. That makes every euro you earn an immediate euro in your pocket. Up to an annual ceiling of €18,440, everything is tax-free.

Want to know what other ways of earning extra bring in and how a flexi-job compares to a secondary occupation or side hustle? Then also read the other blogs on AnyShift for a comparative overview.

In practice: how do you start?

The step towards your first flexi-job in events, sport or culture is smaller than you think. Here is how it works in practice:

1. Check your T-3 condition – verify whether, three quarters ago, you worked at least 4/5 for another employer. In doubt? Then check the platform of your payroll agency or ask your main employer.
2. Create a profile on AnyShift – download the app and fill in your availability and preferences. Indicate which sectors you want to work in and in which region you are available.
3. Look for shifts that suit you – on AnyShift you will find an overview of available shifts at events, sports clubs and cultural institutions. Choose based on date, location and role.
4. Apply and confirm – for most shifts you can submit your application directly via the app. The employer confirms and arranges the Dimona declaration.
5. Get to work – no complicated paperwork, no tax return for your flexi-job wage. Your employer handles everything. You work, you earn.

Start looking now for the festival season. The big festivals in the summer of 2026 are busy with their staffing plans, and the best shifts go fast. Through AnyShift's Shifters platform you can easily keep an eye on what is available. Would you rather work for a company that manages its staff via AnyShift? On the companies page of AnyShift you can see how employers use the system.

5 reasons why events, sport and culture are ideal for flexi-jobbers

Not every flexi-job sector is equally suitable for everyone. But for anyone looking for variety and a fun way to earn extra in the summer or at the weekend, events, sport and culture are particularly attractive options.

1. Varied work without monotony

Unlike a fixed job in hospitality or retail, a flexi-jobber in the events sector never works twice in exactly the same place. One time you are behind the bar at a jazz festival in Ghent, the next time you are helping at a trade fair in Kortrijk. That keeps the work fresh.

2. An atmosphere you find nowhere else

Backstage at a concert, in the changing rooms of a football stadium, or behind the scenes of a theatre production: flexi-jobbers in these sectors see the world of events and culture from a side most people never see. That has a value of its own that is hard to express in money.

3. A flexible schedule that fits your life

Most events and performances take place at the weekend or in the evening. For anyone who works full-time during the day, that is perfect. You do not have to rearrange your weekly schedule; you fill your free hours with shifts you choose yourself. Flexible work at festivals in the summer of 2026 is not a slogan, it is the reality for hundreds of flexi-jobbers.

4. Networking in interesting environments

Anyone working in the events, sport or culture sector meets people from all kinds of fields. Organisers, artists, athletes, curators, technicians. For anyone who wants to progress in that sector or become professionally active in it later, a flexi-job is an excellent way to make contacts and leave a first impression.

5. Extra pocket money exactly when you want it

Festivals are concentrated in the summer. Theatres run at full speed in autumn and winter. Sports clubs are busiest at the weekend. That means that as a flexi-jobber you can decide when you want to earn extra and when you do not. Earning extra at events is rarely a compulsory task; it is a choice.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work as a flexi-jobber at a festival or event from April 2026?
Yes. From 1 April 2026, flexi-jobs are possible in the events sector thanks to the opt-out mechanism. You can work as a flexi-jobber at festivals, trade fairs, concerts and conferences in roles such as bartender, catering, ticketing and set-up/tear-down. You do still have to meet the T-3 condition.

How much do I earn as a flexi-jobber in the events sector?
The legal minimum hourly wage for flexi-jobbers is €12.29 (indexed 2026). In the events sector, hourly wages are generally between €12.50 and €16 per hour, depending on the role and the time. Weekend and evening supplements may come on top of this. Everything is tax-free up to €18,440 per year.

What is the opt-out mechanism for flexi-jobs?
The opt-out mechanism means that from 1 April 2026, flexi-jobs are possible by default in almost all sectors. Sectors or joint committees that do not want to allow flexi-jobs must actively opt out. This is the reverse logic compared to before, when sectors first had to opt in to allow flexi-jobs.

Can I work as a flexi-jobber at a football club or sports club in Flanders?
Yes. From April 2026, sports clubs, fitness centres, swimming pools and sports complexes can also use flexi-jobbers. Possible roles are reception, bar work in the canteen, maintenance and support at competitions or events. The T-3 condition continues to apply.

How much can I earn tax-free as a flexi-jobber in 2026?
In 2026 you can earn up to €18,440 tax-free as a flexi-jobber. This amount is indexed. Your gross income from a flexi-job is fully equal to your net income: no personal taxes or social security contributions are withheld. If you earn more than €18,440, only the surplus is taxed as ordinary remuneration.

More questions? Take a look at the full overview on the FAQ page of AnyShift or read our other blogs about flexi-jobs and flexible work.

In closing

The expansion of the flexi-job system into events, sport and culture is good news for anyone looking for a fun way to earn extra with character. Whether you want to work at Pukkelpop, in the canteen of your local football club or at the reception desk of a museum: from now on it can all be done as a flexi-jobber. Tax-free, without administrative hassle, and with the freedom to choose for yourself when and where.

The festival season starts in a few months. The sports clubs are active all year round. And theatres run at full speed from September through to May. The offer is large. The question is: when do you start?