Forest National is since 1970 active in presenting concerts, musicals and sports events for the public. This resulted in a phenomenal list of artists and shows over the years and has put Brussels on the schedule of every international tour manager.
The venue annually hosts an average of 130 events attended by over 1 million fans.

With Maurice Béjart's Ballets, the venue's grand opening celebration in 1970 has set the tone for quality from the first day onwards and has made it one of the most beloved arenas of the public, the promotors and the artists.

An impressive list of names of artists and bands of all the styles that contemporary music has to offer, have performed on the mythical stage of Forest National. Rock'n'roll legends The Rolling Stones, Queen or U2; Jazz icons Ella Fitzgerald, Count Bassie or Benny Goodman; Pop diva Janet Jackson, Diana Ross or Kylie Minogue; Reggae King Bob Marley and the Wailers; French Chanson Ambassadors Michel Sardou or Johnny Hallyday; New Wavers The Cure, Indochine or Siouxie and the Banshees; Latin Extravaganza Santana, Gloria Estefan or Enrique Iglesias; Hard Rock Myths Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden or Metallica; today's hit wonders Tokio Hotel, Nelly Furtado or 50 Cent and last but not least Belgium's finest artists dEUS, Hooverphonic, Ozark Henry or Axelle Red, they all had their moment of glory, their standing ovation in Forest National.
Besides the glitter and the glamour, the venue has also been the home of spectacular operas such as Aïda, Nabucco or Carmen and moving musicals such as Notre Dame de Paris, Jesus Christ Superstar or Mamma Mia!
Other events were able to be hosted due to the magnificient round architecture of the arena. Basketball exhibitions by the Harlem Globe Trotters, equestrian shows of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, wrestling games, tennis tournaments, gymnastic championships and ice-skating family happenings were a delight for children and adults.