Belgium experienced its hottest summer on record in 2026, according to data released by the Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) on Tuesday. The average temperature at the national reference station in Uccle, near Brussels, reached 20.3°C, marking an increase of 2.4°C above the long-term average. This average temperature surpasses the previous national record of 19.9°C set in 2018 and is the first time the country has recorded an average summer temperature exceeding 20°C since records began in 1833.

Typically known for its mild and rainy summers, Belgium faced several heatwaves starting in June. The extreme weather culminated in August when the country confronted its largest wildfire in a century. The blaze, which required a weeklong effort involving hundreds of firefighters to contain, was among numerous wildfires that affected southern and western Europe over the summer months.

Several European countries have experienced unprecedented heat this year. France, Greece, Portugal, and Spain also dealt with extensive wildfires amid heat spells that pushed temperatures above 40°C, while temperature records were broken earlier in the summer in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary.

Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and severity of these extreme heat events to climate change, which they say is intensifying weather patterns. Worldwide, 33 countries across regions from western Europe to the Sahel and Central America recorded their highest temperatures for July this year, reflecting a broader trend of rising global temperatures and its impact on local climates.