Commschella 2026: Buddies for the Journey
The third edition of The Terrible Comms Networkers went festival: open air, glitter, face paint, a DJ set, and the kind of conversations that make Brussels feel a little less lonely
Once upon a time, a Communications professional arrived to the city of Brussels full of hope and enthusiasm. Brussels, the melting pot of the European Union. Brussels, united in diversity. Brussels the city of networking. Brussels… the city where there were no spaces for Communications people to meet up and share their experiences. Sure, there were some spaces dedicated to Communications; yet those existing spaces were limited in attendance due to space/sponsoring costs, or always subjected to an agenda, or very formal and stiff. 'Why can't I just share my experiences with my peers without any pressure? Why can't I find this sense of community?', thought our brave Communications professional. And then, 2026 happened.
The first meeting of The Terrible Comms Networkers hadn't yet happened on 19 February 2026 and we already had requests for more of them. Once the word got out that an informal space for Communications professionals was about to happen, we got flooded with interest, enthusiasm, and requests to not make it a one-time thing.
What happened
The spirit behind it
For Comms people, by Comms people
The Terrible Comms Networkers are half-therapy, half-party. People have found job leads, collaboration opportunities, and ideas and tips to advance their own work. We also get to discover the person beyond the title and the workplace, and leave with buddies, and in time even friends.
A space where you're allowed to be human
This, like all the other Social Capital events, is a space where Communications is queen. And it is also a space where we're allowed to be human, even (or especially) when we're talking about our work. We share our challenges, hopes, frustrations, and joys. We connect over the sense of being a Communications professional and the pride in our job. There are no forced agendas or awkward ice-breakers: you talk about whatever you want to talk, knowing that on the other side there's someone who will listen and not judge, because in a way, they are you.
Commschella: same spirit, festival format
The summer edition added a theme: comms, festival, sun. Picnic/beach towels were laid out, faces were painted and glittered, silly photos were taken. And meaningful conversations happened, as always. Despite the start of the summer holidays and the crazy heatwave, Comms Buddies showed up under the tree canopy of Parc Royale. That tree canopy made all the difference. Without it, the event wouldn't have gone ahead (via Ana Oliveira's LinkedIn post).
Unexpected connections
Christina Wunder bumped into several people from other bubbles she hadn't expected to see: a '10 birds, 1 stone' kind of situation (via her LinkedIn post). Daniele Brunetto, a former comms professional turned career coach, said it felt like coming back home, but with different eyes (via his LinkedIn post).
The atmosphere
Hot enough that even the iced drinks looked like they were considering a sabbatical. But we came prepared: glitter, face paint, picnic blankets, and cold drinks. People chatted, laughed, and sat together under the tree canopy of Parc Royale. It was lovely catching up with old comms friends and meeting new ones (via Ruxandra Bosilca and Ana Oliveira's LinkedIn posts).
Key insights
What we learned
Make participation feel low-pressure
Not everyone wants to work the room, especially when it's hot enough outside to make small talk feel like cardio. Put seating in the shade. Create quieter edges away from the main crowd. Place drinks and food where people can pause, gather, and start a conversation without having to march up to a stranger cold. The goal is to make joining in feel easy (via Ruxandra Bosilca's LinkedIn post).
Pick a theme
Commschella worked because the idea was clear right away: comms, festival, summer. A theme helps guests understand what kind of event they're walking into, what to expect, and how to show up. It also gives the gathering a mood, which makes it easier for people to settle in (via Ruxandra Bosilca's LinkedIn post).
Leave breadcrumbs for connection
A good gathering nudges people towards each other. Picnic blankets, shared tables, a photo corner: these create easy openings for conversations that don't begin with the dreaded 'So, what do you do?' Proximity isn't the same as connection. Give people something to gather around, laugh about, try, or share (via Ruxandra Bosilca's LinkedIn post).
Plant more trees
Without the tree canopy at Parc Royale, Commschella wouldn't have gone ahead. As the Schuman Roundabout frying pan became LinkedIn's meme of the week, the temperature under the park's shade was a different story. Trees and green spaces are an investment in everyone's future. Let's stop treating them as a D-lister on our urban planning budgets (via Ana Oliveira's LinkedIn post).
Member stories
What attendees said
Kenneth Rennels
Commschella attendee
“The Terrible Comms Networkers events are great because the lack of pressure to be good at networking. The expectations are managed inherently by its naming and concept, it feels very liberating.”
Christina Wunder
Communications professional
“The place that connects the dots between different communities. I bumped into several people from other bubbles that I didn't quite expect to be there, but loved that we could reconnect there. '10 birds, 1 stone' kind of situation.”
Nickie Karousis
Communications professional
“Talking to fellow communications professionals at Social Capital events feels like a breath of fresh air — it's no surprise that you'll find you have so much in common with everyone around you!”
Ruxandra Bosilca
Communications professional
“As comms professionals, we know how to keep our cool when things heat up. Commschella put that to the test. We brought glitter, face paint, picnic blankets, and cold drinks. People chatted, laughed, and sat together. It was lovely catching up with old comms friends and meeting new ones.”View on LinkedIn
Ana Oliveira
Co-organiser, The Terrible Comms Networkers × Social Capital
“Despite the start of the summer holidays and the crazy heatwave, lots of Comms Buddies joined us under the tree canopy of Parc Royale last Friday for a late afternoon of relaxed chatting and community. We cannot thank all our Comms Buddies enough for keeping showing, edition after edition.”View on LinkedIn
Daniele Brunetto
Career coach & former Comms professional
“As a former events & comms professional turned career coach for my ex-colleagues, it felt a bit like coming back home — but with different eyes. I see the connections between policy, B2B and B2C comms, but also how often, behind the scenes, we actually talk about two topics: meaning and well-being.”View on LinkedIn
Been there? Share your feedback and you might be featured here.
Photos
Moments captured
Photos by Romain Triollet, Alexandru Marin
We don't know if our brave Communications professional has professionally lived happily ever after. It's perhaps a bit too soon to tell, and 'ever after' is a big commitment.
But we know they finally feel like they belong – because that brave Communications professional is each and every you that joins our Social Capital and Terrible Comms Networkers events.
Thank you – and here's to the next event!
(Definitely not) the end
Venue
Why Kiosk Radio, Parc Royale works for this
An open-air bar and DJ booth inside Parc Royale, Brussels. Facing the Royal Palace, in the middle of a park. On an uncommonly hot June evening, the tree canopy made the whole thing possible — without it, the event wouldn't have gone ahead.
Address
Pl. des Palais 10, 1000 Brussels
Website
www.kioskradio.com/Don't miss out
Join us at the next one
Social Capital hosts events every month. Aperos, workshops, creative walks. Free for members.