Massive fire destroys Tomorrowland Festival's main stage ahead of opening in Belgium
The fire, which erupted on Wednesday, caused significant damage to the stage, with large plumes of black smoke seen billowing into the sky from the festival grounds in Boom, Belgium. Organizers confirmed that no injuries were reported, and there were no festival-goers on site at the time of the incident.
A fire has broken out on the Tomorrowland mainstage just one day before the festival is set to begin. pic.twitter.com/4Gb6VlDp01 — Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 16, 2025
Landing from the most epic #Tomorrowland party flight to this view of mainstage burning just 💔💔💔 pic.twitter.com/zk5lFuYFFc
— Erika (@erikalwoods) July 16, 2025
Tomorrowland turns into Burningman.pic.twitter.com/SC2CJZMUei — Vincent Kennedy (@VincentCrypt46) July 16, 2025
According to Belgium's public broadcaster VRT, emergency services are at the scene, but the fire is yet to be fully controlled. Around 1,000 staff members were on site when the blaze broke out, all of whom were evacuated safely. Video footage shared online shows the main stage engulfed in flames, with fireworks being heard from the distance. The fire started on the right side of the stage, and by the time emergency crews arrived, the structure was almost entirely destroyed.
The Tomorrowland mainstage is currently on fire — updates will be provided as applicable.
🎥: r/tomorrowland pic.twitter.com/Jh78scXf2a — Festive Owl (@TheFestiveOwl) July 16, 2025
Despite the extensive damage to the main stage, Tomorrowland's organizers have assured fans that the festival will go on. In a statement, they confirmed that the 'DreamVille' campsite will open as planned on Thursday, July 17, and all Global Journey activities in Brussels and Antwerp will proceed as scheduled. They also assured that they are exploring solutions to ensure the festival weekend, from Friday to Sunday, can still take place.
The fire's cause remains unclear, but authorities are investigating the incident. The festival's main stage, a key feature of Tomorrowland, usually reflects the yearly theme — this year's being 'The World of Orbyz.' The destruction of the stage has raised concerns over how the festival will proceed, as the venue plays a central role in the event's production and atmosphere.
Tomorrowland attracts hundreds of thousands of electronic music fans from around the world, and the cancellation or significant alteration of the festival would disrupt many travel plans. With major DJs, including David Guetta, Martin Garrix, and Swedish House Mafia, set to perform, the organizers face an enormous challenge in both managing the crisis and accommodating attendees.
The festival's future remains uncertain as authorities continue to investigate the fire's cause and assess the impact on the weekend's events.
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Belgium's music fest reopens after fire
New stage was erected in under 48 hours. Photo: AFP Belgium's Tomorrowland, one of the world's largest electronic music festivals, opened its doors as planned on Friday, after the event was thrown into doubt by a fire that destroyed its main stage, reports AFP. Organisers said an "alternative setup" was put in place to replace the "beloved main stage" that went up in flames on Wednesday. The causes of the blaze were not yet clear. "Our teams are working day and night, with heart and soul, to turn the impossible into reality," they said in a statement. "Tomorrowland will unite, stronger than ever!" Local television footage showed hundreds of festival-goers filing past the gates at the site in Boom, near Antwerp in the early afternoon. Around 400,000 people are expected to attend over two weekends, with scores of DJs including David Guetta, Lost Frequencies and Charlotte de Witte scheduled to perform. Images of the blaze circulated widely on social media, showing flames tearing apart the impressive set design depicting a frozen fairytale kingdom, with a giant ice-covered lion, castles and snow peaks. The new main stage — a smaller structure — was erected in less than 48 hours. After fire authorities and the police deemed it safe, it was due to open on Friday at 4PM (1400 GMT), two hours after the rest of the festival, which has another 15 stages. "It's a new concept, the artists will be very close to the audience, in a more intimate way," Debby Wilmsen, a spokeswoman for the event, told reporters. Tomorrowland was founded 20 years ago by two Flemish brothers in a country that pioneered the genre. The festival relocates to Brazil in October, and a winter edition is held every year in the Alpe d'Huez ski resort in France.
Express Tribune
6 days ago
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Tomorrowland continues as planned despite main stage fire
Tomorrowland will move forward as planned this weekend, despite a fire that destroyed its main stage on Wednesday, July 16. Festival spokesperson Debby Wilmsen confirmed that no one was injured and that the preparations are continuing. 'There are no casualties,' Wilmsen said. 'The employees are all safe and can continue with the Tomorrowland preparations.' While the main stage—the festival's iconic focal point—was lost in the blaze, organizers insist the event will go on. 'There's a lot of fake news going around,' Wilmsen noted. 'But we're definitely expecting 38,000 visitors at the Dreamville campsite tomorrow. They're looking forward to it, and we're looking forward to it. We're going to give them a warm welcome.' She added that while the main stage won't be part of the festival, plans are in motion to adjust accordingly, though no details have been shared yet. The fire broke out at the Boom, Belgium site where roughly 1,000 workers were present. All were evacuated safely, and no injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire remains unclear. Witnesses described hearing fireworks, and some sources suggest it may have started during a test of fireworks cannons, though this has not been officially confirmed. Thick smoke and strong winds reportedly contributed to the spread of the flames. Authorities have advised locals to stay clear of the area to allow emergency services access. All events scheduled for Thursday at Dreamville and in Brussels will continue without interruption. The main festival is still set to begin Friday, with more than 100,000 attendees expected over the weekend. Belgian DJ Charlotte De Witte was slated to open and close the main stage on Saturday, though organizers have not yet announced how the program will be adjusted. Further updates are expected soon.
Express Tribune
6 days ago
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Massive fire destroys Tomorrowland Festival's main stage ahead of opening in Belgium
A devastating fire has ravaged the main stage at Tomorrowland, one of Belgium's most iconic music festivals, just days before its scheduled opening. The fire, which erupted on Wednesday, caused significant damage to the stage, with large plumes of black smoke seen billowing into the sky from the festival grounds in Boom, Belgium. Organizers confirmed that no injuries were reported, and there were no festival-goers on site at the time of the incident. A fire has broken out on the Tomorrowland mainstage just one day before the festival is set to begin. — Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 16, 2025 Landing from the most epic #Tomorrowland party flight to this view of mainstage burning just 💔💔💔 — Erika (@erikalwoods) July 16, 2025 Tomorrowland turns into — Vincent Kennedy (@VincentCrypt46) July 16, 2025 According to Belgium's public broadcaster VRT, emergency services are at the scene, but the fire is yet to be fully controlled. Around 1,000 staff members were on site when the blaze broke out, all of whom were evacuated safely. Video footage shared online shows the main stage engulfed in flames, with fireworks being heard from the distance. The fire started on the right side of the stage, and by the time emergency crews arrived, the structure was almost entirely destroyed. The Tomorrowland mainstage is currently on fire — updates will be provided as applicable. 🎥: r/tomorrowland — Festive Owl (@TheFestiveOwl) July 16, 2025 Despite the extensive damage to the main stage, Tomorrowland's organizers have assured fans that the festival will go on. In a statement, they confirmed that the 'DreamVille' campsite will open as planned on Thursday, July 17, and all Global Journey activities in Brussels and Antwerp will proceed as scheduled. They also assured that they are exploring solutions to ensure the festival weekend, from Friday to Sunday, can still take place. The fire's cause remains unclear, but authorities are investigating the incident. The festival's main stage, a key feature of Tomorrowland, usually reflects the yearly theme — this year's being 'The World of Orbyz.' The destruction of the stage has raised concerns over how the festival will proceed, as the venue plays a central role in the event's production and atmosphere. Tomorrowland attracts hundreds of thousands of electronic music fans from around the world, and the cancellation or significant alteration of the festival would disrupt many travel plans. With major DJs, including David Guetta, Martin Garrix, and Swedish House Mafia, set to perform, the organizers face an enormous challenge in both managing the crisis and accommodating attendees. The festival's future remains uncertain as authorities continue to investigate the fire's cause and assess the impact on the weekend's events.
