Massive fire destroys Tomorrowland main stage just before opening
A massive fire broke out on the evening of 16 July at the main stage of Tomorrowland, one of the world’s most popular electronic music festivals, just two days before its scheduled opening in Belgium.
According to the BBC, the blaze erupted at the festival grounds in Boom, a city in Antwerp Province, and completely destroyed the main stage, raising serious doubts about whether the event will go ahead.
Fortunately, no attendees were present at the time of the fire. However, around 1,000 staff members were working on-site, preparing for Tomorrowland’s Friday kickoff. No injuries were reported, and thanks to the quick response of local firefighters, the flames were contained by 8 PM.
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, and authorities have yet to release an official statement with further details. Nearby residents were advised to keep their windows and doors closed due to smoke.
In an official statement, organisers dismissed rumours that the festival had been cancelled, labelling them as false. They are currently exploring options for proceeding with the weekend events and have promised more detailed information soon.
Tomorrowland was first held in 2005 and last year attracted around 400,000 attendees over two weekends, according to Euronews.
This year’s festival was scheduled for 18–20 July and 25–27 July, and the artist lineup included global stars such as Martin Garrix, David Guetta, Armin van Buuren, Steve Aoki, Swedish House Mafia, Charlotte De Witte, Amelie Lens, Alok, Hardwell, and Nicky Romero.
With the main stage destroyed, organisers now face significant obstacles. The stage was the festival’s central performance space, and replacing or rebuilding it in such a short time would be extremely difficult. The festival’s fate will be determined soon following detailed assessments and organiser decisions.
In the meantime, events connected to DreamVille and Global Journey are still expected to go ahead as planned, meaning some side programs may proceed without interruption.
Held annually, Tomorrowland is beloved not only for its music and visual spectacle but also as a gathering place for a global community, drawing hundreds of thousands of fans from around the world each year.
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