Tomorrowland festival in Belgium has announced plans to erect a new main stage following a fire that obliterated the original platform. The festival, situated in Boom, south of Antwerp, will commence two hours later than scheduled on Friday, regardless of whether the new stage is completed. In the absence of the main stage, the event will proceed with a reduced capacity, with hopes of fully opening on Saturday.
An estimated 400,000 attendees are set to arrive for the festival, with many already stationed at the Dreamville campsite. Major artists, including David Guetta, Lost Frequencies, Swedish House Mafia, and Charlotte De Witte, are slated to perform. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the fire that broke out on Wednesday evening, and local authorities are currently investigating the cause. The fire service has deemed the site safe.
During a press conference, Tomorrowland spokesperson Debby Wilmsen expressed optimism about having a "nice, new stage" ready for Friday. However, if not, Dreamville and the festival grounds would operate as separate areas, necessitating that artists scheduled for the main stage perform at the Gathering Stage for those camping. Bradley Cooper-Barnard, a festival attendee from London, noted a somber atmosphere in Dreamville, stating, "This is my fourth Tomorrowland and things definitely feel a little different."
An Instagram post from Tomorrowland expressed the overwhelming feelings of loss, highlighting that the Orbyz main stage "wasn't just a stage... it was a living breathing world."
Meetings are currently underway between festival organizers, safety experts, and local officials to finalize contingency plans. The fire, which ignited around 18:00 local time, sent thick smoke into the sky, prompting evacuations as firefighters battled to contain the flames. One worker on-site described the scene as "apocalyptic," recounting how the final touches were being made to the stage when disaster struck.
Established in 2005, Tomorrowland has grown into the world’s largest electronic dance festival, attracting fans globally.
An estimated 400,000 attendees are set to arrive for the festival, with many already stationed at the Dreamville campsite. Major artists, including David Guetta, Lost Frequencies, Swedish House Mafia, and Charlotte De Witte, are slated to perform. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the fire that broke out on Wednesday evening, and local authorities are currently investigating the cause. The fire service has deemed the site safe.
During a press conference, Tomorrowland spokesperson Debby Wilmsen expressed optimism about having a "nice, new stage" ready for Friday. However, if not, Dreamville and the festival grounds would operate as separate areas, necessitating that artists scheduled for the main stage perform at the Gathering Stage for those camping. Bradley Cooper-Barnard, a festival attendee from London, noted a somber atmosphere in Dreamville, stating, "This is my fourth Tomorrowland and things definitely feel a little different."
An Instagram post from Tomorrowland expressed the overwhelming feelings of loss, highlighting that the Orbyz main stage "wasn't just a stage... it was a living breathing world."
Meetings are currently underway between festival organizers, safety experts, and local officials to finalize contingency plans. The fire, which ignited around 18:00 local time, sent thick smoke into the sky, prompting evacuations as firefighters battled to contain the flames. One worker on-site described the scene as "apocalyptic," recounting how the final touches were being made to the stage when disaster struck.
Established in 2005, Tomorrowland has grown into the world’s largest electronic dance festival, attracting fans globally.
