Photo: Getty Images
A significant fire severely damaged the iconic Main Stage of Tomorrowland in small town Boom, Belgium, just two days before the festival’s first weekend (July 18–20, and 25–27). The blaze broke out around 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday, July 16, during final preparations for the event.
Despite the scale of the fire, no injuries were reported. Around 1,000 staff members were on site during the incident and were safely evacuated. Shuttle campers and attendees had not yet entered the festival area.
Video footage from the scene showed overwhelming flames and thick plumes of smoke engulfing the elaborate Orbyz-themed structure. Reports suggest an accidental pyrotechnic malfunction may be the cause, although investigations are ongoing.
Nearby residents were asked to close doors and windows, and a small number of evacuations were reported as a precautionary measure.
Organizers confirmed that DreamVille campsite and Global Journey activities will open as scheduled on Thursday, July 17, with the wider festival set to begin on Friday the 18th.
Although the Main Stage was completely destroyed, the festival will continue, with performances redistributed across the remaining stages, including the Freedom Stage and others.
Organizers are working on contingency plans to accommodate the headliners without compromising safety or experience. Attendees have been reassured that the lineup, including David Guetta, Armin van Buuren, Steve Aoki, Charlotte de Witte and more, will still perform, albeit on alternative stages.
