The main stage at the Tomorrowland Festival site in Boom has been completely destroyed by fire. Festival staff had been instructed to evacuate.
No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains unknown, although the sound of fireworks had been previously heard.
Sources suggest a possible accident during the testing of fireworks cannons, but this was not confirmed by the organisers or emergency services.
Wow The Belgian festival Tomorrowland’s was supposed to start on Friday the main stage has been engulfed in a massive blaze and destroyed. pic.twitter.com/3Bffpzc3AD
— Keira Connolly (@keira_con) July 16, 2025
The fire produced a great deal of smoke, visible from a distance, and there was a relatively strong wind. Police requested area residents to keep access to the site clear for emergency services.
Tomorrowland was set to begin on Friday, expecting over 100,000 visitors. Initial flights bringing international festival-goers have already arrived.
Further communication or decisions about the Tomorrowland music festival may not be announced until around or after 18:00 on Thursday, said Mayor of Rumst Jurgen Callaerts.
On Thursday afternoon, emergency services, festival production staff and local politicians are working hard to solve a difficult puzzle in Boom. The final decision will be made by the Mayor of Boom, Jeroen Baert, with the fire brigade acting in an advisory role.
Tomorrowland 'to go ahead'
Tomorrowland spokesperson Debby Willemsen had stressed at a press conference on Wednesday night that the festival was still set to go ahead.
The fire started at the festival’s main stage and destroyed it completely, said Willemsen. "This is terrible. It’s a stage that has taken years to develop."
"There have been no reports of casualties," the spokesperson confirmed. "Everyone was able to leave the site safely."
The organisers are confident the festival will proceed as planned. "We are continuing with preparations,” said Willemsen.
"Tomorrow, we expect to welcome 38,000 festival-goers to our Dreamville campsite, and they will receive a very warm welcome." Other activities scheduled for Thursday in Brussels will also take place.
Smoke of a fire at the festival site of the Tomorrowland electronic music festival, Wednesday 16 July 2025, in Boom. The first weekend of the festival takes place at the 'De Schorre' terrain in Boom, from 18 to 20 July. Credit: Belga / Tom Goyvaerts
The main festival kicks off on Friday. "It will be without the main stage, but we hope to offer an alternative, although I cannot say much about that now," the spokesperson said.
The organisers will consult with experts on Thursday to explore options. Other stages and attractions on the festival grounds were unharmed by the flames.
Around one hundred firefighters responded on Wednesday evening to the disaster, deploying multiple fire engines and ladder trucks, François Van den Eynde, a major with the Rivierenland fire zone, explained.
Additionally, the fire sparked a "secondary blaze" at a house on a nearby street, Van den Eynde confirmed. The fire service swiftly responded and extinguished that fire, he added.
Main stage to be demolished
Security services are meeting with the Tomorrowland production team on Thursday morning to discuss options.
The security perimeter that had been set up around the area has now been lifted, allowing technical work and the demolition of the remaining main stage structure to proceed.
Smoke caused by a fire pictured at the festival site of the Tomorrowland electronic music festival, Wednesday 16 July 2025, in Boom. The first weekend of the festival from 18 to 20 July. Credit: Belga / Tom Goyvaerts
"We are monitoring the situation hour by hour," said François Van den Eynde from the Rivierenland fire zone. "The team is working with the necessary safety precautions. Dismantling the remnants of such a structure is challenging; it's a tangled mess of twisted scaffolding, similar to the aftermath of the Notre-Dame fire."
Speaking on Radio 1 (VRT) on Thursday morning, the organisers of the electronic music festival suggested it is too soon to say what steps they will take next. However, they are certain that creativity will be essential. Meanwhile, the Dreamville campsite in Rumst has already opened.
Update Friday 18:30: The organisation has given two scenarios for how the festival can go ahead. More information here.
