Just days before the start of one of the world's most anticipated electronic music festivals, a fire broke out at Tomorrowland's iconic main stage on Wednesday evening, leaving it severely damaged. However, festival organisers have confirmed that the event will go ahead as scheduled, with tens of thousands of campers already arriving at the site in Boom, south of Antwerp.
Despite the major setback, the mood remains upbeat among festivalgoers as the campsite, known as DreamVille, officially opened on Thursday (July 17).
Festival organisers issued a statement reassuring attendees that all key elements of the weekend are still on track.
"Due to a serious incident and fire on the Tomorrowland Mainstage, our beloved Mainstage has been severely damaged. We can confirm that no one was injured during the incident," the official statement read.
They added, "We can announce that DreamVille (campsite) will open tomorrow (Thursday, July 17) as planned and will be ready for all DreamVille visitors. All Global Journey activities in Brussels and Antwerp will take place as planned. We are focused on finding solutions for the festival weekend (Friday – Saturday – Sunday). More updates and detailed information will be communicated as soon as possible."
The local fire department has declared the site safe, and discussions are underway regarding whether the damaged structure will need to be demolished before the festival kicks off on Friday.
Over 4,00,000 attendees are expected to take part in the two-weekend spectacle, and despite the loss of the mainstage, organisers are determined to deliver an unforgettable experience.
On Wednesday, several photos and videos circulating on social media showed thick plumes of smoke billowing from the main stage area, which has been severely damaged by the blaze. The cause of the fire is currently unknown.
Although no members of the public were present at the time of the incident, approximately 1,000 staff members were working on-site in preparation for the festival's opening day, according to a report in The Sun.
Authorities have reportedly urged nearby residents to keep their windows and doors closed until the fire is completely brought under control, as a precautionary measure against smoke inhalation.
This year, it is scheduled to take place in Boom across two weekends: July 18–20 and July 25–27.
