Massive Fire Destroys Tomorrowland 2025 Main Stage: Live Updates

What Happened?

The fire erupted on Wednesday, July 16, around 6:00 PM—just two days before the festival’s grand opening. According to early reports, the blaze started during testing of the stage’s pyrotechnic cannons. Fueled by strong winds, the flames spread rapidly.

Videos shared on social media and photos from local media show intense flames engulfing the left side of the stage, consuming layers of wood and metal decorations. Thick gray smoke blanketed the surrounding area, prompting authorities to advise residents in Bocholt, Rumst, and nearby towns to keep doors and windows shut.

Fortunately, there are currently no reports of injuries among the approximately 1,000 crew members on site. No fans had yet arrived. Local authorities, including the Antwerp public prosecutor’s office, have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, considering both accidental and intentional origins. Experts are now analyzing materials and assessing the blaze’s exact source.

What Is Tomorrowland?

Launched in 2005 by brothers Manu and Michiel Beers—now run through their company “We Are One World”—Tomorrowland is one of the world’s most iconic and celebrated EDM festivals, drawing over 400,000 visitors across two weekends.

The festival is known for its immersive, fantasy-themed stage designs, dazzling fireworks, and spectacular audio-visual production. Tomorrowland has received numerous accolades, including multiple nominations at the International Dance Music Awards and the title of “Best Music Festival in the World” by DJ Mag. In addition to the flagship summer edition in Belgium, the brand includes spin-offs like Tomorrowland Winter in France, events in Brazil, and past editions in the U.S.

Tomorrowland 2025

The 2025 edition is taking place in Boom, Belgium (province of Antwerp, Flanders), at De Schorre park from July 18–20 and July 25–27.

This year’s theme is “The World of Orbyz”, a dreamy, ice-inspired world brought to life across 16 stages. Scheduled headliners include Martin Garrix, Solomun (the king of afterparties), Swedish House Mafia, Afrojack, Steve Aoki, Armin van Buuren, David Guetta, and many more top-tier artists.

Operational Impact and Safety: will Tomorrowland 2025 take place?

With thousands of fans from across the globe having already purchased tickets (which typically sell out within hours), booked flights, and reserved fully-booked accommodations, many attendees have already arrived in Belgium to experience the most anticipated event of the year.

Organizers are urgently assessing their options, emphasizing that safety remains the top priority. The situation is evolving rapidly.

On Instagram, the event’s management confirmed that Tomorrowland 2025 will go ahead as planned, although some schedule adjustments are expected. They promised timely updates on programming changes, safety measures, traffic flow, and stage allocation via official channels.

At the time of writing, a technical assessment is underway on the stage's footprint and pyrotechnic systems, with engineers and safety officials ensuring all fire safety and permit regulations (PCI) are met.

What We Know So Far from Official Sources:

• DreamVille camping area: Opened this morning at 10:00 AM and is welcoming all DreamVille visitors.

• Events in Brussels and Antwerp: Confirmed to be going ahead as scheduled.

• Other stages: The remaining 15 stages are intact. They are being adapted to host parts of the original lineup. Organizers are also evaluating adjustments to secondary stages, access control zones, and audiovisual logistics.