Two days before the opening of the Tomorrowland festival in Belgium, the main stage burned down. What happened and whether the festival will take place — read the full story.
On 16 July 2025, a major fire broke out on the grounds of one of the world’s most anticipated music events — the Tomorrowland festival in Belgium. Two days before the official opening, the blaze destroyed the festival’s main stage, known as the Orbyz Mainstage, which had been designed as a massive ice-themed installation.
The fire started at around 6:00 p.m. local time in the municipality of Boom, where the festival traditionally takes place. According to local media, the ignition occurred during technical setup of the stage, most likely while the pyrotechnic systems were being tested.
What is known so far:
-
There were about 1,000 staff members on site, but no visitors at the time — no casualties or injuries have been reported.
-
The fire engulfed most of the main stage. Firefighters arrived quickly, but the unique installation was completely destroyed.
-
Nearby houses were evacuated as a precaution. The other stages, including the DreamVille campsite, were not affected.
-
The organisers stated that the festival is not cancelled and that Tomorrowland 2025 will still go ahead as planned, from 18 to 21 July.
“Our team is working day and night to ensure the festival can take place in a safe, complete and unforgettable way. The music will not stop,” the official Tomorrowland statement says.
What is Tomorrowland?
Tomorrowland is the world’s largest electronic dance music (EDM) festival, held every year in the town of Boom, Belgium. Founded in 2005, it has grown over two decades into an icon of global club culture and a symbol of visual and musical perfection.
Key facts about Tomorrowland:
-
Attendance: up to 400,000 visitors from more than 200 countries over a single weekend
-
Format: more than 15 stages featuring music from house, techno and trance to hardstyle, drum & bass and EDM
-
Legendary artists: Martin Garrix, Armin van Buuren, David Guetta, Tiësto, Charlotte de Witte, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Carl Cox
-
Theme: every year the festival is built around a new fairytale concept (in 2025 — Orbyz: The Crystal Realm)
-
Technology: stages are created using cinematic 3D design, waterfalls, fire, lighting, animation and projections
-
DreamVille “city of dreams” — a huge campsite-city with its own stage, market, yoga, spa and evening DJ sets
-
Ticket sales: Tomorrowland tickets sell out within minutes. For 2025, more than 2 million people applied for tickets.
Reaction to the fire
Many fans and artists expressed their support for the organisers. Martin Garrix, one of the headliners, wrote:
“The stage is important, but what truly matters are the people and the energy. Tomorrowland is magic, and that magic will happen no matter what.”
It is expected that the headliners’ sets will be redistributed across other stages, and that a new temporary stage may be created on an emergency basis.
Tomorrowland 2025: what can guests expect?
Despite the incident, the organisers have assured everyone that:
-
The opening will take place on time — on 18 July 2025
-
The line-up includes over 700 artists, featuring special B2B sets, unique live shows and secret performances
-
There will be special areas for vegan food courts, water lounges, light parades and night shows under the stars
Conclusion
The fire at Tomorrowland’s main stage was an unexpected blow, but it did not break the spirit of the festival team or its fans. The main stage is gone, but the music will remain, along with the festival’s core motto:
"Live Today. Love Tomorrow. Unite Forever."
Tomorrowland 2025 will take place. It will be different. And it may well become even more legendary.
