Tomorrowland Continues Despite Main Stage Burning Down

Tomorrowland will go ahead, the organizers announced at a press conference Thursday evening. The Belgian festival had been in jeopardy since Wednesday evening after a large fire destroyed the main stage. The organizers are working on a new stage, which should be ready by Friday.

“There are two scenarios on the table. The first is to fully open tomorrow at 2 p.m. with all festival-goers and a great new stage,” a festival spokesperson said at the press conference. “If that doesn’t work out, that scenario is for Saturday. We still have fifteen other stages, all of which are ready.”

In the second scenario, the festival grounds will not open on Friday for the 38,000 festival-goers staying at Dreamville, the festival’s campground. They will then have their own party. Other festival-goers will be allowed on the grounds in this scenario. The festival grounds will then only open to everyone on Saturday.

On Thursday afternoon, several Belgian media reported that Tomorrowland could go ahead, but that the format still had to be determined.

The cause of the fire is unknown. Fireworks displays are usually held at the main stage, and footage of the fire also shows fireworks exploding. There were no reports of injuries, the organizers said Wednesday evening.

Tomorrowland is one of the most popular dance festivals in the Benelux, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually over two weekends. The first festival weekend kicks off on Friday. Organizers expect a total of around 380,000 visitors across two weekends.