In a devastating blow to one of many world’s most iconic digital music festivals, the principle stage of Tomorrowland 2025 was engulfed in flames on Wednesday night, simply two days earlier than the competition’s opening weekend.
Footage aired by Belgian broadcaster VRT NWS captured the huge construction ablaze, with thick gray smoke and roaring flames tearing by what was set to be the centerpiece of this yr’s version. Extra on-site movies shared on social media confirmed the extent of the destruction, with the stage, referred to as Orbyz Mainstage of Tomorrowland Belgium 2025, utterly consumed by fireplace.
The incident occurred on July 16 round 18:00 native time within the city of Increase, south of Antwerp. On the time, solely occasion workers have been current on-site. Competition organisers confirmed that no accidents have been reported. “It’s not possible to place into phrases what we’re feeling,” learn an announcement posted by Tomorrowland on Instagram Thursday morning.
“This [Orbyz] wasn’t only a stage. It was a dwelling, respiration world. From the very first sketch on a clean web page, to numerous hours of conceptual design, inventive collaboration, engineering, crafting, constructing, each single piece of Orbyz carried a part of our soul,” the assertion continued. “However, we maintain on to the magic Orbyz gave us. To the goals it carried. To the workforce who gave their all.”
Emergency companies, together with fireplace and police models, swiftly responded to the scene. Some close by residents have been evacuated as a precaution, and officers suggested locals to shut home windows and keep away from smoke publicity. Police spokesperson Joris Van Camp acknowledged, “Folks’s security is our prime precedence.”
Regardless of the dramatic setback, organisers stay decided to proceed with the competition. In an announcement to press, they confirmed that DreamVille, the competition’s tenting grounds, opened at present (Thursday) as deliberate, and that festival-related actions in Brussels and Antwerp are additionally shifting ahead. “We’re targeted on discovering options for the competition weekend,” the assertion reads, including that conferences with security authorities and native officers are ongoing to evaluate the scenario and create contingency plans.
“We spent the night time engaged on doable options for the Mainstage space. No different elements of the competition venue, levels or areas have been impacted.”
Tens of hundreds of attendees have already begun arriving in Belgium for what is anticipated to be one other sold-out yr. Unfold over two weekends (July 18–20 and July 25–27), Tomorrowland 2025 is slated to host roughly 400,000 followers from across the globe, that includes an enormous lineup of digital heavyweights together with Martin Garrix, David Guetta, Charlotte de Witte, Armin van Buuren, Steve Aoki, Swedish Home Mafia, and plenty of extra.
Whereas the mainstage has historically been the focus of the competition, there are 14 different levels on website. Officers at the moment are contemplating whether or not to demolish the broken construction earlier than Friday’s kickoff or discover an alternate resolution. No explanation for the fireplace has been formally confirmed, although investigations are underway.
One crew member on-site described the second the fireplace broke out to Belgian outlet Het Nieuwsblad: “We abruptly heard bangs and noticed fireplace close to the stage… An enormous quantity of fireside. We have been simply placing the ending touches on it. 4 weeks of labor… gone in half an hour.”
As of now, organisers are urgent ahead with the occasion, dedicated to salvaging the expertise for followers and artists alike. A follow-up assertion and additional logistical updates are anticipated within the coming hours.
