In a devastating blow to one of the world’s most iconic electronic music festivals, the main stage of Tomorrowland 2025 was engulfed in flames on Wednesday evening, just two days before the festival’s opening weekend.
Footage aired by Belgian broadcaster VRT NWS captured the massive structure ablaze, with thick grey smoke and roaring flames tearing through what was set to be the centerpiece of this year’s edition. Additional on-site videos shared on social media confirmed the extent of the destruction, with the stage, known as Orbyz Mainstage of Tomorrowland Belgium 2025, completely consumed by fire.
The incident occurred on July 16 around 18:00 local time in the town of Boom, south of Antwerp. At the time, only event staff were present on-site. Festival organisers confirmed that no injuries were reported. “It is impossible to put into words what we’re feeling,” read a statement posted by Tomorrowland on Instagram Thursday morning.
“This [Orbyz] wasn’t just a stage. It was a living, breathing world. From the very first sketch on a blank page, to countless hours of conceptual design, artistic collaboration, engineering, crafting, building, every single piece of Orbyz carried part of our soul,” the statement continued. “But, we hold on to the magic Orbyz gave us. To the dreams it carried. To the team who gave their all.”
Emergency services, including fire and police units, swiftly responded to the scene. Some nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution, and officials advised locals to close windows and avoid smoke exposure. Police spokesperson Joris Van Camp stated, “People’s safety is our top priority.”
Despite the dramatic setback, organisers remain determined to proceed with the festival. In a statement to press, they confirmed that DreamVille, the festival’s camping grounds, opened today (Thursday) as planned, and that festival-related activities in Brussels and Antwerp are also moving forward. “We are focused on finding solutions for the festival weekend,” the statement reads, adding that meetings with safety authorities and local officials are ongoing to assess the situation and create contingency plans.
“We spent the night working on possible solutions for the Mainstage area. No other parts of the festival venue, stages or areas were impacted.”
Tens of thousands of attendees have already begun arriving in Belgium for what is expected to be another sold-out year. Spread over two weekends (July 18–20 and July 25–27), Tomorrowland 2025 is slated to host roughly 400,000 fans from around the globe, featuring a massive lineup of electronic heavyweights including Martin Garrix, David Guetta, Charlotte de Witte, Armin van Buuren, Steve Aoki, Swedish House Mafia, and many more.
While the mainstage has traditionally been the focal point of the festival, there are 14 other stages on site. Officials are now considering whether to demolish the damaged structure before Friday’s kickoff or find an alternate solution. No cause of the fire has been officially confirmed, though investigations are underway.
One crew member on-site described the moment the fire broke out to Belgian outlet Het Nieuwsblad: “We suddenly heard bangs and saw fire near the stage… A huge amount of fire. We were just putting the finishing touches on it. Four weeks of work… gone in half an hour.”
As of now, organisers are pressing forward with the event, committed to salvaging the experience for fans and artists alike. A follow-up statement and further logistical updates are expected in the coming hours.