Tomorrowland will proceed as planned, the organization announced at a press conference on Thursday evening. The Belgian festival had been uncertain since Wednesday evening after a major fire destroyed the main stage. The organization is working on a new stage, which should be ready on Friday.
“There are two scenarios on the table. The first is to fully open tomorrow at 2:00 PM with all festival-goers and a fine new stage,” said a festival spokesperson at the press conference. “If that doesn’t work, that scenario is for Saturday. We still have fifteen other stages that are all ready.”
In the second scenario, the festival grounds will not be opened on Friday for the 38,000 festival-goers staying at Dreamville, the festival’s campsite. They will then have their own party. Other festival-goers can access the grounds in this scenario. The festival grounds will then only open to everyone on Saturday.
On Thursday afternoon, several Belgian media outlets already reported that Tomorrowland could go ahead, but that the form still had to be determined.
It is not known how the fire started. Fireworks displays usually take place at the main stage, and images of the fire also show fireworks exploding. There were no reports of injuries, the organization said on Wednesday evening.
Tomorrowland is one of the most popular dance festivals in the Benelux and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, spread over two weekends. The first festival weekend starts on Friday. The organization expects a total of around 380,000 visitors.