Tomorrowland Goes Ahead As Planned After Fire Destroys Main Stage

Fans breathe a sigh of relief: Tomorrowland is a go just two days after a massive fire destroyed the main stage.

Workers and organizers toiled around the clock to clear out the debris from the stage and its elaborate backdrop that were consumed by the fire on Wednesday. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Organizers have confirmed that no one was hurt in the destruction.

After a slight delay, the festival’s opening performers, DJs Odymel and Pegassi, hit the main stage—even with charred set frames visible behind them. “We made it!” shouted Australian electronic group Nervo when they hit the stage after a last-minute scramble.

According to Tomorrowland spokesperson Debby Wilmsen, the new stage is “very intimate” and includes speakers that were previously used for Metallica shows. Moreover, some 38,000 people were already camping at the festival site by Friday night, eager to kick things off despite the setbacks.

“Maybe there are some few people that say, ‘Okay, we would like to have a refund,’ but it’s only like a very small percentage, because most of them are still coming to the festival,” she said. “It’s all about unity, and I think with a good vibe and a positive energy that our festivalgoers give to each other and the music we offer, I think they will still have a good time.”

“It’s not just about the one DJ or two DJs you’re looking to see, but about all the mood and about the dream being alive,” said Ukrainian visitor Oleksandr Beshkynskyi.

Meanwhile, Australian fans Zak Hiscock and Brooke Antoniou were “devastated and shattered” when they heard about the fire, worried the festival would be cancelled. “We were sitting having dinner when we actually heard the news of the stage burning down,” they said. “Quite upset because we travelled a long way.”

Thousands of people worldwide attend Tomorrowland’s annual multi-day festival, which takes place just outside the Belgian town of Boom. As the world’s largest electronic music festival, Tomorrowland is expected to attract around 400,000 people from all over the world this weekend.