UAE music lovers gutted as fire destroys Tomorrowland festival mainstage

Dubai: The iconic main stage of the Tomorrowland music festival, nestled near Antwerp, was entirely consumed by a massive fire on Wednesday. The event took place a mere day before tens of thousands of electronic dance music (EDM) fans were set to descend upon the renowned Belgian event.

Despite the devastating blaze, organisers quickly confirmed there were no injuries, maintaining a defiant stance that the show will, remarkably, go on as planned over the next two weekends.

Dramatic images circulating on local news outlets and social media captured the intensity of the inferno, showing towering flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the elaborate stage structure and spreading to adjacent woodlands.

"Due to a serious incident and fire on the Tomorrowland Mainstage, our beloved Mainstage has been severely damaged,” the festival’s organisers announced on their official website. They added, “We can confirm that no one was injured during the incident."

The immediate focus, the statement added, is now entirely on "finding solutions" to ensure the festival weekend proceeds. Approximately 100,000 attendees are anticipated in the town of Boom, with a significant portion planning to camp on-site. Reassuringly, the festival's DreamVille campsite is still scheduled to open its gates on Thursday.

Starting Friday, the first weekend of Tomorrowland is set to feature a star-studded lineup of several dozen DJs and electronic music titans, including David Guetta, Lost Frequencies, Armin Van Buuren, and Charlotte de Witte. A substantial two-thirds of these performances were initially slated to be split between the now-destroyed main stage and the Freedom stage.

Several hundred firefighters bravely battled the blaze to prevent further destruction. While Antwerp prosecutors have launched an investigation into the incident, initial indications suggest the fire was accidental.

Founded two decades ago by two Belgian brothers, Tomorrowland has evolved from a local event into a globally recognised brand, attracting visitors from around the world. The resilience of its organisers to push forward after such a setback highlights the festival's enduring spirit.

Tomorrowland holds significant appeal for music fans in the UAE. Every year, hundreds of music fans fly from the emirates to Belgium to partake in the festival. Recurring "Unite with Tomorrowland" events have also been hosted for fans in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

These local editions connect UAE audiences live via satellite to the main stage in Belgium, alongside regional and international DJ lineups, showcasing the strong demand for the Tomorrowland experience in the region. UAE travel agencies also offer dedicated 'Global Journey' packages for residents, which include festival tickets, accommodation, and sometimes flights, specifically catering to the strong interest from the emirates.

Some residents Gulf News spoke with said they intend to go ahead with their travel plans to Belgium. As far as they are concerned, the show must go on.

Dubai resident Muzammil Majeed said, "I have been a regular at Tomorrowland since 2014, attending every year except for the pandemic period. Seeing the pictures and videos of the main stage fire all over social media has been truly heartbreaking."

He added, "It looks devastating, with all the speakers and lights gone. However, I'm still absolutely going ahead with my travel plans for the second weekend, July 24-26."

Majeed said the organisers posted on their website last night that the campsite opens today, and people can still set up their tents.

"We can announce that, DreamVille (campsite) will open tomorrow (Thursday, July 17) as planned and will be ready for all DreamVille visitors," the organisers said. "All Global Journey activities in Brussels and Antwerp will take place as planned," they added.

This year marks Majeed's eighth time to the festival. According to him, despite this setback, the spirit of Tomorrowland always prevails.

Another Dubai resident and regular to Tomorrowland, Sahil Baig, said the news about the mainstage catching fire “is truly sad for all of us.”

"I have been attending this magical festival for 5 years, and I’ll be there again for weekend two this year, marking my 6th time. This year will be even more emotional for everyone. Tomorrowland isn’t just a festival, it’s the place where the world unites. And despite the setback, the show goes on. That’s the spirit, the dedication, and the love that defines Tomorrowland,"

Murli Balan, who also intends to return to Tomorrowland this year as well, said, "Even as the flames try to dim our light, the spirit of Tomorrowland shines brighter — fueled by music, unity, and hope."

He added, "Together, we rise, dance, and rebuild. Ravers don’t just dance through the night — they light up the darkness with unstoppable joy, unity, and love. No matter what, the beat goes on."