Tomorrowland reopens with new stage built in just 36 hours after fire

Tomorrowland, one of the world’s largest electronic music festivals, opened to the public Friday, July 18, just two days after a massive fire destroyed its main stage in Boom, near Antwerp, Belgium. Despite the damage, organizers moved quickly. The campsite opened to attendees Thursday, a day early, though many remained uncertain whether main stage performances would go on, according to Agence France-Presse. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) ALSO READ: Ayra Starr, Kawhi Leonard join Giants of Africa Festival lineup in Kigali Crews worked around the clock for 48 hours to clear debris and build a temporary setup. The new version of the main stage opened as planned at 4 p.m. Central European Summer Time. DJs Odymel and Pegassi, originally scheduled to open the main stage, performed with only a slight delay. Construction continued behind them as they played to an eager crowd. Above them, a massive LED screen displayed the festival’s new slogan, “United Forever,” a message of resilience adopted after the fire. The initial design had stretched 160 meters wide and stood 45 meters tall, with 65 water fountains and two waterfalls. In contrast, the replacement is a more modest build, but fans welcomed it with enthusiasm, knowing they were part of a historic moment. All performances are continuing as planned, with no cancellations or major disruptions. An estimated 400,000 festivalgoers are expected over two weekends, with acts including David Guetta, Lost Frequencies and Charlotte de Witte still on the lineup. Footage of the fire spread quickly across social media, showing flames engulfing the elaborate stage design, which had resembled a frozen kingdom with snowy peaks, a castle and an enormous ice-covered lion. The smaller main stage, completed in less than two days, was approved for use after safety inspections by local police and fire officials. According to festival spokesperson Debby Wilmsen, the redesign offers a more intimate connection between performers and the crowd. Tomorrowland was founded 20 years ago by two Flemish brothers in Belgium, a country long associated with the rise of electronic dance music. The festival is set to return in October with a Brazil edition and will continue its winter version at Alpe d’Huez in the French Alps.

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Tomorrowland reopens with new stage built in just 36 hours after fire