Tomorrowland introduces additional safety measures following last year’s main stage fire
Tomorrowland is implementing additional safety measures following the fire at the main stage during the festival’s set-up last year. A risk analysis coordinated by the University of Antwerp concluded that a “robust approach” was already in place regarding both fire safety and evacuation capacity, but recommendations have been made to further refine these measures.
During the fire in July 2025, the main stage set was largely destroyed. No one was injured, but the incident raised further questions about fire safety, evacuation capacity and crisis management on the festival site. This led to the commissioning of a risk analysis, coordinated by the University of Antwerp.
The study brings together research on fire safety, crowd management and general risk analysis. According to the report, the overall risk assessment for Tomorrowland remains “low to moderate” and no fundamental structural changes are required to the festival’s organisation. The analysis also concludes that, even in exceptional emergency scenarios, visitors can be evacuated within the established safety standards.
At the same time, the experts have put forward a series of additional recommendations and optimisations, which the organisation now intends to implement at an accelerated pace. For instance, Tomorrowland is investing in real-time crowd monitoring and density measurements to track and adjust visitor flows more quickly.
In addition, extra fire guards will be stationed at strategic locations to enable a faster response to technical incidents or emerging fire outbreaks. The evacuation tunnels and underpasses near the main stage will also receive additional protection to ensure they remain operational and accessible during evacuations. Furthermore, the organisation is providing additional backup teams for crucial safety functions and refining the so-called “show-stop procedures”, including aspects such as communication, music interruptions and the management of crowd flows.
Tomorrowland spokesperson Debby Wilmsen emphasised that last year’s incident has provided new insights. “Although the existing safety procedures worked and the incident was brought under control without any casualties, this event has demonstrated how important redundancy, real-time monitoring and rapid centralised control are at an event of this scale,” she stated.
“That is why we are investing further in crowd intelligence, enhanced intervention capacity and refined emergency scenarios, and we are ensuring that crucial functions can always continue to operate, even if we have to switch gears unexpectedly. Major events such as Tomorrowland are constantly evolving, and safety management must continue to grow alongside them.”
Finally, the report also reveals that Tomorrowland aims to reduce the use of fireworks during both festival weekends. The report is, incidentally, separate from the investigation into the cause of last year’s fire, which is still ongoing.
Set-up for the festival begins at De Schorre recreation domain in Boom on Monday. The domain will remain accessible over the coming weeks.
#FlandersNewsService | The Tomorrowland festival site after a fire in 2025 © BELGA PHOTO STRINGER