Stageco Belgium has lauded the “incredible collaboration” that enabled Tomorrowland’s opening weekend to go ahead despite its devastating main stage fire.
A new stage – a third the size of the original – was built for the electronic music festival in just 36 hours following the huge blaze last Wednesday (16 July), which plunged the 2025 edition into doubt.
HLN reports that components used for the European leg of Metallica’s M72 World Tour, stored in Austria, were airlifted to the event in Boom, Antwerp, overnight. The construction was then carried out by Stageco, Pixelscreen and Prismax, with PRG responsible for the lighting and Phlippo Productions and Noizboyz handling the sound.
The 70,000-cap event proceeded between 18-20 July, headlined by DJs such as Martin Garrix, Armin van Buuren, Steve Aoki, Hardwell, Charlotte de Witte and David Guetta, with the scaled-down stage erected in front of the charred remains of the original Orbyz stage.
Tomorrowland spokesperson Debby Wilmsen said the “very intimate” new stage includes speakers previously used for Metallica’s 2024 shows.
“It was a race against time,” she said. “We built a new main stage in 36 hours.”
“With flexibility, creativity and the right drive, we managed to safely and carefully rebuild a new mainstage for Tomorrowland”
In a LinkedIn post entitled “When the impossible becomes possible”, Stageco said: “After the heartbreaking news of the devastating fire, we sprang into action. All of us, together.
“Thanks to the incredible collaboration between our own team, the other dedicated vendors and the production/creative team from Tomorrowland, the impossible became possible.
“We’re so proud of what we all accomplished in such a short time. With flexibility, creativity and the right drive, we managed to safely and carefully rebuild a new mainstage for Tomorrowland. The thunderous applause from the Tomorrowland crowd was a truly moving moment, a well-deserved tribute to the entire team.”
No one was injured in last week’s fire and no other parts of the festival site were impacted by the incident, the cause of which is still being investigated.
Tomorrowland Belgium returns for its closing weekend from 25-27 July.
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