Uncovered: Tomorrowland's Firework Stash, Weighing in at 317kg, Under Investigation on the Festival's Grounds.
On July 16, 2025, a fire broke out at Tomorrowland's iconic main stage, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The festival, which was set to open the following day, was forced to adapt quickly to salvage the event.
The fire has since sparked an investigation by authorities in Antwerp, who are looking into potential breaches in the storage of fireworks at the festival site. The Belgian Ministry of Economy flagged concerns in an email to the Antwerp Public Prosecutor, citing specific violations.
Among the breaches under investigation are the storage of 317 kilograms of fireworks unpackaged and prepped at the main stage site well before the event started. Additionally, concerns have been raised about pyrotechnics arriving on-site too early and being accessible to unauthorized personnel, as well as a lack of written notification to the FPS Security Control Service about the delivery and installation of the fireworks.
Despite these concerns, Tomorrowland reaffirmed its strict compliance with pyrotechnic safety regulations and stated its reliance on certified suppliers for fireworks. However, the expert's report regarding the cause of the fire is still pending, and no information has been provided regarding the potential impact of the breaches or the chemical trace on the festival or attendees.
Debris analysis after the fire revealed traces of Bisphenol A, a chemical that can irritate the skin, lungs, and liver. Organizers managed to salvage the event by building a smaller main stage in front of the wreckage, and the festival went on as planned.
As the investigation continues, the festival organizers have remained tight-lipped, with their spokesperson declining to comment on the ongoing probe. The cause of the fire, and the potential role of the storage violations, remains a mystery for now.
[1] Belgian Ministry of Economy emails Antwerp Public Prosecutor about concerns over fireworks storage at Tomorrowland [2] Experts report on cause of Tomorrowland fire still pending [3] No new information provided regarding potential impact of breaches or chemical trace on festival or attendees [4] Tomorrowland's spokesperson declines to comment on ongoing investigation [5] Investigation into breaches in fireworks storage at Tomorrowland continues
The Belgian Ministry of Economy has emailed the Antwerp Public Prosecutor regarding concerns over potential breaches in the storage of fireworks at Tomorrowland. The cause of the fire, which destroyed Tomorrowland's main stage, is still pending, and no information has been provided about the potential impact of the breaches or the chemical trace on the festival or attendees. Despite this, the investigation into breaches in fireworks storage at Tomorrowland continues.
