Tomorrowland 2026 awaits final approval after last year’s major fire

With all tickets officially sold out, Tomorrowland 2026 now faces a crucial administrative countdown. The mayors of Boom and Rumst must still decide whether the festival can proceed this summer following the major fire that broke out during last year’s build-up phase.

Although preparations continue behind the scenes, municipal approval remains mandatory. Authorities first require a comprehensive risk assessment before issuing final permits. According to local officials, the necessary analyses should be completed within the next month, leaving a narrow but workable timeframe ahead of the July event.

The 2025 fire raised serious questions around fire prevention standards, stage construction, and crowd management. Consequently, organizers and local governments have introduced a strengthened safety protocol. At the center of this framework stands an extensive risk analysis mapping fire hazards, structural safety, emergency access routes, and visitor flow management across the site.

Importantly, the festival organization has appointed a multidisciplinary team from the University of Antwerp to conduct the assessment. The team will evaluate crowd circulation, stage and temporary structure stability, fire exposure risks, and accessibility for emergency services. Afterward, specialists from the Rivierenland emergency response zone and the local Rupel police zone will review the findings before permits move forward.

The municipalities of Boom and Rumst remain the official permitting authorities — Boom oversees the main festival grounds at De Schorre, while Rumst governs DreamVille camping operations. The Province of Antwerp, which owns the site, also participates in the ongoing consultations.

Meanwhile, investigators have not yet determined the exact cause of last year’s fire.

Tomorrowland 2026 expects approximately 400,000 visitors across two weekends – July 17–19 and July 24–26 — making the timely completion of the safety review critical for one of the world’s largest electronic music gatherings.

Sources: HLN.be & VRT.be