The People Of Tomorrowland has been taken on a wild ride, with Tomorrowland 2021 postponing their July dates to August to hold their annual festival after Belgian officials announced that large-scale events are allowed to happen after 13 August.

But in yet another turn of events, local media outlets announced that the Mayor of Boom and Rumst did not authorize Tomorrowland 2021, citing the lack of a Ministerial Decree approving events with a higher occupancy than 400 and ID check logistics were the reason for the non-authorization.

In an official statement released by Tomorrowland, the organizers are left surprised by the sudden decree. It reads:

Dear People of Tomorrow,

Earlier this month, Belgium's national government announced that large-scale festivals can take place from the second half of August. Yesterday, the local government (Boom & Rumst) has decided that the 16th edition of Tomorrowland cannot take place in 2021.

We are very surprised and puzzled by these contradictory messages from our governments. In the next few days we will explore all possible options and try to obtain some clarity for our visitors and suppliers.

The grounds cited for the decision are that the Ministerial Decree regarding maximum capacity (75,000 persons) has not been published. For the time being, according to the mayors, only events up to 400 people can legally be allowed.

However, we have understood from the federal government that both arguments would be resolved very quickly with the publication of the Ministerial Decree and the possibility for the ID check to be carried out by private security, as the latter is a general point of attention for the control of the Digital Green Certificate in Belgium.

Finally, reference is made to a local explanation from the GEMS public health advisory group regarding the advice it has made to the Federal government for the summer plan. The federal government has clearly said that festivals can take place after August 13, provided that extra measures are strictly respected, which we intend to follow at all times.

As Tomorrowland, we first and foremost want to organise a safe festival and we have stated several times that we will always continue to evaluate and anticipate the epidemiological situation.

No Tomorrowland for the second year in a row would in any case be huge disaster for our company, but also for the more than 1500 suppliers involved, many freelancers and our thousands of employees. We are still 100% prepared to organise everything as professionally as possible if the epidemiological situation allows, and to celebrate a great end of the summer together with our visitors.

After 15 years of intensive cooperation, this feels very grim and we find it very unfortunate after the many constructive preparations and conversations and federal commitments that it has come to this point, where we struggle to comprehend what just happened to us and still have to let it sink in a bit. Creating and organising Tomorrowland is our life, and an undertaking on which hundreds of people work every day with great passion for a whole year, day in day out.

We keep looking positively towards the future and strongly believe that music will unite us again. 

Live Today, Love Tomorrow, Unite Forever.

While ravers might have to wait yet another year to return to the Holy Grounds of Tomorrowland, the festival organisers are still pushing ahead with the second edition of their online virtual festival. Tomorrowland Around The World will welcome back the People of Tomorrow back to the magical island Pāpiliōnem, which will feature new stages and mind-blowing graphics. Pāpiliōnem was created last year, as events were shut down worldwide in response to the pandemic.

The online festival lineup has been announced their full lineup, with hard hitters like Lost Frequencies, Vini Vici, Charlotte de Witte, Armin van Buuren, Claptone, Sam Feldt, Nicky Romero, Darren Styles, Angerfist, Amelie Lens and more across 6 digital stages. 

The online festival can be experienced through PC and mobile, although those wanting a more immersive experience can try with a home VR set.

Tomorrowland Around The World 2021 is still happening on 16 – 17 July and will be livestreamed worldwide. Two-day livestream passes start from €20, with optional add-ons including watching on-demand post-livestream and party packages.