Belgium’s festival season in 2025 has recorded remarkable attendance, featuring prominent global artists and notable challenges. From the bustling streets of Ghent to expansive venues in Boom and Hasselt, the nation’s largest events showcased a diverse array of performances and experiences. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the highlights and statistics from four major summer festivals, reports 24brussels.
Pukkelpop
Pukkelpop 2025 concluded last Sunday after four days filled with music and international talent, attracting at least 66,000 attendees each day. Many festival-goers opted to stay overnight at Camping Chill, leaving with the consensus that the experience was worthwhile.
The festival’s line-up presented both local and international artists, featuring notable performances from Macklemore, Netsky, and Roxy Dekker. This year, Okazi’s pop-up shop at the campsite set a record by selling 4.3 tonnes of second-hand clothing and camping supplies, some sourced from previous festivals. Additionally, the organization partnered with Mobile Refugee Support to repurpose sleeping bags, mattresses, and tents for refugees.
Safety and security were prioritized, with authorities reporting four arrests and 160 people found in possession of drugs, resulting in fines totalling €42,000. Approximately 1,000 valuables went missing during the event, with half of them recovered on site. The remaining 485 items are now in the custody of Hasselt’s city hall, where owners have five years to reclaim them using the iLost website.
Gentse Feesten
Ghent’s esteemed city festival, now in its 182nd year, welcomed 1,595,000 visitors over ten days, a decrease of 115,000 from the previous year but still a commendable turnout. The festival generated 215 tonnes of waste, demanding significant municipal resources; 444 individuals were fined for public urination, and 248 traffic violations were recorded, leading to 94 vehicles being towed.
The Red Cross attended to 2,292 festival-goers for primarily minor injuries, with 174 needing hospitalization. The fire brigade intervened 34 times, mainly for minor incidents such as bin fires. Reports of inappropriate behavior saw a slight decline, with 51 cases documented, including 19 related to sexual misconduct. Noise complaints were also reduced, totaling 32 with nine resulting in fines. However, discussions about accessibility continue as the festival strives to balance its open-city vibe with necessary crowd control.
Tomorrowland
Tomorrowland 2025 faced pre-opening drama when a fire destroyed much of its main stage, yet the festival quickly recovered to present another spectacular edition. Headliners included Martin Garrix, Eric Prydz, Charlotte de Witte, Hardwell, John Summit, Armin van Buuren, Swedish House Mafia, and David Guetta.
Police reported 481 offences over the two weekends, primarily drug-related, leading to 67 arrests. Authorities apprehended 382 individuals possessing user doses, while drug dealers from across Europe and beyond were detained. Notably, the Antwerp prosecutor confirmed the death of a 35-year-old Canadian woman during the first weekend, with drug use being investigated.
The festival became embroiled in political controversy when two men, identified as members of the Israeli army’s Givati Brigade, were arrested after displaying the unit’s flag, with the case being referred to the International Criminal Court. Israeli DJ Skazi also cancelled his performance amid escalating tensions. “We’re glad he made that decision,” said spokesperson Debby Wilmsen. “At some point, there was a lot of unrest. We received many angry emails, and we don’t want our employees to leave.”
In response to challenges, Tomorrowland implemented new sustainability measures, including a chipped cup system linked to festival wristbands, allowing instant refunds for returned deposits, each valued at €1.82.
Rock Werchter
Rock Werchter celebrated its 50th anniversary with a finale dominated by Gen Z artists and audience members. Performers such as David Kushner, Gracie Abrams, Noah Kahan, and Olivia Rodrigo attracted large crowds.
Since its 1975 debut with only 650 attendees, the festival has seen exponential growth, with daily attendance nearing 90,000 in 2025. Security reported 94 cases of drug possession, with 89 individuals receiving on-the-spot fines and five cited.
