Unite Forever

Cameo at Tomorrowland 2025

Just one year after its spectacular 20th anniversary, Tomorrowland 2025 was ready to raise the bar once again. But disaster struck just a few days before the start: a devastating fire destroyed the entire Main Stage, the iconic centrepiece of the festival. However, something remarkable happened: in just two days, the organisers and all the trades involved erected a new, smaller stage, with the charred rubble of the old Main Stage in the background. A strong, powerful sign of the dedication, creativity and perseverance of the live events industry! And the spirit of Tomorrowland lived on – not only on the newly constructed Main Stage, but throughout the entire festival site. On stages such as the Crystal Garden and the extraordinary Planaxis Stage, the energy remained noticeably electrifying. Cameo’s weatherproof moving lights, installed by PRG BeNeFra (responsible for lighting and rigging) and long-standing Tomorrowland partner L&L Stage Service, played a key role on four stages in total.

Planning at Tomorrowland goes into full swing long before the festival. “Preparation for a show like Tomorrowland begins months in advance,” explains Peter Robberechts, Managing Director PRG BeNeFra. “Technical, creative and operational teams invest hundreds of hours in planning. Whilst I take the strategic lead, our Production Manager Filip works closely with the Main Stage Technical Directors from start to finish. It’s a long, extremely painstaking process that requires absolute attention to detail.” All the more painful when all the months of planning, creative vision and tireless dedication literally go up in flames. Then there’s only one thing to do: start all over again. From scratch.

A new Main Stage in 24 hours – PRG shows everyone what’s possible

“The fire on the Main Stage affected us all,” recalls Bart Weyts, Managing Director of L&L Stage Service. “But once the initial shock had subsided, we all worked together to equip the new Main Stage with sufficient material and resources. This was the only way the festival could take place at all.” PRG played a key role in supporting the coordination and execution of the Main Stage rebuild. It was a remarkable team effort that required precision, speed and seamless collaboration. “Shock,” recalls Peter Robberechts, Managing Director of PRG BeNeFra, remembering the moment the fire broke out. “But as soon as it was clear that no one was injured, it was immediately a question of: what needs to be done now – and how quickly?”

The answer: combining forces to erect a new stage in just 24 hours. A task that demanded everything in terms of technology, logistics and organisation.

“It was incredibly intense – but also one of the most inspiring experiences I’ve ever had. Everyone – PRG, Tomorrowland, the technical teams and all the suppliers – worked together without hesitation. This mutual support was invaluable.”
Peter Robberechts, PRG BeNeFra

Technical challenges at the highest level

The reconstruction required decisions to be made in minutes, not days:

On the new Main Stage, PRG relied on the Cameo ZENIT W300, among other products. The weatherproof outdoor LED wash lights impressed with their enormous light output, colour fidelity and reliability and enabled the lighting designers to create an impressive visual display despite extremely tight preparation times. The ZENIT W300 was able to demonstrate its strengths particularly in terms of colour uniformity and beam flexibility, even in difficult weather conditions, and a stage structure that had to be completely rethought from a technical perspective.

“The ZENIT W300s were a strong visual anchor for the new stage – their flexibility and quality were crucial to the overall result.”
Peter Robberechts

When the music returned – an unforgettable moment

When the music resumed the following evening, the relief was palpable:

“That moment when the first track started and the crowd reacted as if nothing had happened – it was pure goosebumps. This energy, this relief and this pride – I will never forget it.”
Peter Robberechts

For PRG, one thing is clear: the key in such situations lies in a combination of preparation and team spirit. “You need clear leadership on the ground, quick decisions and complete trust. And, of course, a plan B – even if you hope you’ll never need it.”

OTOS W12 on the Planaxis and Rise Stage – power for water and forest

It wasn’t just the Main Stage that caused a stir. The Planaxis Stage also stands out with its special design – a huge water stage in the shape of a shell. Bart Weyts has a long-standing relationship with Tomorrowland, as L&L Stage Service has been involved as a technology supplier since 2006, the second edition of the festival. “Tomorrowland is something very special. It is very open to new ideas and technologies. We reach a new level with every new edition.” This innovative spirit is exemplified by the Planaxis Stage, which L&L Stage Service showcased for the first time this year with the largest wash light in the Cameo OTOS series – the OTOS W12.

This year, the experienced service provider opted specifically for the Cameo OTOS W12. “The Tomorrowland team determines the overall look and feel of the stages. Based on this, we work together to decide which spotlights are best suited to realising the specifications,” explains Bart Weyts. For the shell stage, which was positioned directly in front of a large expanse of water and combined with numerous water effects, the fixtures used had to have a high IP rating. “The OTOS W12 is incredibly versatile,” confirms Bart Weyts. “In addition to the outdoor capability, the light output and colour quality were particularly important in order to optimally illuminate the large, white surfaces of the stage.” For Bart, there are currently not many IP65 wash lights with comparable options to the OTOS W12, “especially if you add the effect options such as pixel mode and multi-zoom.”

“The large white areas of the stage in particular required exceptional lighting quality. The OTOS W12 was clearly the first choice here.”
Bart Weyts, L&L Stage Service

The OTOS W12 impressed with its pixel mode, multi-zoom and the ability to be used as both a wash light and a beam light. At the Rise Stage, which is located in the middle of a wooded area, the OTOS W12 enabled a flexible look: during the day, it created striking visual effects in full-pixel mode, while powerful beams were sent through the treetops at night – a memorable interplay of light and nature.

ORON H2 on the Crystal Garden – performance on the water

On the floating Crystal Garden Stage, PRG opted for the ORON H2 for the second time. The powerful IP65 hybrid phosphor laser moving heads impressed with their fast response behaviour, strong output and easy integration into complex lighting designs, even with limited rigging options on a floating construction.

“They blend in perfectly and yet stand out from the visual action, especially in such a lively environment as the Crystal Garden.”
Peter Robberechts

The ORON H2 really came into its own during dynamic shows with high speeds and changing scenarios: fast positioning, precise colours and high reliability even in damp conditions, direct sunlight or temperature fluctuations.

A lesson in cohesion and leadership

For Peter Robberechts, the fire at Tomorrowland was not only a shock, but also a lesson in crisis management in the live event sector: “Good preparation is important, but it’s always the people who make the difference. In a crisis situation, you need clear leadership on the ground, quick decision-making and complete trust from everyone involved. It is invaluable to have partners and employees who remain calm, act quickly and work together without egotism. Everyone made their contribution: our crew, the Tomorrowland team, all the suppliers. This disaster has once again shown what this industry is capable of.”

Tomorrowland 2025 was more than just a festival – it was a statement.
Live Today, Love Tomorrow, Unite Forever.

Thank you very much, Bart Weyts and Peter Robberechts!