Tomorrowland wins award for best major festival in Europe

The Belgian Tomorrowland, one of the largest electronic dance music festivals, was awarded best major festival hosted last year during the European Festival Awards in Groningen on Wednesday night. Despite walking away with the ‘Best Festival in the World’ title during the Miami Winter Music Conference in March last year, Wednesday’s award came as a huge surprise for the organisers of this summer festival held in Boom each year. “In Miami it was all about dance events, but the European Festival Award is more about rock,” said spokesperson Debby Wilmsen about the festival which saw Tomorrowland compete with Werchter, the Danish Roskilde and the Hungarian Sziget. Tomorrowland’s final event was attended by 180 000 visitors; many of them foreigners. Global stars Skrillex, Fatboy Slim and David Guetta were among the more than 400 DJs who did their show. “We have put Tomorrowland on the world map,” confirmed Wilmsen. This year the festival will go ahead as usual in the De Schorre recreational area in Boom. The 3-day festival will take place from Friday, 26 July to Sunday, 28 July and the first performers will be announced within exactly one week. Pukkelpop and Rock Werchter promoter and festival director Herman Schueremans also won awards on Wednesday, with Pukkelpop nominated in the Best Promotor category and concert director Schueremans receiving a lifetime achievement award. Earlier this month he announced his retirement from politics in parliament.