The Disney park of electronic music is located in this Belgian town: Boom

Tomorrowland is like stepping into a Disney movie where the cute characters have grown up and dance to electronic music. The largest festival of this musical genre in the world takes place in Belgium, evolving from a one-time event into a vast universe with a backstory, featuring artists with diverse talents ranging from stage design to the best DJs in the world. Tomorrowland has become such an important event that it has expanded beyond the small Belgian town of Boom; there are also editions in Brazil and even a special winter version in the Alps. Now, it has arrived in Madrid with an immersive exhibition: 'The Great Library of Tomorrow', which relives the 20 years of the festival's history.

The origin of Tomorrowland is traced back to two Belgian brothers: Manu and Michiel Beers. In 2005, they modestly started a project with 10,000 attendees that has grown year after year to generate 164.2 million euros (in 2022) with 650,000 attendees. People from around the world travel to Belgium to celebrate this electronic music festival with a compelling backstory. Each year, Tomorrowland has a theme that goes beyond decorative elements; there is a storyline that unfolds. This 2024, the theme is 'LIFE', serving as a prequel to the 2016 theme 'The Elixir of Life'.

The best DJs in the world take the stages of Tomorrowland each year, which are themselves works of art. Avicii, Steve Aoki, and David Guetta are examples of artists who have performed at the festival. The participants for this year have already been announced, and among the nearly 100 artists, Swedish House Mafia are some of the most renowned, who will, of course, be on the main stage.

Although they may vary each year, the stages are divided by themes and types of music. For example, the Rave Cave features powerful music for people to dance, jump, and release their energy. On the other hand, the Leaf Stage presents more relaxed music, is outdoors, and surrounded by water to create a completely different atmosphere. The Main Stage is the most impressive stage: it's where the most famous DJs perform, and the decorations include not only visuals but also immense structures (the 2023 stage reached a height of 43 meters and featured nearly 1000 m2 of screens!).

Dreamville is the space Tomorrowland offers for accommodation. And yes, it is a "space," as it literally refers to a piece of land where you can camp. Different types of accommodation are available in this area: the 'Magnificent Green Areas' allows camping, but attendees must bring their own gear (though it can also be rented). Prices range from €400 to €1500. The various types of accommodation cater to all budgets, from tents and cabins to small houses with air conditioning, pools, and gardens, starting from €3,000.

The festival features a plethora of stalls selling food inspired by countries from around the world. While it may be good, it is as expensive as theme parks. In Tomorrowland, a tool is used to disguise the price: the 'Pearls'. Inside the festival, you cannot pay with cash; money is loaded onto a park card, and you pay with 'Pearls', the festival's "currency." Each 'Pearl' is equivalent to €1.70, which can confuse attendees, especially in a party environment, as each purchase costs nearly double the "price".

The Belgian festival will take place this year over the weekends between July 19 and 28, although tickets are already Sold Out. Still, there is hope because resale tickets are available. The original ticket prices this year started at €790, but they can be higher on resale. However, the immersive experience landing in Madrid this fall, which has been in Barcelona since December, only costs €24.50. Tomorrowland has created a universe around the festival, and you can buy festival merchandise on its website, including the sparkling wine served at Tomorrowland, produced in collaboration with the Catalan winery Vallformosa.