Last night, Paradise City faced something we hope never to repeat - and came through it together. At approximately 22:00 on Saturday evening, Paradise City made the decision to close the festival grounds early. The decision was taken in close consultation with the Mayor of Steenokkerzeel, and the safety coordinator, following a code orange weather warning issued by the Governor of Flemish Brabant and a BE-Alert for the region. Severe thunderstorms were forecast for around midnight. With 17.000 visitors and crew on site, we chose to act before the storm arrived rather than wait and see.

It was the right call.

What happened
At approximately 1:30 AM, a severe storm passed over Steenokkerzeel, bringing heavy rainfall and strong wind gusts. The domain surrounding Kasteel Ribaucourt was hit hard. In the hours before the storm, our production team had been reinforcing structures and dismantling vulnerable elements across the site. That work paid off: the festival infrastructure was largely spared. Most importantly, no major injuries were reported.

The campsite
The campsite was significantly affected. A number of tents were damaged, flooded or blown away by the wind. Our teams were on the ground throughout the night, supporting campers and assessing the situation. Those whose tents were no longer usable were given the choice to stay with friends on the campsite or spend the night at Feestzaal Teniers in Perk. Around twenty campers made use of that accommodation.
All campers remained safe throughout the night.

The evacuation
When we closed the festival grounds at 22:00, we asked visitors to follow a set of clear instructions: campers to return to the campsite and shelter in their tents, day visitors to make their way home by car or to the Kiss & Ride pick-up point, night train travellers to head to the shuttle buses at Vilvoorde Station. The response from our visitors was remarkable. Calm, cooperative and patient: thousands of people moving through an uncertain situation with care for one another. The evacuation took place smoothly and safely, and for that we are genuinely grateful.

Sunday
Our teams worked through the night to assess the site and prepare the grounds for the final day. Sunday is happening. Paradise City 2026 will close with its grand finale today. Opening times will be shared via the app and our social media channels. After a night like last night, today feels earned.

Thank you
A huge thank you to the Municipality of Steenokkerzeel, the emergency services, our crew, volunteers and all partners for their support and commitment throughout the night. And to our visitors: thank you for your cooperation, patience and calm response. By following the safety instructions, you helped ensure the evacuation took place smoothly and safely.
 

See you in the gardens for the grand finale.
Love, Team Paradise City