The electronic dance music scene has never been more escapist, and Tomorrowland serves as a prism, refracting anxieties into core memories.
In an era of mental health awareness, today’s ravers consider wellness their personal headliner—and the unfiltered euphoria of dance music festivals comes with a toll. So today’s tickets need to hold the promise of much more than just music.
CORE certainly fits the bill. By harnessing the power of nature’s metaphors, Tomorrowland’s visionary event brand creates a symbiotic relationship between music and its environment. Through its storytelling and stage design, the brand offers a plunge into the sublime interplay of electronic music and the wondrous complexities of the natural world.
Born from the iconic festival’s desire to cultivate deeper connections between attendees and their surroundings, the offshoot emerged in 2017 as a renegade stage tucked away in a forest on its grounds. Now, after unveiling a spectacular new stage, CORE has become so popular that it lives independent of Tomorrowland itself, carving out its own universe in the helixes of the festival’s DNA.
As the fabled Tomorrowland brand celebrates its 20th anniversary, CORE stands tall as a bastion of its deep-rooted ethos, which says their events aren’t as much festivals as they are vehicles for memories. We’ve teamed up with them to explore its evolution and celebrate its enduring impact on the global dance music community.
2017
CORE at Tomorrowland Belgium, July 21-23 & 28-30
The first-ever CORE stage debuts at Tomorrowland Belgium with performances by Tale of Us, Richie Hatwin, MK, Jax Jones, Loco Dice and Paco Osuna, among other illustrious techno and house music producers.
2018
CORE at Tomorrowland Belgium, July 20-22 & 27-29
CORE returns to Tomorrowland Belgium after its successful unveiling. Stage takeovers by Jamie Jones’ Paradise and Claptone’s The Masquerade fan the flames with massive sets by Nicole Moudaber, Claude VonStroke, Patrick Topping and more.
2019
CORE at Tomorrowland Belgium, July 19-22 & 26-28
CORE emerges as a hotbed of techno and house music in its third year. Techno legend Sven Väth closes the stage on its final day in the wake of performances by many influential artists, including the late Virgil Abloh, who tragically died two years later after battling cancer.
2020
CORE at Tomorrowland Around the World, July 25-26
In a virtual world with no semblance of COVID-19 concerns, CORE goes digital at Tomorrowland’s groundbreaking “Around The World” event after shelving its flagship festival in Belgium due to the impact of the pandemic. Charlotte de Witte, Adam Beyer, ANNA and more throw down underneath the stage’s giant, intricate face.
STAGE PREVIEW: CORE – Surrounded by nature and the deeper sounds of Tomorrowland Around the World. Welcome to the Core stage with @realAdamBeyer, @adriatiquemusic, @djannamiranda, @CelliniGianM, @CharlottedWitte, @jorisvoorn, @patricebaumel and @yvesderuyter. pic.twitter.com/nOWlsQZFSx
— Tomorrowland (@tomorrowland) July 17, 2020
2021
Launch of CORE Radio Show
Tomorrowland launches the monthly CORE Radio Show on its native station, One World Radio. Described as a “hub for alternative electronic music,” the hourlong show is curated by host Dino Lenny and features a special guest each month.
CORE at Tomorrowland Around the World, July 16-17
After attracting one million viewers from an exhaustive list of countries, Tomorrowland’s virtual festival returns along with CORE, now a fan-favorite. Tomorrowland diehards dance in their homes to DJ sets by Amelie Lens, Mind Against and the Keinemusik crew, among others.
2022
CORE at Tomorrowland Winter, March 19-26
CORE heads to the snowcapped mountains of southeastern France for Tomorrowland Winter, an offshoot of the fabled Belgian EDM festival at the idyllic Alpe d’Huez ski resort. Donning a dazzling design with the CORE logo, the stage hosts performances by Vintage Culture, Kölsch, Kevin de Vries and EDM.com Class of 2022 star Anfisa Letyago.
CORE Festival Brussels, May 27 & 28
The first edition of CORE Festival, a two-day boutique fest in Brussels with five stages, takes place at Ossegem Park. A collaboration between Tomorrowland and Rock Werchter, the festival attracts 40,000 visitors and features performances by Peggy Gou, Sam Gellaitry, Nina Kraviz and more as well as hip-hop luminary Nas.
CORE at Tomorrowland Belgium, July 15-17 & 22-24 & 29-31
With its stunning face design, the CORE stage makes its real-life debut in the enchanting forests of Tomorrowland in Boom, Belgium. London’s iconic Printworks venue takes over the stage with a performance by Detroit techno legend Kevin Saunderson, who is followed by Âme, Maceo Plex, Marcel Dettmann and more.
Tomorrowland
2023
CORE Tulum, January 14
The CORE stage departs Belgium for the first time ever and lands in Tulum for its debut in the heart of the Quintana Roo jungle. Maceo Plex, Brina Knauss, Vintage Culture, Channel Tres and more perform.
Launch of CORE Records
Tomorrowland launches CORE Records, a boutique label “crossing and fusing boundaries, cultures and genres,” by virtue of releases from Afriqua, Mosley Jr and more.
CORE at Tomorrowland Brasil, October 12-14
The CORE stage travels to the lush Parque Maeda in Itu for its debut at Tomorrowland Brasil. Nina Kraviz, Âme and Vintage Culture b2b ANNA headline each day after performances by a slew of major artists, including TSHA, Skepta and Jaguar.
Tomorrowland
2024
CORE Tulum, January 13 & 20
The world premiere of the revamped CORE stage, a marvel of design due not only to its remarkable split human head, but also its inflatable composition. A feat of sustainability and efficiency, the groundbreaking stage deflates and compactly fits into a single container, making it portable and adaptable to locations around the world.
Tomorrowland
CORE at Tomorrowland Winter, March 16-23
The brand-new CORE stage heads back to Alpe d’Huez to make its debut in France. Italian duo Mind Against stun with a mystical closing set underneath the stage’s stupefying split human head.
CORE Medellín, May 11 & 12
CORE turns the page of a new chapter with a sold-out two-day festival in Medellín. The new CORE stage prepares to take over perhaps its most unique venue yet, the luxuriant Jardín Botánico de Medellín—more commonly known as the Botanical Garden of Medellín—and its famed centerpiece, the “Orquideorama.” Bicep, Agents Of Time, ANNA, Chet Faker, Brina Knauss, Kevin de Vries and HAAi will perform.
CORE at Tomorrowland Belgium, July 19-21 & 26-28
The CORE stage will land in Boom for its biggest appearance yet: Tomorrowland’s 20th anniversary festival. 400,000 people are expected to dance the nights away at the fest, which features an epic lineup with Alesso, Swedish House Mafia, Afrojack, Hardwell, Amelie Lens, John Summit, NERVO, Armin van Buuren, Tiësto, Dom Dolla and many, many more.
CORE at Tomorrowland Brasil, October 11-13
The CORE stage will travel to Parque Maeda for its debut in Brazil. Heading to São Paulo in 2024 are Hardwell, Axwell, Alesso, Charlotte de Witte, Afrojack, Armin van Buuren, NERVO, Steve Aoki and Krewella, among over 100 others.
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