Belgium’s Biggest Festivals Go Live on VRT MAX This Summer
Belgium’s public broadcaster VRT has announced a landmark expansion of its summer festival coverage, bringing live multi-stage streams of Graspop Metal Meeting, Rock Werchter, Pukkelpop, and Tomorrowland to viewers via its streaming platform VRT MAX and radio station Studio Brussel. For the first time, fans without tickets can watch full concerts from multiple stages simultaneously, switching between performances as if they were on the festival grounds.
A New Era for Festival Broadcasting
The initiative marks a significant shift in the Belgian media landscape. Until last year, telecom provider Proximus held the broadcasting rights for major Belgian festivals through its Pickx platform. Now, VRT — the Dutch-language public broadcaster — is bringing the coverage to its free streaming platform, making it accessible to all viewers without a subscription.
According to VRT NWS, the livestreams will allow viewers to switch between different festival stages in real time, a first for Belgian broadcasting. The approach draws comparisons to the livestream model pioneered by California’s Coachella festival.
The Festival Lineup
The summer of live streaming kicks off this week with Graspop Metal Meeting (June 18–21) in Dessel, followed by Rock Werchter (July 2–5) in Werchter, and Pukkelpop (August 20–23) in Kiewit. The main stage of Tomorrowland will also be available for two festival weekends.
As TVvisie reports, viewers will be able to follow specific stages including the North Stage of Graspop, the Main Stage of Rock Werchter, and the Marquee at Pukkelpop, navigating between them to create a personalized festival experience.
Voices from the Festivals
Festival organizers have welcomed the expanded partnership. Steven Lemmens, Network Head of Studio Brussel, emphasized the accessibility aspect: “Whoever doesn’t have a festival ticket this summer doesn’t have to miss anything.” He added that Studio Brussel is bringing “full live concerts in audio and video on VRT MAX for the first time,” making the platform “the place where you truly experience the festival summer.”
Peter Van Geel, Festival Director of Graspop Metal Meeting, noted the cultural significance: “Metal has its roots in a close subculture, but deserves to be discovered by as many people as possible.”
Nele Bigaré, Head of Marketing & Communications at Rock Werchter, described the expansion as shifting “up a gear,” bringing the festival “closer to everyone” and giving “artists an extra stage far beyond the Festivalpark.”
Pukkelpop spokesperson Frederik Luyten pointed out that this year’s edition sold out rapidly, making the livestream particularly valuable for fans who missed out on tickets.
Background and Context
The three major festivals — Graspop, Rock Werchter, and Pukkelpop — are all now under the Live Nation umbrella, following Live Nation’s acquisition of Pukkelpop in October 2025. This consolidation may have facilitated the unified streaming deal with VRT.
As HLN notes, the public broadcaster’s move mirrors the livestream approach of Coachella, where viewers can switch between multiple stage feeds. The innovation builds on last year’s initial step, when Studio Brussel’s radio broadcasts were accompanied by a video livestream on VRT MAX.
Liesbet Vrieleman, Director of Content & Curation at VRT, stated that the broadcaster’s “primary concern is to offer our listeners, viewers and readers the strongest festival experience,” achieved by connecting Studio Brussel and VRT MAX more closely.
What This Means for Viewers
The expanded coverage aligns with VRT’s public service mission to make cultural events accessible to a wider audience. With combitickets for Rock Werchter and Graspop exceeding €300, the free livestreams offer an alternative for those who cannot afford tickets, have mobility issues, or are unable to travel.
Rock Werchter’s official statement confirms that the partnership extends beyond live streaming: VRT Canvas will continue its marathon broadcasts, and viewers who attended the festival can revisit highlights on VRT MAX after the event.
Looking Ahead
As the first festival — Graspop Metal Meeting — begins this Thursday, all eyes will be on how VRT MAX handles the technical challenge of multi-stage streaming. The initiative positions VRT MAX as a serious contender in the streaming space, offering unique live content that could attract new users to the platform during the summer months.
Whether this marks a one-year pilot or the beginning of a long-term partnership remains to be seen, but for Belgian music fans this summer, the message is clear: you won’t have to miss a beat.