Non-EU travelers arriving in Belgium ahead of Tomorrowland are reporting long waits inside Brussels Airport. A traveler posted in Tomorrowland’s Reddit community on Thursday and warned others to prepare for a two-hour line. The traveler later stated the process took just over three hours after joining the queue at approximately 10 a.m. Another passenger reported waiting more than four hours, while border personnel estimated waits of five to six hours for those further back in the queue.
The Impact of the New Entry/Exit System
The reports arrive just one day before the first weekend of the festival begins. Tomorrowland is scheduled to run from July 17–19, followed by a second edition from July 24–26. Both weekends sold out earlier this year, drawing a massive influx of international visitors into Belgium.
This is the first festival season taking place after the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) became fully operational. Known as EES, the digital system registers non-EU nationals entering or leaving 29 participating European countries. It records information from each traveler’s passport alongside a facial image, fingerprints, and the date and location of the border crossing. The system effectively replaces physical passport stamps with digital records.
EES began rolling out gradually in October 2025 before becoming fully operational on April 10. Although it is intended to modernize border controls, the additional registration process has contributed to extended waits at several European entry points. Airlines have since requested more flexibility during the peak summer season.
Airport Preparedness and Ongoing Challenges
Brussels Airport had anticipated longer queues before the system launched. The airport added 61 self-service registration kiosks, more border-control booths, and additional stewards to assist passengers. It also warned that sufficient federal-police staffing would be necessary to maintain reasonable processing times.
However, the airport’s passport delays cannot be attributed to EES alone. Brussels Airport has previously noted that federal police were operating with approximately 25% fewer border officers than required. In March, the airport reported arrival waits reaching 3.5 hours for non-European travelers.
The passenger accounts from Thursday are not official wait-time measurements, and neither Brussels Airport nor Belgium’s Federal Police have publicly confirmed the cause of the latest queues. Still, the reports provide a warning for international attendees arriving before either Tomorrowland weekend. Non-EU travelers entering through Brussels should prepare for additional processing time, monitor airport updates, and avoid scheduling tight connections where possible. Check out this video from DW on the situation.
If you’re skipping Tomorrowland this year but still want to experience the festival, here is everything you need to know about the official livestream.
