Pukkelpop will be back in 2012

Organisers of Belgium's Pukklepop have confirmed the event will return next year and announced a final restitution deal for all 2011 ticket holders.

This summer a severe storm hit the festival, causing major damage to two stages, killing five people and injuring many more. Pukkelpop 2012 has been confirmed to take place from Thursday 16th until Saturday 18th August, ticket prices are not yet confirmed, and the on sale date for tickets has not yet been announced.

Organisers have today revealed that, "In spite of the force majeure ruling and the fact that the expenses for the 2011 Pukkelpop edition far exceed the benefits, Pukkelpop has decided to offer food & drink tickets worth 75 or 150 euros for the next three editions to all Pukkelpoppers who bought a ticket for the 2011 festival online.

"Pukkelpop has suffered considerable financial losses. The festival will only be able to survive with the support of many and thanks to the strong reputation it has built up in the past. The consequences of the Pukkelpop storm will weigh heavily on Pukkelpop, the festival as well as the organization, in the coming years."

Anyone who bought a Pukkelpop 2011 ticket online will between Tuesday 1st and Monday 14th November 2011 receive an email with which they will be able to download food & drink vouchers worth 75 or 150 euros for the next three years of the festival. This offer will end at 12 midnight on Sunday 11th December. The vouchers cannot be exchanged for cash.

Pukkelpop organisers have confirmed they will not be able to offer any other form of restitution other than the food & drink vouchers, which are exchangeable for food & drink tickets.

Organisers have confirmed that attendees in 2001 who wish to claim damages, such as lost or broken camping equipment etc., must file claims with their own insurance company or, if the damage exceeds 250 euros, and because the Federal Council of Ministers has recognized the storm of 18th August as a natural disaster, anyone who suffered direct damage by the storm can file a claim with Belgium's National Disaster Fund. Detailed information about the damage suffered must be provided.

A support fund for the victims of the Pukkelpop Storm has also been established to help Pukkelpop victims and their loved ones who face expenses not covered by their insurance policy. The Fund functions in complete independence of Pukkelpop. All donations made to the fund will be distributed fairly among the victims. More information about the Support Fund can be found on the Pukkelpop website.

Organisers add, "All of the above allows us to say that Pukkelpop will continue in its original form: three days, eight stages, a mixture of the best bands, DJs and sideshows of the moment combined with a distinctive focus on artists of tomorrow. A few days before the start of the online ticket sale for Pukkelpop 2012, all Pukkelpoppers that bought Pukkelpop 2011 tickets online will be given the opportunity to buy their e-tickets online.

"Once again, the Pukkelpop organizers wish to express their sincere thanks to all Pukkelpoppers for their understanding, their unlimited patience and the huge number of messages of sympathy they have sent us."


The festival 40 miles east of Brussels attended by around 60,000 people was hit by the storm on Thursday 18th August, causing major damage to the main open-air stage as well as causing the second tented stage (in a marquee) to collapse.

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