Overview

European summer music festivals have become increasingly popular destinations for study abroad students participating in cultural engagement, social experiences, and international travel opportunities. However, large-scale festivals also introduce a range of security challenges, particularly for students travelling independently in unfamiliar environments.

SafeAbroad analysts have assessed the security risks associated with two major European electronic music festivals: Ultra Europe in Split, Croatia, and Tomorrowland in Boom, Belgium. Both festivals attract large international audiences, creating temporary high-density environments where risks associated with crime, crowd management, health, transportation, and personal safety become more pronounced.

Key Takeaways

1. The primary risks facing study abroad students attending these summer music festivals are preventable incidents rather than major security threats. The majority of reported issues involve opportunistic theft, lost or stolen documentation, alcohol and or drug related medical emergencies, and transportation disruptions rather than terrorism or serious violent crime. Although these incidents are generally low level, they can significantly impact student welfare, particularly when they occur in unfamiliar environments where access to support networks may be limited.¹

2. Ultra Europe in Split, Croatia, presents distinct nightlife-related risks due to its location within the tourist hub of Split. Unlike purpose-built festival sites, attendees frequently travel between the festival, accommodation, restaurants, bars, and beaches before and after events, increasing the amount of time spent in crowded public spaces and travelling late at night. This broader nightlife environment creates greater opportunities for opportunistic crime, including pickpocketing, theft of personal belongings, and incidents linked to alcohol consumption or poor transport decisions.

3. Tomorrowland presents crowd management challenges due to its scale and highly international audience. The festival attracts hundreds of thousands of attendees across multiple weekends, resulting in periods of significant congestion during entry, exit, and transport movements to and from the festival.² High crowd density can increase the likelihood of students becoming separated from their groups, experiencing communication difficulties due to network congestion, or encountering delays in accessing transport or emergency assistance.

4. Preparation and situational awareness remain the most effective measures for reducing personal security risks during festival travel. Students who plan their journeys in advance, establish communication plans with program managers, secure valuables, and familiarise themselves with local emergency procedures are generally better equipped to respond to unexpected situations. Universities and study abroad providers can further reduce risk by encouraging pre-departure planning, promoting safe travel practices, and ensuring students understand how to access assistance if required.³

Background

While festival travel can enhance the study abroad experience for students, the combination of international travel, large scale events, and unfamiliar surroundings can increase student exposure to preventable safety and security risks.

Festival tourism has expanded significantly across Europe, with major events attracting international travelers who combine travel, leisure, and cultural experiences. Electronic music festivals such as Ultra Europe and Tomorrowland have developed into global destinations, attracting attendees from hundreds of countries.⁴

For study abroad students, these festivals are particularly attractive as they provide opportunities to socialise internationally, experience different cultures, and explore European destinations beyond their host city. Attendance at major festivals can contribute positively to the study abroad experience by encouraging intercultural engagement, independent travel, and participation in shared social activities with other international students.⁵ However, the same factors that make festivals appealing may include large crowds, extended nightlife, alcohol consumption, unfamiliar locations, and interaction with large numbers of international visitors which can also create specific security vulnerabilities. Students may be more exposed to risks because they are often unfamiliar with local laws, emergency procedures, transport systems, and cultural expectations around nightlife behaviour.⁶ 

Ultra Europe and Tomorrowland Security Risks

Despite differences in location and structure, both Ultra Europe and Tomorrowland present similar security challenges for study abroad students, including crowd density, health and personal safety risks, and navigating unfamiliar, high-volume environments.

A key risk for study abroad students attending either festival is increased exposure to opportunistic crime in crowded environments.⁷ Large gatherings create conditions where theft, pickpocketing, and loss of personal belongings become more likely, particularly when attendees are distracted or carrying valuable items such as smartphones, passports, and bank cards. This risk may be heightened for international students who are unfamiliar with local crime patterns and may not have immediate access to established support networks.

Both festivals also present challenges related to transportation and movement between locations. Students attending Ultra Europe may move frequently between Split’s festival venues, accommodation, beaches, and nightlife areas, increasing exposure to late-night travel and crowded public spaces.⁸ Similarly, Tomorrowland’s large attendance creates significant pressure on transport systems during arrival and departure periods, with students potentially facing long queues, delays, and difficulties returning to accommodation after festival events.⁹

Alcohol consumption, fatigue, and health-related incidents represent another shared area of concern. Multi-day festivals often involve extended periods of activity, reduced sleep, high temperatures, and increased alcohol consumption, which can contribute to dehydration, exhaustion, accidents, or medical emergencies.¹⁰ These risks may be more difficult for study abroad students to manage because they may be unfamiliar with local healthcare systems, emergency procedures, or how to seek assistance abroad.

Overall, the primary security concerns associated with Ultra Europe and Tomorrowland are not major security incidents but rather preventable risks linked to mass gatherings, international travel, and unfamiliar social environments. Effective preparation, including travel planning, communication strategies, safeguarding valuables, and awareness of emergency procedures, can significantly reduce the likelihood and impact of these incidents for study abroad students.

Traveler Guidance

Before travel:

• Research the festival location, accommodation, and transport routes. This will assist travelers in being able to move between locations safely. It is also recommended for travelers to note down the name of the key locations to assist in finding or traveling to and from. 
• Share travel plans with friends, family, and study abroad coordinators. This will allow for others to be able to assist in locating the traveler for safety purposes.
• Travelers should save emergency contacts offline. This will allow travelers to gain access to this information despite possibilities of having minimal or no service at the festivals.
• Store digital copies of passports and important documents securely in case the loss of physical copies.

During the festival:

• Travelers should attend festivals with trusted friends and establish meeting points for safety.
• Keep phones, wallets, and passports secure, either on the travelers body or locked securely at the accommodation.
• Travelers should avoid traveling alone late at night where possible.
• Stay hydrated. Ensure to eat a substantial amount of food and continue to hydrate with water whilst at the festival.
• Use official festival transport and licensed taxi services when traveling to and from the festival, particularly late at night.

If something goes wrong:

• In the event of an emergency, travellers should contact emergency services by dialling 112, the European emergency number available across EU member states. Students should be aware that dialling their home country’s emergency number while abroad may automatically connect them to the emergency services in their current location.
• Travelers should notify family, friends or programme contacts if any emergency is to take place.
• Report stolen documents or property to local authorities and contact their embassy or consulate if travel documentation is lost.

1. https://www.nordbridgesecurity.com/insights/security-risks-during-large-events-and-festivals-why-crowd-density-changes-everything ↩︎
2. https://djmag.com/news/tomorrowland-voted-worlds-no1-festival-dj-mags-top-100-festivals-2026-0 ↩︎
3. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/festivals-abroad-travel-safety-checklist?utm_source ↩︎
4. https://datappeal.io/europes-event-driven-tourism-grows-by-7-in-2025-reinforcing-the-sectors-economic-impact/ ↩︎
5. https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student-advice/life-in-the-uk/travel-in-europe/ ↩︎
6. https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/international-perspectives-of-security-risk-management-within-the/ ↩︎
7. https://pure.port.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/91460501/International_Perspectives_of_Security_Risk_Management_Within_the_Live_Events_Industry_FINAL_.pdf ↩︎
8. https://www.festivalabroad.com/festivals/ultra-europe/planning ↩︎
9. https://www.kintojoin.io/why-music-festivals-need-to-be-more-sustainable/ ↩︎
10. https://www.northdevon.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-09/Preventing%20harm%20from%20drugs%20and%20alcohol%20at%20festivals%20-%20Guidance%20for%20Event%20Organisers.pdf ↩︎