On September 11, 2026, the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) announced the closure of its proceedings regarding Live Nation's acquisition of the Pukkelpop festival. This decision was made following Live Nation's commitment to transfer the full operation of Pukkelpop to an organization controlled by one of its founders, ensuring the festival's independence for a minimum of ten years.

The BCA initiated the proceedings on November 12, 2025, under the instruction of the Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Economic Affairs, David Clarinval. Although the transaction did not meet the domestic notification thresholds for merger control review, the BCA conducted an independent investigation based on competition rules that prohibit restrictions of competition, particularly concerning abuses of dominant positions.

During the investigation, the BCA assessed the potential impacts of consolidating large-scale music festival ownership, especially given Live Nation's existing operations of other major festivals. The authority also examined the implications for artist booking services and the overall live music entertainment value chain in Belgium.

In response to the BCA's concerns, Live Nation proposed commitments to ensure the structural separation of Pukkelpop's operations from its other activities. While Live Nation will retain ownership, the operational control will be transferred to an independent organization, allowing for full autonomy in decision-making related to the festival.

The commitments are set for a duration of ten years, with a potential five-year extension based on market conditions. A dedicated monitoring trustee will oversee the implementation of these commitments. The BCA has deemed these measures sufficient to address its preliminary competition concerns, allowing for the closure of the proceedings without any finding of infringement against Live Nation.

BCA Prosecutor General Damien Gérard emphasized that this decision preserves diversity and independence within the Belgian festival scene, allowing Pukkelpop to maintain its unique identity and operational autonomy.