The Belgian Competition Authority opened an investigation on November 12, 2025 into Live Nation’s acquisition of the Pukkelpop festival at the request of the Minister for Economic Affairs, to assess potential competition concerns.

The case could set a notable precedent for applying competition law to the live entertainment industry in Belgium and potentially beyond.

Because the deal did not cross Belgian or EU merger-control thresholds, it falls outside traditional merger control and the BCA will apply competition-law principles, referencing the TowerCast judgment that allows scrutiny for certain so-called mergers outside thresholds.

The BCA will evaluate whether the transaction could lessen competition in festival organizing and the broader live entertainment sector, including risks of anti-competitive agreements or abuse of dominance as Live Nation’s ecosystem expands.

Live Nation is a dominant global player in live entertainment with extensive Belgian activity in artist bookings, festival organization (Rock Werchter, Dour, Graspop), venue management, and Ticketmaster-based ticketing, giving it a broad market footprint.

The investigation is grounded in Belgian competition law (Articles IV.1 and IV.2 of the Belgian Code of Economic Law) and EU competition law (Articles 101 and 102 TFEU).

Pukkelpop, one of Belgium’s five largest festivals, attracts about 250,000 visitors annually, making the acquisition strategically significant for Live Nation’s growth in Belgium.