Katy Perry's scheduled headlining performance at Belgium's Werchter Boutique festival on Saturday was canceled hours before showtime due to forecasts of severe weather, prompting officials to shut down the outdoor event. Perry, 41, expressed her apologies to fans on Instagram, stating she had "no choice" in the decision.
"Sadly my set @WerchterBoutique tonight can’t happen due to a government mandated cancellation because of the incoming inclement weather and crowd safety concerns," Perry wrote in her post. "I was backstage at the show in the middle of hair and makeup when this news was delivered, and they gave me no choice. I am just as unhappy as you are."
The festival organizers confirmed the early closure in a statement. "Werchter Boutique will end after Pitbull’s concert. Following consultation with the Rock Werchter safety committee, in which all authorities and the organization are represented, it has been decided that Werchter Boutique will end at 9 pm this evening."
The statement continued, "This decision was taken in response to the weather forecast, which predicts severe thunderstorms from midnight onwards at the earliest. The governor of Flemish Brabant has also issued a BE-Alert in this regard. The festival will end after Pitbull’s performance. Katy Perry’s concert will not go ahead."
Festival organizers stated that by ending the event early, they could "ensure that the exit of visitors proceeds in a safe and orderly manner, allowing everyone to return home calmly. The safety and health of everyone present is always our top priority."
Perry's canceled set would have marked her first return to the Festivalpark Werchter grounds since July 2009. The singer had performed at the annual four-day festival Rock Werchter during her debut solo tour, Hello Katy, following the release of her 2008 album "One of the Boys."
In her Instagram post, Perry shared a backstage photo of herself seated with her unused stage costume hanging nearby. Her 90-minute closing set was scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. following Pitbull's performance.
This cancellation comes weeks after Perry performed at the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Los Angeles, California, where she sang her 2024 song "Wonder." Her boyfriend, Justin Trudeau, attended the ceremony to support her.
Perry recently released her new single, "Watch It Burn," and is currently on a European tour. Her next scheduled performance is a headlining concert at Cardiff Castle in Wales.