Katy Perry was forced to abruptly cancel her appearance at Belgium’s Werchter Boutique festival, which she was slated to headline on Saturday. The pop star said she was in the midst of getting ready when she was informed about the “government mandated cancellation because of incoming inclement weather and crowd safety concerns.”

Pitbull performed ahead of her headlining set and he was the last performer to take the stage before the festival was forced to shut down.

“I was backstage at the show in the middle of hair and makeup when this news was delivered, and they gave me no choice,” she wrote on Instagram. “I am just as unhappy as you are. Unfortunately this is beyond my control, but the safety of all 55,000 of you always comes first and foremost.”

Perry said she had not performed there in 17 years and expressed her disappointment, but stressed that safety comes first.

“I am sorry I can’t change the weather, and even sorrier that all of us can’t be together tonight. I was looking forward to being back after 17 years, I was even gonna wear the same outfit from that 2009 show again,” she wrote. “I love you all, and please get home safe.”

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Earlier in the month, Perry kicked off the 2026 World Cup opening match between the United States and Paraguay, with a performance of “Wonder” featuring 10-year-old Norwegian singer Tius Luka.

Perry is in the middle of a summer European and UK tour, which includes several festival appearances and runs through July. Her next concert is at Depot Live in Cardiff, Wales on June 30.