Everything you need to bring, and a few things you should leave at home. Covers day festivals, camping weekenders, and everything in between.
Before you pack:
Not sure which festival you're going to yet? Our free quiz matches you to the right one based on your genre, budget, and travel preferences, then you can pack accordingly.
These are the items that can make or break a festival weekend. If you forget anything on this list, your experience will suffer.
Documents & Money
Photo ID (passport or driving licence)
Festival tickets (digital + printed backup)
Cash (ATMs often run out by day 2)
Card / contactless payment
Travel insurance docs if international
Health & Safety
Prescription medication (enough for all days + 1 extra)
Sunscreen SPF 30+ (reapply every 2 hours)
Lip balm with SPF
Ibuprofen and paracetamol
Blister plasters (you will walk miles)
Earplugs (protect your hearing near speakers)
Hand sanitiser
Tech & Power
Phone charger
Portable power bank (20,000mAh recommended)
Waterproof phone case or dry bag
Headphones / earphones
Offline maps downloaded (signal is unreliable)
Navigation & Meetups
Screenshot or print of the site map
Meeting point agreed with friends in advance
Festival app downloaded offline
Paper schedule of acts you want to see
Clothing: What to Wear (and What to Avoid)
Festival fashion is half the fun, but comfort should come first. The golden rule: wear clothes you don't mind getting muddy, sweaty, or destroyed.
Daytime Clothing
3–4 lightweight t-shirts or tops (synthetic fabrics dry faster than cotton)
1–2 pairs of comfortable shorts or jeans (dark colours hide mud better)
Light jacket or hoodie for cooler evenings
Comfortable underwear for each day + 1 spare
Socks with extra cushioning (your feet will thank you)
Layers: even summer festivals get cold at night
Footwear: The Most Important Decision You'll Make
Your footwear choice will define your weekend. Get this wrong and you'll spend Saturday hobbling to the first-aid tent.
Best all-around
Wellies / Rain boots
Essential for UK/European festivals where mud is almost guaranteed. Get proper festival wellies with arch support.
Dry weather pick
Trail running shoes
Lightweight, supportive, and easy to clean. Better than trainers for uneven festival ground.
Avoid
New shoes or sandals
Brand new shoes will destroy your feet. Sandals offer zero protection and get filthy. Save them for the beach.
Camping Essentials (If You're Staying On-Site)
Camping at a festival is a completely different experience from day events. The setup effort is worth it. Waking up inside the festival grounds is magical. But you need to be properly equipped.
Shelter
Tent rated for 1 person more than you need it for (2-person tent for solo, etc.)
Groundsheet or footprint
Tent pegs (take extras, they disappear)
Mallet or hammer for pegs
Cable lock to secure tent zip
Sleeping
Sleeping bag rated for 5°C colder than expected (nights get cold)
Inflatable sleeping pad or camping mat
Travel pillow or stuff a hoodie into a pillowcase
Earplugs and eye mask (essential for sleeping at festivals)
Food & Drink
Reusable water bottle (2L minimum)
Water purification tablets as backup
Snacks for late nights (cereal bars, nuts, dried fruit)
Instant noodles or oats for cheap camp breakfast
Portable camping stove if allowed (check festival rules)
Cutlery, bowl, and cup
Camp Comfort
Folding camping chair
Headtorch (hands-free in the dark)
Spare batteries or USB headtorch
Dry bags for keeping things waterproof
Bin bags (for muddy clothes and tidying up)
Small padlock for your tent
The Things Most People Forget
After talking to hundreds of festival veterans, these are the items that consistently get left behind, and desperately missed once you're in the field.
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Dry shampoo: Showering at festivals is often impractical. Dry shampoo buys you another day without queueing for 40 minutes.
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Baby wipes (large pack): The festival shower you can use anywhere. Brilliant for face, body, muddy feet, and tent cleanup.
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Duct tape: Fixes torn tents, broken wellies, broken straps, and approximately everything else.
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Gaffer tape flag for your tent: Finding your tent in a field of thousands at 3am is harder than it sounds. Mark it clearly from a distance.
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Extra bin bags: Waterproof packing, muddy laundry bags, emergency raincoats, endlessly useful.
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Flip flops for communal showers: You really don't want to go barefoot.
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Zip-lock bags for your phone: Even if you have a waterproof case, a zip-lock bag in your pocket protects your phone from rain and spilled drinks.
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Small day bag or bumbag: Leave the big rucksack at camp. A small bag worn across the body is better for crowds and stages.
What to Leave at Home
Overpacking is just as bad as underpacking. Every extra kilo you carry is weight you'll regret by the time you've walked a mile from the car park.
✕Glass bottles (banned at most festivals; dangerous in crowds)
✕Valuables you can't afford to lose (expensive jewellery, expensive cameras)
✕More than 3 days of clothing for a 3-day festival: you won't change as often as you think
✕A full-size bottle of shampoo when a travel size does the job
✕Anything irreplaceable: festival environments are rough on belongings
Packing for Specific Festival Types
Day Festivals (No Camping)
Day festivals are much simpler to pack for. You need a comfortable day bag (a 20L backpack is ideal), sunscreen, your essentials, phone, and cash. Bring a compact rain layer just in case, and wear your most comfortable shoes. Keep it light. You'll be grateful.
Desert / Hot Climate Festivals (Coachella, etc.)
Heat and dust require extra planning. Pack a bandana or buff for dust, electrolyte tablets for hydration, a cooling towel, and high-SPF sunscreen for all exposed skin. A wide-brimmed hat is non-negotiable. Drink water constantly. The heat and dancing will dehydrate you faster than you expect.
UK / European Camping Festivals (Glastonbury, etc.)
Prepare for all weather. Even in summer, temperatures can drop to 5–10°C at night and rain can turn fields to mud. Wellies are non-negotiable, and a quality waterproof jacket is worth every penny. Pack layers you can add and remove throughout the day.
Now find the festival you're packing for
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