Festival essentials 2026: what to pack for every type of festival

Make sure you’re festival ready this season with all the essentials you need to enjoy your lineups to the max!

A small tent in the background with camping essentials outside

By Charlotte Pirie | Date published: July 2026

If you’re wondering what to take to a festival, the short answer is this: pack for weather changes, long days, limited facilities and lots of walking. Your festival essentials usually include tickets and ID, comfortable clothing, a waterproof layer, phone charging kit, somewhere to sleep if you’re camping, and a few practical extras that make the weekend easier. The right festival packing list depends on the event too. A day festival, a beach festival and a camping festival all call for slightly different choices.

This guide breaks down the festival must haves for different types of events, plus simple tips on what to leave at home, what matters most for festival camping, and how to stay comfortable if the weather changes. 

Your quick festival essentials checklist

This quick, practical checklist covers all the basics for festival season.

table
Festival must haves	Camping essentials	Added extras
Festival tickets, booking confirmations and ID	Tent, pegs and guylines	Blanket or picnic rug
Phone and charging cable	Sleeping bag	Face wipes
Portable power bank	Sleeping mat or air bed	Dry shampoo
Waterproof jacket or poncho for men, women, boys and girls	Torch, head torch and camping lights	Earplugs and eye mask
Comfortable shoes or boots for men, women, boys and girls	Camping chair	Waterproof phone pouch
Refillable water bottle	Small cool boxes and bags, camping tables and chairs	Tent marker, flag or bright ribbon
Sun cream and sunglasses	Toiletries and towel	Packable tote bag
Small day bag or bum bag	Spare clothes and layers	Cards or simple games

British weather can change quickly, so it helps to check the forecast before you leave and pack both warm layers and wet-weather basics. The Met Office also recommends thinking about where you pitch your tent, including choosing higher ground if rain is expected.

Festival types at a glance 

table
Festival type	What matters most	Useful extras
Day festival	Small bag, phone charger, weather protection	Sunglasses, water bottle
City festival	Comfortable clothing and portable necessities	Light jacket, portable power bank
Beach festival	Sun and sand protection	Towel or blanket, waterproof tech pouch
Forest or rural festival	Appropriate footwear and clothing, nighttime visibility	Head torch, waterproof jacket
Camping festival	Sleep setup, extra clothing, campsite comfort	Chair, snacks, toiletries

What you’ll want to bring will vary wildly by festival type and location. City and beach locations will mean you’ll want to consider practical clothing, comfortable shoes, small bags to carry essentials and minimal possessions to keep track of. More rural festivals you’ll want to consider boots, layers for changeable weather, torches and appropriate bags for carrying things. For day festivals, you might want a cool bag to bring food and permitted drinks with you, while a camping festival will be all about your campsite necessities and changes of clothes.

Be sure to check your specific festival or event for what you are allowed to bring and what items are banned before you pack.

Festival essentials

Festival camping essentials for a more comfortable night

If you’re staying over, your festival camping essentials should focus on three things: sleep, weather protection and finding your gear fast. 

A practical camping setup usually includes: 

A tent with enough room for you and your belongings 
A sleeping bag suited to the conditions 
A mat or air bed to add comfort and insulation from the ground 
A torch or head torch for getting around after dark 
Warm layers for evenings and early mornings 
Camping chairs and tables for your camping site
A simple way to spot your tent in a busy field – a distinguishing flag or set of coloured ribbons could help

Festival tech to help you stay connected

A charged phone does a lot of work at a festival. It helps with tickets, maps, meeting points, weather updates and getting home. That’s why a portable power bank is one of the most helpful festival must haves.

Useful tech for festivals can include: 

A power bank 
Charging cables kept in a small pouch 
A torch or head torch so you’re not draining your phone battery for light 
A waterproof pouch if you’re expecting wet conditions or heading to a beach event

The Met Office also highlights staying charged so you can keep checking the forecast and plan around rainfall or changing conditions.

Food, drink and cooking gear for festival weekends

Food plans depend on the event. For a day festival, you may only need a refillable bottle and a few snacks if the event allows them. For a camping festival, it can help to bring: 

Water bottle or flask 
Small cool bag or cool box 
Simple snacks that travel well 
Dinner and drinkware
Cooking kit – check the terms of your festival or event as many will likely ban things like gas and stoves.

What not to bring to a festival

This is one of the most common festival planning questions, and the answer depends on the event. In general, avoid packing anything that could cause problems at entry or be difficult to carry around all day. Most events also ask you to keep bags as small as possible. Take the time to check the restrictions for each event and venue. 

Items commonly restricted by organisers can include: 

Glass containers 
Gas canisters 
Drones 
Large bags 
Large cool boxes or hampers 
Selfie sticks 
Speakers or sound systems 
Cooking equipment for some event types

Rules vary by festival, so the safest approach is to use your organiser’s official permitted and prohibited items list before packing.

Final pre-festival checks

Before you leave, ask yourself: 

Have I checked the weather forecast? 
Have I checked the organiser’s bag and item rules? 
Do I know if I’m packing for a day event or a camping festival? 
Have I planned for wet weather and cold evenings as well as sunshine? 
Can I carry everything comfortably?

A smart festival packing list is not just about bringing more. It is about bringing the right things for the event you’re going to.

FAQs

What not to bring to a festival? 

What not to bring depends on the event, because every organiser sets its own rules. In general, it is best to avoid packing anything bulky, breakable or likely to be restricted at entry. That can include large bags, glass containers, gas canisters, drones, speakers, and some cooking equipment. Some day events also have strict limits on bag size and liquids. The easiest way to avoid problems is to check your festival’s official prohibited items list before you travel and tailor your packing from there.

Is it better to take a bum bag or a backpack to a festival? 

It depends on the type of festival. A bum bag or small cross-body bag is often the easier option for a day festival because it keeps your phone, tickets, cards and other essentials close without adding bulk. A backpack or rucksack is usually more practical for a camping festival when you need to carry layers, toiletries and overnight kit. Some people use both: a larger bag for arrival and a smaller bag for the arena. Always check event bag-size rules before you go. 

What is the most forgotten item when camping? 

Small, practical items are often the easiest to forget. That can include a torch, spare charging cable, tent pegs, toiletries, a towel, or extra socks for wet weather. For festivals, a head torch or hand torch is especially useful because it helps you move around the campsite after dark without draining your phone battery. It also helps to pack one small pouch for the essentials that are easy to lose, such as chargers, plasters and toiletries.

How can I find my tent at a festival? 

The easiest approach is to make your tent easy to recognise and take note of nearby landmarks as soon as you arrive. A bright ribbon, a distinctive tent marker, or a clear mental note of toilets, pathways or signs nearby can all help. It also makes sense to save your campsite location on your phone if signal and battery allow. The Met Office recommends noticing landmarks or creating your own marker, which can save a lot of time later, especially after dark.

Should you lock your tent at a festival? 

There is no single answer that suits every event, but many people prefer not to rely on a tent alone for security. A small lock may add privacy, but it is still best not to leave valuables in your tent if you can avoid it. Keep essentials such as your phone, wallet, keys and ID on you, and use official lockers if your festival provides them. The most useful approach is usually to pack light, keep valuables close and check your organiser’s security guidance before you travel. 

Do I need different festival essentials for a day festival and a camping festival? 

Yes. A day festival packing list can stay light and usually focuses on tickets, ID, charge, weather protection, a refillable bottle and comfortable shoes. A camping festival needs much more planning because you also need overnight gear and campsite basics, including a tent, sleeping setup, toiletries, warm layers and lighting. Starting with the festival type helps you avoid overpacking for a day event or under packing for a full weekend away.