Festival Packing List
By the NanoPack team · Updated on · Checked against official sources
What to pack for a music festival: for a camping festival, start with a tent, a sleeping bag and a mat, then a poncho and wellies for the mud, layers for hot days and cold nights, and a power bank or two, because there is nowhere to charge. Bring cash and a card, your ID and ticket or wristband, earplugs, sunscreen, a refillable water bottle, and wet wipes with loo roll. Leave glass and anything valuable at home, most festivals ban glass, and pack a flag or something bright so you can find your tent at 2am.
Festival essentials at a glance
- A tent, sleeping bag and mat
- A poncho and wellies for the mud
- Layers for hot days and cold nights
- A power bank or two
- Cash, a card, ID and your ticket or wristband
- Earplugs and sunscreen
- A refillable water bottle
- Wet wipes, hand sanitiser and loo roll
A festival is camping, a heatwave, a downpour and a very long day, often all at once, with no plug socket and a field of identical tents to find yours in at 2am. Pack for weather that swings from baking to freezing, for mud you cannot avoid, and for a phone that has to last with nowhere to charge it. The shelter, the wellies and a charged power bank are what make or break it; keep your cash and ID on you and enjoy the weekend.
Camping and shelter
- A tent with pegs and a mallet
- A sleeping bag and a mat
- A pillow or a stuffed stuff sack
- A torch or lantern
- A flag or bright marker for your tent · so you can find it at 2am
- A foldable chair and a tarp
Clothing for all weather
- Layers for hot days and cold nights
- Wellies or waterproof boots
- A poncho or waterproof jacket
- A hat and sunglasses
- A warm top for the night
- Spare socks and underwear
- An outfit you do not mind ruining
Power and money
- A power bank or two, fully charged · there are no sockets
- Charging cables
- Cash and a card
- Your ID and ticket or wristband
- A lockable bum bag or crossbody
Health and hygiene
- Sunscreen and after-sun
- Earplugs · for the stages and the campsite
- Wet wipes, hand sanitiser and loo roll
- A small first-aid kit and plasters
- Any medication
- A refillable water bottle · bring it empty; most festivals confiscate a sealed or filled one
- Deodorant and dry shampoo
Food and extras
- Snacks and a reusable cup
- Bin bags
- A small backpack for the day
- A groundsheet
- Glitter or a costume, if that is your thing
What not to pack
- Glass bottles or jars · banned and confiscated at almost every festival
- Anything valuable or irreplaceable · mud, crowds and theft are unkind
- A professional camera or a drone · most festivals ban both; check your festival's rules
- High heels or brand-new shoes · mud and miles mean wellies and broken-in shoes
- More than you can carry from the car park · the campsite is a long walk
Packing tips and mistakes to avoid
Power bank first, there are no sockets
Your phone is your ticket, map, wallet and meeting point, and there is nowhere to charge it in a field. Bring one or two power banks fully charged, and keep your phone on low-power mode.
Dress for a heatwave and a frost in one day
Festival days bake and festival nights freeze, so pack layers, a warm top for the night, and a poncho and wellies for the mud that always seems to come.
Mark your tent
A field of thousands of identical tents is impossible to navigate at 2am. Tie a bright flag, some bunting or a solar light to yours so you can spot it from a distance.
Leave glass and valuables at home
Almost every festival bans glass and searches bags on the way in, and mud, crowds and theft are unkind to anything you would hate to lose. Bring a lockable bum bag for your phone, cash and ID, and check your festival's own list of what is allowed.
The things people forget
- A power bank or two, there are no sockets
- A bright flag to find your tent
- Wellies and a poncho for the mud
- Cash and your ID or wristband
What people wish they had packed
- Earplugs for the stages and the campsite
- Warm layers for the freezing night
- Wet wipes and dry shampoo
- A lockable bum bag for the essentials
Frequently asked questions
What should you pack for a festival?
For a camping festival: a tent, sleeping bag and mat, a poncho and wellies, layers for hot days and cold nights, a power bank or two, cash and your ID and ticket, earplugs, sunscreen, a refillable water bottle, and wet wipes with loo roll.
What do you need for a camping festival?
Shelter first, a tent with pegs, a sleeping bag and a sleeping mat, plus a torch and a bright marker to find your tent. Then all-weather clothing, wellies, a warm night layer, power banks, and hygiene basics like wet wipes and dry shampoo.
What can you not bring to a festival?
Glass is banned almost everywhere and bags are searched on entry. Leave valuables, high heels and anything you cannot carry at home too. Check your specific festival's list, as rules on gazebos, alcohol and food vary.
What do people forget to pack for a festival?
Power banks (there are no sockets), a bright flag to find their tent, wellies and a poncho for the mud, earplugs, warm layers for the cold night, and wet wipes and dry shampoo.