Music festival packing list: what to bring and what to leave
The essentials, the small things that save the day, and what usually gets stopped at the gate.
A festival day can run ten hours or more, outdoors, in heat or rain, with long walks between stages. Pack light, because you'll carry everything all day. And before anything else, read your festival's official rules. They decide what gets through the gate, not this list.
The essentials
- Ticket or wristband, and the ID that matches it.
- Phone, fully charged. It's your ticket, your map, and your ride home.
- Power bank, if allowed. Some venues limit the size or ban them, so check first.
- An e-wallet and some small cash. Signal can drop in a big crowd, and cash still works when card machines don't.
- A small bag you can wear in front of you, like a crossbody or belt bag. Many festivals limit bag size.
For the weather
- A rain poncho. Umbrellas are often banned because they block views and poke people. A thin poncho folds into a pocket. In rainy season, assume it will rain.
- Sunscreen and a cap for the daytime sets.
- Shoes you've already walked a lot in. A festival is a full day on your feet, often on grass or mud. New shoes will make you regret it.
- A light jacket for after dark, when the sweat cools down.
Small things that save the day
- Earplugs. Standing near the speakers for hours adds up. More on that in our first concert guide.
- Tissues and wet wipes. Toilet paper runs out early.
- Hand sanitizer.
- Your own medicine, including anything you take regularly, plus a few plasters.
- A refillable bottle, if the festival has water stations and allows bottles in.
Leave these at home
- Big backpacks and umbrellas.
- Glass bottles, and outside food and drinks (usually not allowed).
- Professional cameras with detachable lenses, which usually need a media pass.
- Anything valuable you'd be sad to lose in a crowd.
Before you leave the house
- Agree on a meeting point and a time to regroup if you get separated.
- Save the festival map and set times on your phone, in case signal drops.
- Check the last train or bus home, or pick a ride pickup point away from the main gate.
- Never post your ticket or wristband barcode online. Our guide to concert ticket scams explains why.