Nothing ruins a festival faster than realising you forgot something important. Whether you are heading to a muddy camping festival or a slick city event, this checklist has you covered. Bookmark it, screenshot it, or print it out — you will thank yourself later.
Essentials (Every Festival, Every Time)
- Ticket / e-ticket / wristband confirmation — screenshot it and save offline
- Photo ID / passport — some festivals require ID matching the ticket name
- Phone + portable charger — 10,000 mAh minimum, 20,000 mAh if you are camping
- Charging cable — bring a spare, they always break at the worst time
- Cash + bank card — not all food vendors accept card, and some festivals use cashless wristbands
- Sunscreen SPF 30+ — even on cloudy days, you are outside all day
- Sunglasses
- Rain jacket or poncho — European weather is unpredictable, full stop
- Comfortable, broken-in shoes — you will walk 15-20km a day. Not the time for new trainers
- Earplugs — proper ones rated for music. Protects your hearing without killing the sound. Essential near main stages
- Reusable water bottle — most festivals have free refill points
- Small crossbody bag or fanny pack — keep valuables close and hands free
- Any medication you take — in original packaging, with prescription if crossing borders
Camping Festival Additions
If your festival involves sleeping in a field, add these to the list:
- Tent — practice setting it up before you go. Pop-up tents are a lifesaver if you are arriving late
- Sleeping bag — check the temperature rating. European summer nights can drop to 8-10°C
- Sleeping mat or inflatable pad — the ground is harder than you think
- Pillow — inflatable or stuff a jumper in a bag
- Torch or headlamp — red light mode saves you blinding tent neighbours at 3am
- Wet wipes — your shower substitute when the queue is 45 minutes long
- Hand sanitiser
- Toilet roll — festival loos run out. Always carry your own
- Bin bags — for dirty clothes, wet gear, and keeping your tent tidy
- Duct tape — fixes tents, shoes, bags, and dignity
- Folding chair or blanket — for the campsite between sets
- Dry bag or zip-lock bags — keep your phone and wallet dry in the rain
- Warm layers — a hoodie or fleece for evenings. Temperatures drop fast after sunset
- Flip-flops — for showers and giving your feet a break at the campsite
City Festival Additions
Staying in a hotel or Airbnb? You can travel lighter, but do not skip these:
- Day bag or small backpack — just big enough for water, sunscreen, charger, and a layer
- Travel adapter — if you are crossing borders in Europe
- Comfortable change of shoes — switch up after a long day on your feet
- Light jacket — for the walk or transit back to your accommodation at night
Nice to Have
- Portable Bluetooth speaker — for the campsite, not the arena
- Disposable camera — photos with more character than your phone. And you will not worry about it getting lost
- Bandana or buff — dust protection, sun shade, hair tie, or emergency tourniquet (hopefully not)
- Basic first aid kit — plasters, painkillers, antihistamines, blister pads
- Snacks — cereal bars, nuts, dried fruit for between sets or late-night tent snacking
- Pen and marker — for writing your number on new friends' arms, obviously
What NOT to Bring
- Valuables you would cry about losing — expensive jewellery, your favourite watch, that limited-edition jacket
- Too many clothes — you will wear the same three outfits. Accept it
- Glass bottles — banned at most festivals
- A massive suitcase — if you cannot carry it 500 metres, it is too much
- Expectations of staying clean — let that go on day one