How much does it cost to go to a festival in 2026?

In this guide I’ll cover average ticket prices, accommodation options, how much you should budget for food and drinks and how to save money.

How much does it cost to go to a festival?

We compared the price of the UK’s six biggest festivals and looked at the price* of a standard ticket and what other ticket options there are. 

Festivals usually offer luxury options such as pre-pitched tents with and without furnishings.

We also looked at the price of taking a caravan or campervan and an example of luxury accommodation - or glamping - for 4-6 adults in a pre-pitched tent or tipi. 

This gives you a good idea of how much you might need to budget for your ticket and accommodation if you’re thinking about going to a festival. 

How much does it cost to travel and park at a festival?

The cost will vary depending on the festival you’re going to and how you travel there. For some, especially those far away, you may want to drive. Many festivals will charge extra for a car parking pass.

For example, Glastonbury charges £55 plus £2.50 postage for a car pass. You may need to also buy a pass at the same time as buying tickets to ensure you get a space. Check on the festival website to get more info. 

For other festivals it may make more sense to travel via public transport. Don’t forget to compare rail tickets and book in advance, the cheapest fares are usually available at least 12 weeks before you travel. 

Some festivals offer coach packages, which means you have to travel via coach to get your tickets. The reason they do this is to help manage the volume of traffic heading into and out of the site.

Some of these options also help you budget better for your travel costs - but you are tied to travelling at the coach pick-up time, and if you miss your coach, you could miss out on the festival. 

How much should you budget for food and drink costs?

The cost of eating and drinking at festivals has soared in recent years, with a standard ping costing between £6.50 and £9 and a meal between £10 and £15. It’s easy to spend £30 a day on food or more if you’re eating in the festival twice a day. 

It’s important to check the terms and conditions of the festival you’re visiting; most will ban you from bringing food and drink to the arena, but snacks will be ok. You will be allowed to bring food and alcohol into the campsites - but there are restrictions, such as no glass bottles. 

One of the best things about Glastonbury is that you are allowed to bring food and alcohol in. Think about how long you’re going to the festival for, if you’re camping you could bring a stove and cool box, but most people will just bring non-perishable food such as cereal bars and crisps to keep down costs. 

Most festivals will have an on-site shop; for example, there is a Co-op at the Glastonbury campsite, which is good if you don’t want to transport heavier items like water or mixers. 

Do you need festival insurance?

When you’re out and about at a festival the last thing you want to do is be worrying about your belongings, so it’s worth considering if your personal belongings are insured before you go. 

If you’re taking an expensive item like a bike or camping gear, then you may want to get personal possessions insurance for outside of the home. This type of insurance is an add-on to home insurance and it covers items less than £1,000 against theft or damage when away from the home. 

Losing your mobile phone at a festival would be a nightmare. You should check your policy and whether it’s covered away from home, whether it’s via your provider, premium bank insurance, home insurance or specialist gadget cover. 

You can read more on our festival insurance guide. 

Festival essentials checklist

Here’s my must-bring list for festivals: 

• Tickets
• ID
• Bank card & cash
• Phone
• Portable charger/power bank & cable
• Tent
• Sleeping bag
• Pillow
• Sleeping mat/air bed
• Camping chair
• Torch/head torch
• Waterproof jacket
• Hoodie/jumper
• T-shirts
• Shorts
• Trousers/leggings
• Underwear
• Extra socks
• Wellies
• Trainers
• Hat & sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Toothbrush & toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Dry shampoo
• Face wipes
• Portable mirror
• Towel
• Toilet roll
• Hand sanitiser
• Reusable water bottle
• Snacks
• Prescription medication
• Painkillers
• Plasters
• Blister plasters
• Bin bags
• Wet wipes
• Earplugs
• Eye mask
• Zip-lock bags
• Portable fan
• Clothes for the journey home

How to save money at a festival

Before you buy your tickets and pack up your bags, read our list of money-saving tips: 

Payment plans 

Some festivals will offer payment plans for tickets. This could help you pay off the price of the ticket in instalments, which may help you budget better. However, double check that you’re not being charged extra for using this method. 

If you do have to pay extra, you can use an interest-free credit card to pay off the balance in chunks. You can compare credit cards on Confused.com. Remember that you will need to pay off the balance in full before the interest-free period ends or you’ll incur interest and pay extra. 

Shop second hand for festival gear 

You can use eBay and Vinted to buy camping equipment or festival essentials second-hand rather than paying full price.

You could also check whether you have a ‘Library of things’ nearby to borrow items for a fee or ask family and friends if they have any of the kit you need before you buy new stuff. 

Group discounts 

Some festivals will give you a group discount if you’re booking a large number of tickets. It’s worth checking their website to see if you can get a discount. For example, Cheltenham Music Festival gives 10% off if you’re buying tickets of 10 or more. 

Check cashback 

Check to see if you can get cashback sites like Topcashback or Quidco when you’re buying travel tickets or festival essentials. 

^*Sources correct at the time of writing (August 2026). Festival ticket prices, accommodation costs and food/drink pricing are subject to change by organisers and third-party vendors, and may vary by ticket release tier, purchase date or supplier. Figures were verified against official festival websites and ticketing platforms where available, cross-checked with independent festival and consumer finance sources where official pricing pages were unavailable. Confused.com is not responsible for subsequent price changes made by festival organisers or third parties. Readers should confirm current prices directly with the relevant festival or ticket seller before booking.