Every festival has its own list of banned items, and they don’t all agree. Aerosols are fine at Reading but not in the arena at Kendal Calling. Download lets you bring a disposable barbecue but not a gas stove, and Glastonbury is the other way round. Pick your festival and the thing you want to pack, and the checker below tells you whether it’ll get through the gate.
Updated November 2026. Every answer comes from the festival’s own website or terms and conditions, and each festival section says which year’s rules it uses. Festivals change their rules from year to year, and sometimes in the week before, especially in hot weather, so check the official website before you go.
Can I bring it?
Choose a festival and an item to see the answer.
Coghlan's stainless steel camping mirror (opens in a new tab)
Unbreakable stainless steel, so there's no glass to worry about at the gate. It's light, with a strap to hang it up in your tent.
Stainless steel festival water bottle (opens in a new tab)
Swap glass for a refillable bottle like this one. It's double-walled stainless steel, so water stays cool in the sun.
Ylang and cedarwood natural deodorant powder (opens in a new tab)
A powder deodorant, so there's no aerosol to worry about at the gate, and nothing to spray inside your tent.
Donner concert ukulele beginner kit (opens in a new tab)
Smaller and lighter than a guitar, so it's much easier to carry from the car park, and just as good for a campsite singalong.
Festivology Telescopic Flag Pole 4m (opens in a new tab)
A light telescopic pole that's easy to carry and helps your friends find your tent. Check your festival's rules on poles first.
Food containers with locking lids (opens in a new tab)
Decant food out of glass jars and into these before you go. The locking lids stop spills in your bag.
Biodegradable wet wipes (opens in a new tab)
If you do take wipes, biodegradable ones break down much faster than standard wipes, which contain plastic.
Trail Folding Camping Chair (opens in a new tab)
A simple folding chair that packs into a carry bag with a shoulder strap, so it's easy to bring in from the car park.
I’ve been to more than 20 festivals, and the bag search at the gate is where good plans come unstuck. People queue for an hour, then hand over a bottle of rum, a glass jar of pasta sauce or a gazebo they carried all the way from the car park. Most of it is avoidable if you know the rules before you pack.
What can you bring to a festival?
Most UK festivals ban the same handful of things: glass, gazebos, large sound systems, pets and anything that could be used as a weapon. Where they differ is the detail, such as how much alcohol you can bring, whether aerosols are allowed and what you can take into the arena. The arena (the main festival site with the stages) usually has stricter rules than the campsite.
Here are the questions people ask most, with a quick answer for every festival in the checker.
Can you bring a mirror to a festival?
Usually only if it isn’t glass. Glass is banned at almost every festival, and glass mirrors are named as items that get confiscated at Glastonbury. Reading & Leeds allow small mirrors, and Kendal Calling allows compact mirrors in the campsite, but not the arena. A plastic or shatterproof mirror is allowed everywhere and won’t break in your bag. More on mirrors at Glastonbury.
Non-glass camping mirrors provide an ideal option for those who want to enjoy their outdoor activities without worrying about the fragility of a glass mirror.
Coghlan's camping mirror (opens in a new tab)
A non-glass camping mirror, so you can enjoy the outdoors without worrying about the fragility of a glass mirror.
Can you bring aerosols to a festival?
Mostly, yes, as long as they’re small. Reading & Leeds, Download and the Isle of Wight all allow aerosols of 250ml or less. Kendal Calling allows them in the campsite but not the arena. Spray paint is banned everywhere. Boomtown is the one to watch: its rules ban “spray cans” without saying whether that includes deodorant, so take roll-on and lotion versions there.
Can you bring alcohol to a festival?
At camping festivals, usually yes, in the campsite, and never in glass. The amount allowed varies a lot:
- Glastonbury: no fixed limit, as long as it’s a reasonable amount for yourself.
- Download: one 24-can crate plus 1 litre of spirits or wine in plastic, per person.
- Boomtown: strict limits per ticket and no spirits at all.
- Reading & Leeds, the Isle of Wight, Kendal Calling and Green Man: a reasonable amount for yourself, to drink in the campsite. In the arena, you buy your drinks at the bars.
Almost everywhere, you need to be 18 or over, and alcohol in glass bottles has to be decanted into plastic before you leave home. More on alcohol at Glastonbury.
Can you bring glass to a festival?
No. Glass bottles and jars are banned at every festival in the checker, because broken glass in a field is dangerous and almost impossible to clear up. A few allow tiny glass items: Reading & Leeds allow glass under 100ml, such as nail varnish, and Boomtown allows glass make-up and perfume bottles. Decant drinks into plastic bottles and food into plastic tubs before you go. More on glass at Glastonbury.
Food containers with locking lids (opens in a new tab)
Locking lids are essential to avoid spillages and to keep your food fresh!
Can you bring a gazebo to a festival?
It depends on the festival. Glastonbury, Boomtown and Kendal Calling don’t allow them, because they take up space other people need for tents. Reading & Leeds, Download and the Isle of Wight allow them in the campsite, but not in the arena, and Green Man allows one reasonably sized gazebo per group. Even where they’re allowed, they’re not popular with your neighbours, and they blow over in the wind. More on gazebos at Glastonbury.
Can you bring a speaker to a festival?
Large sound systems are banned everywhere, but small speakers vary. Download bans all speakers, even small ones. Glastonbury bans sound systems without saying anything about small Bluetooth speakers. Reading & Leeds allow small handheld speakers in the campsite, and Boomtown allows speakers under 30cm. Wherever you are, keep the volume down: your neighbours are trying to sleep.
Can you bring a camping stove or a disposable barbecue to a festival?
Camping stoves are allowed at most festivals, in the campsite only, with small gas canisters. Download is the exception: it bans gas stoves and canisters completely, but allows meths, gel and solid-fuel stoves. Disposable barbecues are banned at Reading & Leeds, Boomtown, Kendal Calling and Green Man (which allows barbecues raised off the ground on legs), and allowed in the campsites at Download and the Isle of Wight. In hot, dry weather, festivals can ban both at short notice, as Boomtown and Kendal Calling did in 2026. More on camping stoves at Glastonbury.
Can you bring your own food to a festival?
Yes, at every festival in the checker that has a rule on it, as long as it’s for you and not in glass. Most only let you take snacks into the arena, so leave cool boxes, hampers and cutlery at the tent. Cooking your own breakfast is one of the easiest ways to save money at a festival. How to cook your own food at a festival.
Can you bring a dog to a festival?
No. None of the festivals in the checker allow pets. Approved assistance dogs are the only exception, and you need to arrange that with the festival’s access team well before you go.
What can you bring to Glastonbury?
From the official Glastonbury information and 2027 terms and conditions for 23 to 27 June 2027. For the full list of banned items, see our guide to banned items at Glastonbury.
| Glastonbury | Allowed? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Aerosols | Yes, but… | Not on the banned list, so deodorant and dry shampoo are fine. Leave spray paint at home. |
| Alcohol | Yes, but… | For your own use only. There’s no fixed limit, but anything beyond a reasonable amount for yourself is confiscated. No glass, so decant into plastic before you go. More on alcohol. |
| Glass bottles and jars | No | Nothing made of glass is allowed anywhere on site, including in campervans. More on glass. |
| Mirrors | Yes, but… | Glass mirrors are confiscated. A plastic or shatterproof mirror is fine. More on mirrors. |
| Gazebos | No | The festival asks you not to bring them, because they take up camping space. More on gazebos. |
| Flags | Yes | Flags are fine, and the festival suggests one to help you find your tent. There’s no published rule on poles. |
| Portable speakers | No | Sound systems are banned, and the campsites are patrolled. Small Bluetooth speakers aren’t mentioned separately, so keep any speaker small and quiet. |
| Guitars and instruments | Yes, but… | Drums are banned. Guitars and other instruments aren’t mentioned in the rules. More on guitars. |
| Camping stoves | Yes, but… | Allowed. Use your stove outside and away from tents, and keep gas canisters out of your tent. More on camping stoves. |
| Disposable barbecues | Yes, but… | Not on the banned list. Keep it outside, away from tents, and never take one inside, even when it seems to have gone out. |
| Dogs | No | Only approved guide and assistance dogs, arranged in advance. Other animals are taken away at the owner’s expense. |
| Your own food | Yes, but… | Allowed for your own use, with no glass jars. More on bringing food. |
| Wet wipes | Yes, but… | Not banned, but the festival asks you not to bring them, even biodegradable ones. Bring a washcloth and soap instead. More on wet wipes. |
| Camping chairs | Yes, but… | Allowed, but don’t take one into busy areas or to the front of a stage. |
What can you bring to Reading & Leeds?
From the official Reading and Leeds festival information and ticket terms for 2026. The two festivals share the same rules. Reading’s 2027 terms relax two of them slightly: only glass over 100ml and only flags with poles are banned from the arena.
| Reading & Leeds | Allowed? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Aerosols | Yes, but… | Aerosols of 250ml or less are allowed in the campsite and the arena. Anything bigger, and spray paint, is banned. |
| Alcohol | Yes, but… | Campsite only, for your own use, and not for under-18s. There’s no fixed limit, but excessive amounts are confiscated. You can’t take your own drink into the arena, but you can buy it at the bars there. |
| Glass bottles and jars | No | Glass over 100ml is banned everywhere. Tiny items, such as small perfume bottles or nail varnish, are allowed. |
| Mirrors | Yes, but… | Small mirrors are allowed, but large glass ones aren’t. A plastic mirror is the safest choice. |
| Gazebos | Yes, but… | Allowed in the campsite, but not in the arena. |
| Flags | Yes, but… | Allowed in the campsite. Flags and banners are banned from the arena. |
| Portable speakers | Yes, but… | Only small, battery-powered handheld speakers (no bigger than 20cm each way), in the campsite only, played quietly and not linked together. No speakers in the arena. |
| Guitars and instruments | Not stated | Not mentioned in the rules. Only one A4-sized bag is allowed into the arena. |
| Camping stoves | Yes, but… | Flat-based gas stoves with canisters of 250g or less, up to four per stove, in the campsite only. Not in the arena. |
| Disposable barbecues | No | All barbecues, including disposables, are banned, and so are campfires. |
| Dogs | No | Only approved assistance dogs. |
| Your own food | Yes, but… | Enough for yourself only. You can take a small amount into the arena, but cutlery and tin openers stay in the campsite. |
| Wet wipes | Not stated | Not mentioned in the rules. |
| Camping chairs | Yes, but… | Allowed in the campsite, but not in the arena. |
What can you bring to Download?
From the official Download Festival “things you can and can’t bring” list and ticket terms for 2026. Download is stricter than most on speakers and gas.
| Download | Allowed? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Aerosols | Yes, but… | Aerosols of 250ml or less are allowed. Anything bigger, and spray paint, is banned. |
| Alcohol | Yes, but… | Over-18s only, campsite only and never in glass. Up to one 24-can crate plus 1 litre of spirits or wine in plastic, per person. You can’t take your own drink into the arena, but you can buy it at the bars there. |
| Glass bottles and jars | No | Banned everywhere, including reusable glass bottles. Only small perfume bottles are allowed. |
| Mirrors | Yes, but… | Glass mirrors are banned under the glass rule. Plastic mirrors aren’t mentioned, so a plastic one is your best bet. |
| Gazebos | Yes, but… | Allowed in the campsite within reasonable size limits, but not in the arena. |
| Flags | Yes, but… | Flags without poles are allowed. Flags with poles are for the campsite only. The rules disagree about flags in the arena, so leave them at your tent. |
| Portable speakers | No | Banned in the campsite and the arena, with no exception for small speakers. |
| Guitars and instruments | Not stated | Not mentioned in the rules. Bags in the arena must be A4 size or smaller. |
| Camping stoves | Yes, but… | No gas stoves or gas canisters at all. Meths, Trangia, gel and solid-fuel stoves are allowed in the campsite, raised 30cm off the ground. |
| Disposable barbecues | Yes, but… | Allowed in the campsite only, raised at least 30cm off the ground and never in a tent. Cooking can be restricted in hot weather. |
| Dogs | No | Only approved assistance dogs. |
| Your own food | Yes, but… | Allowed in the campsite, including cool boxes. Hampers, cool boxes and cutlery can’t go into the arena. |
| Wet wipes | Not stated | Not mentioned in the rules. |
| Camping chairs | Yes | Allowed in the campsite and the arena. |
What can you bring to the Isle of Wight Festival?
From the official Isle of Wight Festival “things you can and can’t bring” list for 2026, checked against the 2027 terms and conditions. The festival says that anything not on its banned list is fine to bring.
| Isle of Wight | Allowed? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Aerosols | Yes, but… | Aerosols of 250ml or less are allowed in the campsite and the arena. Anything bigger is banned. |
| Alcohol | Yes, but… | Campsite only, for over-18s, and never in glass. You can’t take your own drink into the arena, but you can buy it at the bars there. |
| Glass bottles and jars | No | No glass anywhere, including jars. |
| Mirrors | Yes, but… | Glass mirrors are banned under the glass rule. Plastic mirrors aren’t on the banned list. |
| Gazebos | Yes, but… | Allowed in the general campsite, but not in the arena or the Respect and Family camping fields. |
| Flags | Yes, but… | Allowed in the campsite only, not the arena. Until recently they were banned outright, so check the latest rules before you go. |
| Portable speakers | Yes, but… | Not on the banned list. Air horns and megaphones are banned, and anything that spoils other people’s weekend can be taken. |
| Guitars and instruments | Yes, but… | Not on the banned list, and the festival says anything that isn’t listed is fine. Bags in the arena can be no taller than 40cm, so a guitar is best left at your tent. |
| Camping stoves | Yes, but… | Campsite only, in the designated areas, with gas canisters of 300g or less. Not in the arena, and never cook in a tent. |
| Disposable barbecues | Yes, but… | Campsite only, in the designated areas. Other barbecues and open fires are banned. |
| Dogs | No | Only approved assistance dogs. |
| Your own food | Yes, but… | Allowed in the campsite but not the arena, apart from baby food and formula (not in glass). |
| Wet wipes | Yes | Not on the banned list. |
| Camping chairs | Yes, but… | Allowed in the campsite and the arena, but only up to a set point in the Main Arena, and not in the Big Top or Electro Love. |
What can you bring to Boomtown?
From the official Boomtown terms and conditions (with the 2027 dates) and the 2026 Essential Guide. Boomtown publishes less detail than most, so several items aren’t covered. See also our guides to alcohol at Boomtown and getting searched at Boomtown.
| Boomtown | Allowed? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Aerosols | Not stated | Spray paint is banned, and the 2026 guide just says “spray cans”. Toiletry aerosols aren’t mentioned, so roll-on and lotion versions are the safe choice. |
| Alcohol | Yes, but… | Strict limits per weekend ticket: 16 cans of beer or cider (440ml), or 18 cans of pre-mixed spirits (250ml), or a 3-litre box of wine, or 7 litres of beer or cider in sealed plastic bottles. No spirits, no glass and no opened bottles, and only on your first entry. More on alcohol. |
| Glass bottles and jars | No | No glass on site. The only exception is glass make-up and perfume bottles. |
| Mirrors | Not stated | Not mentioned, but glass is banned, so a glass mirror could be taken. Bring a plastic one. |
| Gazebos | No | Not allowed in any of the campsites. More on gazebos. |
| Flags | Not stated | Not mentioned in the rules. Flags with offensive messages or images aren’t allowed. |
| Portable speakers | Yes, but… | Sound systems are banned, including speakers bigger than 30cm, so a small speaker is allowed. Loud systems are switched off. |
| Guitars and instruments | Not stated | Not mentioned in the rules. Air horns are banned. |
| Camping stoves | Yes, but… | Usually allowed with small disposable gas canisters, but Boomtown can ban them in hot, dry weather, as it did in 2026. |
| Disposable barbecues | No | Barbecues and campfires are banned. |
| Dogs | No | Only assistance dogs, arranged with the access team in advance. |
| Your own food | Yes | Allowed, but no glass jars. |
| Wet wipes | Not stated | Not mentioned in the rules. |
| Camping chairs | Yes | Not on the banned list. |
What can you bring to Kendal Calling?
From the official Kendal Calling prohibited items list, FAQs and terms for 2026.
| Kendal Calling | Allowed? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Aerosols | Yes, but… | Allowed in the campsite but not the arena. |
| Alcohol | Yes, but… | Campsite only, a reasonable amount for yourself, brought in on your first trip in, and never in glass. You can’t take your own drink into the arena, but you can buy it at the bars there. |
| Glass bottles and jars | No | No glass in the campsite or the arena, including perfume bottles. It’s to protect the deer park. |
| Mirrors | Yes, but… | Compact mirrors are allowed in the campsite, but not the arena. |
| Gazebos | No | Banned everywhere, including the campsites. |
| Flags | Not stated | Not mentioned in the rules. |
| Portable speakers | Not stated | Not mentioned in the rules. There’s a Quiet Camping field if you’d rather avoid them. |
| Guitars and instruments | Not stated | Not mentioned in the rules. |
| Camping stoves | Yes, but… | Campsite only, single-burner, with gas canisters of 230g or less. No liquid fuels. |
| Disposable barbecues | No | Banned from the campsite and the arena in 2026 because of dry weather, even though earlier guidance allowed them. Check the latest rules. |
| Dogs | No | Only registered assistance dogs, arranged in advance. |
| Your own food | Yes, but… | Allowed in the campsite for your own use. Only snacks in the arena. |
| Wet wipes | Yes, but… | Not banned, but the festival asks you not to bring them, because they break down into microplastics. |
| Camping chairs | Yes, but… | Welcome in the campsite. In the arena, keep them behind the Main Stage sound tower and fold them when it gets busy. |
What can you bring to Green Man?
From the official Green Man FAQs and terms and conditions for 2027, which are the same as 2026. Green Man is one of the few big festivals that still lets you bring a gazebo, but it’s strict about anything that could damage the grass at Glanusk Park.
| Green Man | Allowed? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Aerosols | Not stated | Toiletry sprays such as deodorant and sun cream aren’t mentioned. Personal protection sprays are banned. |
| Alcohol | Yes, but… | For your own use in the campsite and live-in vehicle areas, and never in glass. There’s no fixed limit. You can’t take your own drink into the arena, but you can buy it at the bars there. |
| Glass bottles and jars | No | Glass of any kind is banned, and bringing it can get you removed from the festival. |
| Mirrors | Not stated | Not mentioned in the rules. Glass is banned, so bring a plastic mirror. |
| Gazebos | Yes, but… | One reasonably sized gazebo per group. Stewards can ask you to take it down if it stops other people camping. |
| Flags | Not stated | Not mentioned in the rules. Climbing flagpoles is banned. |
| Portable speakers | Not stated | Sound systems are banned. Small speakers aren’t mentioned, but nothing you play can be a nuisance to other people. |
| Guitars and instruments | Yes, but… | Not banned. The rules only say instruments mustn’t be played in a way that’s a nuisance to other people. |
| Camping stoves | Yes, but… | Allowed, with gas up to 5kg. Bigger gas cylinders and anything that runs on petrol are banned. |
| Disposable barbecues | No | Tin foil barbecues are banned because they burn the grass, and so are campfires. Barbecues raised off the ground on legs are allowed. |
| Dogs | No | Only assistance dogs, agreed with the festival’s access team before you go. |
| Your own food | Not stated | There’s no rule on food. Stoves and raised barbecues are allowed in the campsite, so cooking there is expected. |
| Wet wipes | Not stated | Not mentioned in the rules. |
| Camping chairs | Yes, but… | Not banned. Bring a sturdy one rather than a flimsy chair you’ll throw away. In the arena, stewards can ask you to move a chair that blocks views. |
What about Secret Garden Party?
Secret Garden Party held its last festival in 2024 and hasn’t run since, so it isn’t in the checker. If you’re after something with a similar feel, have a look at our Glastonbury alternatives.
Tips for getting through the bag search
- Check the official rules a week before. Festivals update their lists right up to the last minute, especially stoves and barbecues in a heatwave.
- Know the campsite rules from the arena rules. Lots of things that are fine at your tent, such as alcohol, food, chairs and gazebos, can’t go into the arena.
- Decant before you leave home. Anything in glass gets taken, so pour drinks into plastic bottles and food into tubs.
- Pack banned-looking things where they’re easy to find. Security will ask about stoves and aerosols, and it’s quicker if you can show them straight away.
- Expect to be searched. Bags are checked at every festival in this guide. See getting searched at Glastonbury and at Boomtown.
- Use the packing list. Our festival packing list covers what you do need, so there’s less temptation to bring what you don’t.
Frequently asked questions
What items are banned at most UK festivals?
Glass, gazebos (at many festivals), large sound systems, pets, drugs, weapons, fireworks, flares and anything that can be used as a weapon. Most festivals also limit what you can take into the arena, such as alcohol, food, chairs and flags.
Can you take alcohol into the festival arena?
Not your own. At Reading & Leeds, Download, the Isle of Wight, Kendal Calling and Green Man, the alcohol you bring is for the campsite only, and in the arena you buy drinks at the bars. Glastonbury doesn’t have separate arena rules, but alcohol must be for your own use and never in glass.
Are aerosols banned at festivals?
Not usually. Reading & Leeds, Download and the Isle of Wight allow aerosols of 250ml or less, and Kendal Calling allows them in the campsite. Spray paint is banned everywhere, and Boomtown’s rules ban “spray cans” without saying whether toiletries count.
Can you take a small speaker to a festival?
It depends on the festival. Download bans all speakers. Reading & Leeds allow small handheld speakers in the campsite, and Boomtown allows speakers under 30cm. Large sound systems are banned everywhere.
What happens if you bring a banned item to a festival?
It’s taken off you at the gate, and you won’t get it back. If you’re found with something dangerous or illegal, you can be refused entry or removed from the festival.
Are festival rules the same every year?
No. Festivals change their rules from year to year, and sometimes days before the festival, for example banning stoves and barbecues in a heatwave. Always check the official website before you pack.
The short version
Leave glass and anything that looks like a weapon at home, keep alcohol and food for the campsite, and check your festival’s rules on gazebos, speakers, stoves and barbecues before you pack, because that’s where they differ most. If in doubt, use the checker at the top of this page, then check the festival’s own website.
