Festival Van Hire Guide: Your Ultimate 2026 Update

Forget the soggy sleeping bag and the 4am tent zip. There's a better way to do festival season — and it starts with hiring a campervan, motorhome or caravan. With Glastonbury on a fallow year in 2026, the rest of the UK festival calendar has stepped up in a big way, and there's never been a better summer to go bigger, go more comfortable, and go with Camplify.

Here's your fully updated guide to taking a campervan to a UK festival in 2026.

Step 1: Pick Your Festival

2026 is a bumper year. With no Glastonbury, the likes of Isle of Wight, Reading & Leeds, Download, TRNSMT, Boardmasters and a host of newer events are all competing for the crown. Here are some highlights:

• Isle of Wight Festival — 18–21 June, Seaclose Park, Newport. Headliners: Lewis Capaldi, Calvin Harris, The Cure.

• TRNSMT — 19–21 June, Glasgow Green. Headliners: Lewis Capaldi, Kasabian, Wolf Alice.

• Download Festival — 10–14 June, Donington Park, Derbyshire. Headliners: Guns N' Roses, Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit.

• Boardmasters — 5–9 August, Newquay, Cornwall. Headliners: Fatboy Slim, Kasabian, The Kooks.

• Green Man Festival — August, Brecon Beacons, Wales. Headliners: Mogwai, Wilco, Four Tet, Wolf Alice.

• Reading & Leeds — 27–30 August. Headliners: Charli XCX, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C., Chase & Status, Raye.

There are more than 200 UK festivals to choose from this year. Go out there and find the best one for you!

Step 2: Check Campervan Access Before Buying Tickets

This is the step people skip — and then regret. Not all festivals accept campervans, and those that do often require a separate campervan camping pass on top of your entry ticket. These passes are purchased directly from the festival organiser, not through Camplify.

Before booking anything, check:

• Does the festival have a dedicated campervan or motorhome camping area?

• Do you need a separate camping pass, and are they still available?

• Are there size or height restrictions on vehicles?

• Is the campervan area within walking distance of the main stages, or will you need transport?

Most big UK festivals — Isle of Wight, Download, Boardmasters, Reading & Leeds — have well-established campervan areas with clear guidance on their websites.

Step 3: Book Your Van on Camplify

Once your tickets are sorted, it's time to find your van. Search on Camplify by location, dates and the number of guests — you can filter by features like toilets, showers, automatic gearbox, and pet-friendly options.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Book early. Festival weekends are among the most in-demand dates on Camplify. The best vans go fast.

• Check for the Festival Ready badge. Listings with this badge have been identified as particularly suitable for festival hire — their owners are experienced with this kind of trip.

• Ask about delivery. Some Camplify owners offer delivery to a nearby campsite or agreed meeting point, which can make life much easier if you're travelling by train or don't want to drive a large vehicle.

• Confirm festival details with the owner before accepting. Let them know which festival you're attending and that you have (or are getting) the correct camping pass.

Every Camplify booking includes comprehensive hire insurance and 24/7 breakdown cover — no extra cost to hirers.

Step 4: Sort Your Tickets and Passes

You'll typically need two things: a festival entry ticket, and a separate campervan/motorhome camping pass. Double-check with the specific festival's website — some events (like Reading & Leeds) sell these separately, while others bundle them together in certain ticket tiers.

Many festival campervan passes sell out well in advance of the event itself, sometimes months earlier. Sort this as soon as you've booked your van.

Step 5: Pack Smart for Off-Grid Living

Festival campervan areas are usually off-grid — meaning no electric hookups. Your van's leisure battery will power lighting, water pumps and charging, but it has limits. Check with your Camplify owner what the battery capacity is, and how to manage power usage across a multi-day stay.

Here's a solid 2026 festival packing list:

• Bedding and towels (confirm with owner what's included)

• Floor mats and easy-clean throws — festival sites are muddy

• Portable chargers and solar chargers for phones

• Water bottles — fill up at the van before heading to the stages

• Day bag or bum bag for the arena

• Weatherproof jacket and layers — even in August, UK evenings get cold

• Wellies or waterproof boots

• Dry shampoo and wet wipes — essential for multi-day festivals

• Cash as backup — most stalls are card-only now but not all

• Earplugs — for sleeping near the music

• First aid kit: plasters, paracetamol, blister pads

• Torch or head torch for navigating the campsite at night

• Festival-specific items: wristband if pre-posted, camping pass, printed confirmation

Step 6: Arrive Early and Mark Your Spot

Festival campervan fields fill up quickly. Arrive as early as you're allowed — check the site opening times on the festival website — and you'll have the best choice of pitch position. A spot near a water point is worth its weight in gold.

Once you're parked up, mark your van so you can find it again after a long day. A flag, a string of battery lights, or a distinctive banner attached to the van works well. Note your field name and van position in your phone — with a backup on paper.

Step 7: Look After the Van (and It'll Look After You)

Your Camplify van is someone's pride and joy. A few habits will keep the hire running smoothly:

• Take your shoes off at the door — or at least shake them off — to keep the interior clean

• Empty waste tanks if you're using the van's toilet, following the owner's instructions

• Monitor the water tank and fill up at the site's water point when needed

• Don't leave valuables visible in the cab when you head to the stages

If anything goes wrong — breakdown, damage, or a question you can't answer — contact Camplify's support team. You're covered by insurance for the duration of the hire.

Make It a Road Trip

One of the best things about hiring a van for a festival is that you don't have to go straight home. Load up the van the day after and explore. Boardmasters is in Cornwall — one of the UK's finest coastlines. Isle of Wight is a brilliant destination in its own right. Download is near the Peak District. Green Man sits inside the Brecon Beacons National Park.

Search for Camplify destination guides and road trip blogs for inspiration on where to go before or after your festival.

Ready to find your festival van? Search Festival Ready listings on Camplify and book with confidence — insurance and breakdown cover included as standard.