Accessibility

Before applying for the use of accessible facilities

You need to have bought your Download Festival ticket before you apply. (Please note that there is no separate ‘accessibility’ ticket category).

Please do not buy a ticket for your essential companion. Essential companion tickets are allocated through the application process.

You will also need either to have a Nimbus Access Card or Digital Access Pass from one of the Live Nation events listed on the Nimbus website. If you don’t have one, you can register with Nimbus for a free Digital Access Pass.

Please note that registering for a Nimbus Access Card or Digital Access Pass is not the same as applying for the use of accessible facilities at the festival. You must still complete the application form once you have your Nimbus Access Card or Digital Access Pass.

Applying for the use of accessible facilities

• Have your ticket booking reference and your Nimbus Access Card or Digital Access Pass ready.
• Complete the Download Festival Accessible Facilities application form.
• The Download Accessibility Team will review your application.
• You’ll receive an email once it’s processed. The email will tell you what facilities you are approved to use. You should get the email within 5 working days.

If you have any questions or concerns about the application process, please contact us at accessibility@downloadfestival.co.uk.

Notes on completing the application form

• Please make sure you enter your personal details on the application form exactly as they appear on your Nimbus Access Card or Digital Access Pass. This includes the spelling of your name(s). If they don’t match exactly, it may delay your application being processed.
• Each accessibility customer wishing to apply for use of the accessible facilities should submit an individual application. Please do not include more than one person per application. This helps us ensure that everyone in your group gets the facilities they require.

Temporary impairments

Please note that our accessible facilities are unable to cater for people with temporary impairments. A temporary impairment is anything that affects an individual for less than 12 months such as broken bones, healing injuries or pregnancy.

An essential companion ticket is provided, free of charge, to those customers who would be unable to attend without the help and support of another person.

Please do not buy a ticket for your essential companion. These are allocated through the application process. Please note that this is different if you are buying an RIP package, or staying in Rock Retreat. For more information about the essential companion ticket process in those cases, please visit page 4 of the RIP FAQs.

Your essential companion must be aged 18 or over. They must be willing and able to fulfil all your requirements and must provide assistance to you during the unlikely event of an evacuation or other emergency.

If the customer approved for an essential companion is a child of 12 years or under, they must also be accompanied by an adult that has purchased a ticket. The child cannot attend the festival with the essential companion alone.

If you need different people to assume the role of your essential companion throughout the festival, please indicate this on your application in the Additional Information section.

Accessible viewing areas

There are various accessible viewing areas available within the arena and District X.

Raised Viewing Platform

Please note that applications for the raised viewing platforms have closed. The raised viewing platforms are at full capacity

Raised viewing platforms are available for wheelchair users and those with restricted mobility. Access to the platforms will be approved as part of your application.

Only the approved customer and their essential companion (or friend) will have access to the raised viewing platforms. This allows us to accommodate as many customers, who require use of this facility, as possible.

All raised viewing platforms have ramped access, wheelchair-accessible toilets, charging points, drinking water and a dedicated platform manager.

Limited seating is also available at each platform. We will be providing chairs that have a load-bearing capacity of 250 pounds (approximately 18 stone). If you have any questions or concerns regarding this, please get in touch with us at accessibility@download.co.uk.

Raised viewing platforms may get busy. Please note that these are operated on a first come first served basis.

Some raised viewing platforms are not covered so please dress appropriately for all weather conditions.

Ground viewing area

Please note that applications for the ground viewing area have closed. The ground viewing area is at full capacity.

Dedicated ground viewing areas are available for those who need a less crowded area and the option of sitting for short periods of time. Access to the ground viewing area will be approved as part of your application.

The ground viewing areas are situated in front of the raised viewing platforms and are separated from the main crowds by a barrier. These are primarily standing areas, although limited seating is available and is operated on a first come first served basis. We will be providing chairs that have a load-bearing capacity of 250 pounds (approximately 18 stone). If you have any questions or concerns regarding this, please get in touch with us at accessibility@download.co.uk.

Only the approved customer and their essential companion (or friend) will have access to the ground viewing areas. This allows us to accommodate as many customers, who require use of this facility, as possible.

Accessible toilets

Wheelchair accessible and standard toilets for accessibility customers are located across the arena and District X. They are available to all accessibility customers and their essential companions.

Changing places

In the arena and District X, there are changing places units featuring an adult changing bed, toilet, sink, and hoist. (Please note that hoist slings will not be available. Please remember to bring your own.)

Accessible entrance lanes

There are dedicated entrance lanes for accessibility customers to access the arena.

Accessibility information hubs

There are information hubs in the arena and District X for accessibility customers, staffed by our dedicated team.

Sensory calm spaces

There are Sensory Calm Tents located within the arena and District X. The aim of these spaces is to provide a safe, low-level stimulation and recalibration zone for any customers who need to use them.

Bars and merchandise stalls

Dedicated accessible lanes and accessible serving areas are available at each main bar and merchandise stall.

You can bring prescription medication to the festival but please ensure it is in the original packaging with the dispensary sticker intact.

If you need to bring in loose medication or medication that’s not in its original packaging, please also bring the prescription(s) with you.

Refrigerated medication storage is available in the accessible campsite, arena and District X.

Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana prescribed for daily use may be brought into the event.

Please bring the medication in its prescribed form together with the original prescription supporting its use for the entire duration of your time at the event. You may be asked to present this, along with identification matching the name on the prescription, upon entry.

Food

All Download customers are permitted to bring a small amount of food for personal consumption into the arena.

Accessibility customers are permitted to bring additional food in excess of the usual amount into the arena.

(This increased allowance applies to accessibility customers only and not to essential companions or friends and family.)

Drink

All Download customers are permitted to bring a sealed, unopened 500ml bottle of water or soft drink into the arena.

Accessibility customers are permitted to bring one sealed, unopened bottle up to 1.5l of water or soft drink into the arena.

(This increased allowance applies to accessibility customers only and not to essential companions or friends and family.)

For security reasons, we ordinarily only permit customers to bring a small bag (A4 size) into the arena.

Accessibility customers are entitled to bring a bigger bag into the arena (one bag only per accessibility customer).

Please note that applications for the Accessible Campsite have now closed. The Accessible Campsite is now at full capacity.

Our accessible campsite is located next to the arena and has its own dedicated entrance. The campsite covers a large area, some of which is on an incline. Wherever possible, we aim to accommodate customers with mobility requirements on the flatter ground.

There are accessible routes throughout the campsite, comprising of temporary flooring and existing hardcore tracks.

Facilities

There is a dedicated accessibility team and stewards based in the campsite to assist you during your stay as well as with your bags on arrival.

The following facilities are available within this campsite:

• Wheelchair accessible and standard gender neutral toilets
• Wheelchair accessible and standard gender neutral showers
• Changing places unit featuring an adult changing bed, toilet, sink and hoist. (Please note that hoist slings will not be available. Please remember to bring your own.)
• Charging facilities for wheelchairs and medical equipment
• Accessible sink and drinking water points
• A dedicated accessibility information hub
• Kettle and hot water
• Secure cold fridge to store medication
• Essential electric power supply (if requested and approved)
• Food traders
• Merchandise stall
• Lockers to rent

Pitch size, group size and gazebos

We aim to accommodate as many customers as possible in the accessible campsite. To assist us with this, please be aware of the following:

• Please be respectful of your fellow campers and only bring tents appropriate for the size of your party.
• You will be permitted to camp with a maximum of three other people (this includes your essential companion).
• You may be asked to move or remove your gazebo if it is taking up too much space. We ask that you consider fellow campers when pitching your gazebo.

There is a dedicated accessible campervan area within the accessible campsite. This area is now at capacity.

If you want to be added to the waiting list for this area, please let us know in your application form. In the event that space becomes available, we will let you know.

• Campervan spaces are limited and sold on a first come first serve basis.
• Campervan tickets are supplementary to your festival ticket.
• You will be given a pitch measuring approximately 9m x 7m.
• Only one campervan ticket is required per pitch.

Disposable BBQs are allowed in the campsites. They must be for personal use only.

Certain cooking stoves are also permitted. For more details, please see our Things you can and can’t bring page.

There will be accessible toilets located within all general campsites.

Please be aware that the quiet campsite is located at the furthest distance from District X and the arena, to minimise the noise transfer.

The general campsites are located further from District X and the arena than the accessible campsite.

Please see our Things you can and can’t bring page.

We do not handle the hire of mobility scooters directly. Please make your own arrangements with your chosen provider.

BSL Interpreting services

A British Sign Language performance interpreting service will be provided on request, providing reasonable notice is given in advance of the festival.

Please make sure you request this service on the Download Accessible Facilities Application form.

Customers who have requested this service will be contacted by the interpreting team for an understanding of which performances they would like covered; this is not guaranteed and subject to change.

Hearing loops

Hearing loops will be installed at all box offices and information hubs.

Assistance dogs will be approved on a case by case basis by the accessibility team. If you want to bring an assistance dog, please request this in your application. Your request will be reviewed by the accessibility team and we will let you know if it is approved.

A spending area will be available for assistance dogs.

Accessible Car Parking

Accessible parking can be requested as part of your application.

• Accessible parking is free but must be requested when you apply for accessible facilities.
• Blue badge holders do not automatically qualify for accessible parking. This must be requested when you apply for accessible facilities.
• Accessible parking is limited to 1 parking pass per accessibility customer.
• By way of clarification, friends and family arriving in separate vehicles will not be able to park in the accessible car park and will need to park in the general car parks.
• RIP customers should follow the parking instructions included with their package.

If you are staying in the accessible campsite, you will have two options if you arrive by car.

Pick up and Drop Off for Private Vehicles and Taxis

If you are being dropped off at and/or picked up from the festival, please let us know as part of your application. More information about the pick up and drop off system will be available nearer the time.

Staying in the Accessible Campsite

If you are arriving by car and staying in the accessible campsite, you have two options on arrival.

Unload and Go:

• If you choose this option, you will drive onto the accessible campsite to unload your belongings. Please be aware that due to the large number of customers attending Download, there will be queues to use Unload and Go, particularly on Wednesday when the campsite opens.
• For health and safety reasons, you will not be permitted to drive to your pitch. Instead, your vehicle will be held in a designated area of the campsite. The campsite team will be on hand to assist you, if required.
• Unload and Go will only be available while it is safe for vehicles to enter the campsite. Once the campsite is at a certain level of occupancy, health and safety guidelines prevent us from allowing additional vehicles to enter.
• To reduce queuing times, we require the driver to move their vehicle from the campsite to the car park as soon as your belongings have been unloaded.

Park and Go:

• If you choose this option, you will go directly to the accessible car park to park. The distance from the car park to the accessible campsite entrance is approximately 330m over hardstanding. You can either make your own way or use the internal transport which will drop you at the campsite entrance.
• Park and Go is likely to be a quicker process than Unload and Go at peak times (particularly Wednesday).

There will be a shuttle bus service for the benefit of accessibility customers. This will run between designated points around the site. More details of the routes and bus stop locations will be provided nearer the festival. Seating and water will be available at each shuttle bus stop.

There will be an accessible buggy service to take customers from the purple accessible car park to the accessible campsite. The buggy service will also be available to take customers between the accessible campsite and District X and the Co-op, to supplement the shuttle bus service.

Please note that the buggies cannot enter the arena or District X.

Accessibility guide

Customers who have applied and been processed for accessible facilities will be sent an Accessibility Guide prior to the event.

Ground conditions / weather

Download Festival takes place at Donington Park.

The site has the benefit of existing hard standing and temporary trackway routes, in certain areas.

However, please be aware that the festival primarily takes place on grass fields with some sloping areas that are steep in sections.

It is also important to be aware that, during wet weather, the site is likely to become muddy and become more difficult to navigate.

Effect lighting

Smoke machines, strobe lights, lasers, fireworks, and other effects may be in use at this event. Anyone affected by these should bear this in mind.

Medical and welfare

Medical and welfare facilities are available throughout the festival.

Doctors, paramedics, first aiders, and fully equipped ambulances are based at the medical centre.

Security and stewards

In the unlikely event of an emergency or site evacuation, Security and Stewards are deployed throughout the festival. They will assist in moving everybody to a place of safety.

They are also briefed to offer information, help and support.

If you are unwell or require assistance, please approach a member of the Security and Stewarding Team who are clearly identifiable by their numbered tabards/shirts.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email the accessibility team at accessibility@downloadfestival.co.uk