Download Festival - Home

Things You Can / Can’t Bring

ItemArenaCampsites
Aerosols over 250mlNONO
Airhorns and megaphonesNONO
Alcohol (must not be in glass bottles and only for over 18s only)NOYES (maximum quantity alcohol allowed - 1 x 24 can/plastic crate of beer/cider or drink of choice & 1L of spirit or wine in a plastic bottle per person)
Animals (other than approved assistance dogs)NONO
Any alcohol in possession of anyone under 18NONO
Any goods for unauthorised tradingNONO
Any goods with unauthorised festival logosNONO
Any items which may cause danger, offence or disruption to any other personNONO
Any items which may reasonably be considered for use as a weaponNONO
Audio recordersNOYES
Bags bigger than A4 size (30cm height x 8cm depth x 21cm width)

More info for accessibility customers here
NOYES
Bicycles / scooters / roller-skates / skateboardsNONO
Blow torchesNONO
Cameras, film or video equipmentYES* (Lens <6”)YES
Camping equipmentNOYES
CansNOYES
ChairsYESYES
CutleryNOYES
Deodorant roll onYESYES
Disposable BBQs and permitted cooking stoves (for personal use only): meth stoves (with maximum 1L methylated fuel/spirit), trangia stoves (with maximum 1L Trangia fuel), gel fuel, greenheat basecamp cooker, firelighter stoves. fuel limited to 1L maximum per stove*NOYES
Drinks bottles (other than sealed plastic water/soft drinks bottles under 500ml and empty re-usable bottles of any size metal or plastic - no glass)

More info for accessibility customers here
NOYES
Drones or other unmanned aerial vehicles*NONO
Excessive amounts of cigarettes (more than personal consumption)NONO
Excessive amounts of food (more than personal consumption)

More info for accessibility customers here
NONO
FirewoodNONO
Fireworks / pyrotechnicsNONO
Flags with polesNOYES (there will be some exclusion zones for this)
Flags without polesYESYES
Flares/distress flares/smoke bombsNONO
Food - including hampers / cool bag / boxes

More info for accessibility customers here
NOYES
GazebosNOYES (within reasonable size limits)**
Generators (exemption for generators in caravans)NONO
GlassNONO
Golf umbrellasNOYES
Hexamine / hexi tabletsNONO
Illegal substancesNONO
Individual camping gas canisters (exemption for gas canisters fitted within campervans).NONO
Leatherman multi toolsNONO
Legal Highs/New Psychoactive SubstancesNONO
Medication (if accompanied by a prescription)

More info
YESYES
Nitrous oxide and any associated equipment (balloons, Co2 dispensers, cream dispensers)NONO
Paper lanterns or sky lanternsNONO
Perfume in small bottlesYESYES
Petrol burnersNONO
Portable laser equipment and pensNONO
Rooftop tentsNOYES (campervan site only)
Small hammers for pitching tentsNOYES
Sound systemsNONO
Tin openersNOYES
UmbrellasNOYES
Unidentifiable substancesNONO
Unofficial tabards or reflective jacketsNONO

Please note that there will be no receipts issued for any confiscated/surrendered items and they will not be available to collect after the festival.

Campfires and Gas

Open campfires are not allowed at Download Festival. Anyone that starts a fire or throws toxic or dangerous items onto a fire leaves themselves liable for eviction.

NO GAS canisters or petrol fuelled cookers will be allowed anywhere on site. There will be no exception to this rule, anyone found using gas may be asked to leave site!

Alternatively please use one of the following: meth stoves including fuel, trangia stoves, solid fuel, gel stoves, green base camp cooker and firelighter stoves.

Any liquid fuel such as Meth Stoves (with 1L methylated fuel/spirit max) and/or Trangia Stoves (1L Trangia fuel max) should be in a sealed original container to ensure that it can be used and stored safely.

Please raise BBQ’s and camping stoves at least 30cms off the ground to avoid burning the site.

Do not use BBQ’s inside of tents.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, highly poisonous gas that can kill in minutes. Never take a portable barbecue – or lit charcoal – into an enclosed space like a tent or caravan. Make sure exhaust fumes from generators are properly vented away from occupied areas.

If you think you have potentially be exposed to carbon monoxide gas from a BBQ or gas powered heater whilst at the festival, please contact a steward immediately.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:

  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Tiredness and confusion
  • Stomach pain
  • Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing

Read more about BBQ Safety.

Drones

Just a friendly reminder that drones are strictly prohibited, given the proximity to East Midlands Airport. This is a very serious offence, and police will be onsite to enforce this. Arrests have been made in the past, please don’t miss out on Download by doing this!