"accessibility"
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email the accessibility team at accessibility@downloadfestival.co.uk
Accessible Campsites
Our accessible campsite is located next to the arena and has its own dedicated entrance. It’s a secure, safe space where the accessibility team and stewards will be based throughout the festival to assist you. The following facilities are available within this campsite.
- A dedicated accessibility information hub.
- Wheelchair accessible and standard unisex toilets.
- Wheelchair accessible and standard unisex showers.
- Accessible routes.
- 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).
- Changing facilities for wheelchairs and medical equipment.
- Accessible sink and drinking water points.
- Kettle and hot water.
- Secure cold fridge to store medication.
- Essential electric power supply (if requested and approved).
- Food traders.
- Merchandise stand.
- Lockers to rent.
Accessible viewing areas
There are raised viewing platforms and ground viewing areas available within the arena and District X.
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.
Changing places units
There are changing places units featuring an adult changing bed, toilet, sink, and hoist.
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 two 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
Dedicated accessible lanes are available at each main bar. This section of the bar has a lowered counter and bypasses the main queuing system.
Please contact accessibility@downloadfestival.co.uk
All Download Family perks will be listed on the Download Family section of our website after we’ve sent our monthly benefit email. Log in to your account and go to your Family Feed to see the latest perks.
Upgrade your experience for access to our 24 hour reception, pamper area, showers & flushing toilets. Camping Plus tickets are on sale now.
District X South – including the Coop and Megastore – is open to all ticket holders, including Weekend Arena and Day Ticket holders.
District X North is exclusive to Camping and RIP accommodation ticket holders, and includes stages such as The Doghouse, The Den, Ace of Spades and The Outpost.
Stay in our dedicated Campervan Campsite – bring your own caravan and enjoy exclusive parking, added on-site comfort, and easy access to the festival.
See our Campervan rules & info for more details.
Please note: Outside of Arena opening hours, access to District X from the Campervan field is provided via a dedicated shuttle bus service, running between District X South and the Campervan field.
Check what you can and can’t bring before arriving at Donington (changes may apply for 2026 festival).
| Item | Arena | Campsites |
|---|---|---|
| Aerosols over 250ml | NO | NO |
| Airhorns and megaphones | NO | NO |
| Alcohol (must not be in glass bottles and only for over 18s only) | NO | YES (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) | NO | NO |
| Any alcohol in possession of anyone under 18 | NO | NO |
| Any goods for unauthorised trading | NO | NO |
| Any goods with unauthorised festival logos | NO | NO |
| Any items which may cause danger, offence or disruption to any other person | NO | NO |
| Any items which may reasonably be considered for use as a weapon | NO | NO |
| Audio recorders | NO | YES |
| Bags bigger than A4 size (30cm height x 8cm depth x 21cm width) More info for accessibility customers here | NO | YES |
| Bicycles / scooters / roller-skates / skateboards | NO | NO |
| Blow torches | NO | NO |
| Cameras, film or video equipment | YES* (Lens <6”) | YES |
| Camping equipment | NO | YES |
| Cans | NO | YES |
| Chairs | YES | YES |
| Cutlery | NO | YES |
| Deodorant roll on | YES | YES |
| 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* | NO | YES |
| Drinks bottles (other than sealed plastic water/soft drinks bottles 500ml or under & empty reusable bottles of any size metal or plastic - no glass) More info for accessibility customers here | NO | YES |
| Drones or other unmanned aerial vehicles* | NO | NO |
| Excessive amounts of cigarettes (more than personal consumption) | NO | NO |
| Excessive amounts of food (more than personal consumption) More info for accessibility customers here | NO | NO |
| Firewood | NO | NO |
| Fireworks / pyrotechnics | NO | NO |
| Flags with poles | NO | YES (there will be some exclusion zones for this) |
| Flags without poles | YES | YES |
| Flares/distress flares/smoke bombs | NO | NO |
| Food - including hampers / cool bag / boxes More info for accessibility customers here | NO | YES |
| Gazebos | NO | YES (within reasonable size limits)** |
| Generators (exemption for generators in caravans) | NO | NO |
| Glass | NO | NO |
| Golf umbrellas | NO | YES |
| Hexamine / hexi tablets | NO | NO |
| Illegal substances | NO | NO |
| Individual camping gas canisters (exemption for gas canisters fitted within campervans). | NO | NO |
| Leatherman multi tools | NO | NO |
| Legal Highs/New Psychoactive Substances | NO | NO |
| Medication (if accompanied by a prescription) More info | YES | YES |
| Nitrous oxide and any associated equipment (balloons, Co2 dispensers, cream dispensers) | NO | NO |
| Paper lanterns or sky lanterns | NO | NO |
| Perfume in small bottles | YES | YES |
| Petrol burners | NO | NO |
| Portable laser equipment and pens | NO | NO |
| Rooftop tents | NO | YES (campervan site only) |
| Small hammers for pitching tents | NO | YES |
| Sound systems | NO | NO |
| Tin openers | NO | YES |
| Umbrellas | NO | YES |
| Unidentifiable substances | NO | NO |
| Unofficial tabards or reflective jackets | NO | NO |
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.
For more information, please read our guide to cooking at #DLXXII.
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
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!
Illegal Substances
Download Festival does not condone the use and supply of illegal drugs on site. For more information, take a look at our drugs policy.
Fancy Dress & Costume Guidelines
We love seeing your creativity however for everyone’s safety and comfort, we ask that you don’t bring any fake or replica weapons, including toy guns, swords, or other realistic-looking props. These items can cause confusion during security checks and may be mistaken for real weapons by our team or the police. They can also be distressing to other festival-goers. Similarly, we ask that you do not bring masks that will obscure your face.