The Essentials

Map

Check out the 2026 Map HERE.

What you can and can't bring

Item	Arena	Campsite
Aerosols (over 250ml)	✗	✗
Air Horns	✗	✗
Alcohol for personal consumption 18+	✗	✔
Animals (other than registered hearing dogs or guide dogs)	✗	✗
Any goods for unauthorised trading with unauthorised Leeds Festival logos	✗	✗
Anything reasonably considered a weapon, oversized lighters, or items causing danger/offence/disruption	✗	✗
Audio Recorders	✗	✔
Bags larger than A4 size***	✗	✔
Balloons	✗	✗
Blankets	✗	✔
Balaclavas, ski masks, face coverings	✗	✗
BBQs of any kind incl. disposable	✗	✗
Blowtorches	✗	✗
Cameras, film or video equipment (lenses under 6 inches; professional equipment strictly prohibited)	✔	✔
Camping equipment incl. cutlery, tin openers (weekend ticket holders only; no Leatherman-style multi-tools)	✗	✔
Cans	✗	✔
Candles & Incense	✗	✗
Catapults	✗	✗
Chairs / Stools / Inflatable Loungers / Floor Seating / Shooting Sticks	✗	✔
Chinese/Sky lanterns, Paper Lanterns, Kites	✗	✗
Cigarettes for personal use (excessive amounts confiscated)	✔	✔
Clothing/garments/items promoting cultural appropriation	✗	✗
Flat-based cooking stoves for personal use only (Meth Stoves, Trangia Stoves, Solid Fuel/Hexi Stoves with fuel blocks or firelighters, Gel Fuel, Greenheat Basecamp Cooker, Firelighter Stoves; fuel limited to max 1L per stove and max gas canisters of 250g or less)	✗	✔
Single-use vapes (refillable vapes permitted)	✗	✗
Deodorant - roll on	✔	✔
Sealed drinks bottles, no glass — only sealed soft drinks under 500ml permitted into the arena***	✗	✔
Drones and other flying devices	✗	✗
Empty reusable plastic & metal bottles / coffee cups of any size (coffee cups must be empty)	✔	✔
Excessive amounts of food (i.e. more than for personal consumption)***	✗	✗
Firewood	✗	✗
Fire / Campfire / Fire baskets / Fire Pits / Chimeneas	✗	✗
Fireworks/Pyrotechnics, Flares/Distress Flares, Smoke Bombs	✗	✗
Fitted gas canisters/cylinders in campervans	✗	✔
Flags, flags with poles, banners	✗	✔
Gas canisters for cooking stoves (250ml or less, max 4 per stove)	✗	✔
Gazebos and parasols	✗	✔
Gas cylinders/canisters of any size for non-cooking purposes (incl. nitrous oxide)	✗	✗
Generators (unless fitted in campervans)	✗	✗
Glass bottles, jars, containers over 100ml (small items like perfume bottles, nail varnish, small mirrors permitted)	✗	✗
Illegal substances (drugs), legal highs, herbal highs, new psychoactive substances and unidentifiable substances	✗	✗
Large sound systems prohibited. Small battery-powered handheld speakers permitted in campsites only (max 20x20x20cm, not linkable, low volume, non-compliant items confiscated)	✗	✔
Medication (with doctor's note/prescription or recognisable, in original packaging)	✔	✔
Megaphone	✗	✗
Motorcycle Helmets	✗	✗
Nitrous oxide & related items (balloons, whipped cream dispensers, CO2 dispensers)	✗	✗
Penknife / Multi-tools	✗	✗
Petrol Burner	✗	✗
Laser equipment and pens	✗	✗
Selfie Sticks	✗	✔
Single-use vapes (refillable vapes still permitted)	✗	✗
Skateboards, rollerblades, hoverboards, scooters, bicycles, other personal motorised/non-motorised vehicles	✗	✗
Spray cans	✗	✗
Trolleys (to pull younger children along) & Prams	✗	✔
Golf Umbrellas	✗	✔
Unauthorised professional cameras, film or video equipment, incl. professional camera equipment (e.g. camera stand, lenses), radios or walkie-talkies	✗	✗
Unauthorised solicitation or marketing materials (e.g. handbills, flyers, stickers)	✗	✗
Unofficial tabards and reflective/hi-vis jackets	✗	✗
Weapons	✗	✗

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CAMPING STOVE UPDATE

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Reading festival have decided that due to the change in weather conditions, camping stoves compliant with the ‘What You Can and Can’t Bring’ section of the website will be permitted into the campsites.
Only permitted types of camping stoves will be allowed, so please take time to check the requirements in advance or your stove may not be allowed in.
Reminder: Disposable BBQs are not permitted on site. Please do not bring them.
Campfires are not permitted and anyone found lighting one will be evicted.

READING PROHIBITED ITEMS

‍There will be no receipts issued for any confiscated/surrendered items and they will not be available to collect after the festival.You may be subject to more enhanced searches of bags and personal belongings. We request that you cooperate with any security requests and searches. Please pack light!Please note, campfires and disposable BBQs are banned from both the campsite and the arena in 2026

Stove fuel limited to maximum of 1L per stove and maximum of x4 gas canisters of 250mls or less per stove. Any liquid fuel such as Meth Stoves (with 1L methylated fuel/spirit max) and/or Trangia Stoves (1L Trangia fuel max) should be in an appropriate approved container to ensure that it can be used and stored safely.

Accessibility Customers Prohibited Item Policy

Food:
All 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 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).

Bag Restrictions in the Arena:
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).

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Festival Dates and Location

Pepsi MAX presents Reading Festival 2026 will take place on Thursday, 27th – Sunday, 30th August 2026 at Richfield Avenue in Reading. Weekend Early Entry Ticket holders can access the campsites from Wednesday 26th August.

There will traffic restrictions around the event. For more information on travel to the festival please find Travel Information below.

Please note: there is no pick or drop off on Richfield Avenue.

Travel Info

Opening and Closing Times

Campsites:

Weekend + Early Entry Ticket holders: 18:00 Wednesday 26th August 2026
Weekend Ticket holders: 08:00 Thursday 27th August 2026

Campsite is open 24 Hours, individuals can arrive at any time after the above

Campsite closes at midday Monday 31st August 2026.

If you are leaving and returning after 8pm on Sunday evening, don’t forget to get your hand stamped on your way out to be able to return later on.

Arena:

Thursday 27th August 2026: 17:00 – 03:00
Friday 28th August 2026: 11:00 – 03:00
Saturday 29th August 2026: 11:00 – 03:00
Sunday 30th August 2026: 11:00 – 03:00

With a day ticket, once you leave you cannot re-enter the arena.

With a weekend ticket, you can leave and re-enter the arena and campsites.

Age Restrictions

We welcome all ages to the festival. However, there are entry restrictions for under 16s and we do advise not bringing young children. Anyone 15 and under must be accompanied by a ticket holder over 18 years old at all times. Children under 13 years are admitted free. ID may be required upon entry to the event.

For information purposes only, age checks will also be carried out on the entrance gates.

Please note our policy has changed from Challenge 21 > Challenge 25.

Please bring ID if you look under 25 years old and remember that legally there is no automatic right to be served alcohol. Service is always at the discretion of the licensee for whatever reason they decide, and the licensee is under no obligation to explain the reason.

The following forms of identification are accepted:

A Passport (Not a photocopy)
Full Driving Licence or Provisional Licence
A Proof of Age Card bearing a PASS hologram
A Ministry of Defence identity card
A National identity card issued by an EU member state

Please bring the original document as you won’t be able to use a photocopied version. If you don’t have any of these, or don’t want to lose valuable documents on site, we suggest that you apply for a PASS approved ID, some of which are free to get.

Please note, your ID must be in date in order to be valid.

We do not accept any parental or supervisory duty of care or liability for any under 18’s on site.

Young Children
Whilst we do allow under 13s to attend for free, we do suggest that this event is not suitable for young children. If you do want to bring children along we advise camping in the White Campsite which is expected to be our quietest campsite.

On entering the event, children will be given Tyvek wristbands which have space for you to write your telephone number (as a parent or guardian). We can use this as a primary contact to reunite you. Replacements can be picked up at the Wellbeing Tent.

Valid ID

We operate a Challenge 25 policy. The following forms of identification are accepted:

A Passport (Not a photocopy)
Full Driving Licence or Provisional Licence
A Proof of Age Card bearing a PASS hologram
A Ministry of Defence identity card
A National identity card issued by an EU member state

Please note: This may vary with certain establishments/traders onsite. Please be aware that bar staff always reserve the right to ask for proof of age if you look under 25.

Please note, your ID must be in date in order to be valid.

Festival App

Make sure you download the official festival app to keep up to date with set times, announcements, maps and special offers.

Download the App on iOS Download the App on Android

Help Map

The Help Map can be found HERE.

Phone Charging

Make sure your phone battery matches the energy on stage - with Vodafone's swappable power bank service. Available to everyone at multiple locations across the festival. Visit here to pre-order your power bank now

Bag Restrictions

Entry into campsites:
We do not have bag size restrictions for first time entry although, we advise packing as light as possible. Please take note of our full list of prohibited items (in ‘What You Can and Can’t Bring’ category above).

Arena:
We strongly advise you do not bring a bag into the Arena as there will be long queues while all bags are searched. If you do wish to bring a bag, please ensure that it is no bigger than A4 sized 8.27”x11.69”. There is a limit to one A4 sized bag per person permitted into the Arena.You and your bag maybe subject to a search upon entering the campsites and arena. CCTV is in operation throughout the festival site. Please be patient if there are longer queues than normal. We request that you cooperate with any security requests and searches.

You and your bag maybe subject to a search upon entering the campsites and arena. CCTV is in operation throughout the festival site. Please be patient if there are longer queues than normal. We request that you cooperate with any security requests and searches.

Footy / Run Clubs

Book your slot for 5-a-side at Reading 26!

Secure your slot on the 5-a-side pitch by completing the form HERE.

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Times:

Thursday – 10am – 8pm

Friday - 10am – 1pm

Sat - 10am – 1pm

Sun - 10am – 1pm

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Run club:

5K Route starting and ending at Green Fields AIRHUB 2 - Just turn up and join!

Thursday - 10am - 5pm

Friday - 10am

Saturday - 10am

Sunday - 10am

Zero Tolerance Policy

At Pepsi MAX presents Reading Festival, we are committed tocreating a space where everyone feels welcome, valued, and safe. We operate astrict zero-tolerance policy towards any form of harassment,discrimination, or violence.

Anyone failing to comply will be evicted from the festival.

We encourage everyone to look out for each other and speak up if something doesn’t feel right. If you see or experience inappropriate behaviour, report it to festival staff, security, or your nearest AIR Hub.

Let’s work together to ensure Pepsi MAX presents Reading Festival is a space where everyone can enjoy themselves in an environment builton respect and inclusion.

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Lost Property

We hope it doesn’t, but if your phone goes for a walk over the weekend, make the situation the best you can by writing down your IMEI number for your phone – on a piece of paper, not in your phone’s notes! – and, if you have an iPhone, install the Find My iPhone app in advance. This will really improve the chances of us reuniting you with your phone.

Not sure how to find your IMEI number? It depends on your phone, but Google has a long list of helpful articles to point you in the right direction.

If you have a lost property enquiry after the event, please fill out this form Foundbase - Lost property services

Please Note – lost property can be retrieved within 28 days post show.

Eviction Information

The Event is produced for the enjoyment of all attendees. We reserve the right to evict anyone from site for the reasons outlined below. The decision whether to evict will be at the discretion of the Eviction Team / Security Coordinator following advice from security personnel.

Reasons for eviction:

Entering or being inside the Event without a ticket or relevant pass/ wristband;
Unacceptable and or disruptive and or anti-social and or criminal behaviour; *
Having been arrested or cautioned in connection with a criminal offence.

* Unacceptable and / or disruptive and or anti-social and or criminal behaviour that can lead to eviction includes but is not limited to:

activity that would amount to criminal offending (even if no arrest occurs);
breaching the terms and conditions of entry;
failing to submit to a search as a condition of entry:
harassing or causing distress to staff or other attendees including (but not limited to) sexual harassment, discrimination, abusive behaviour, and offensive language;
filming or photographing staff and other event attendees in a manner likely to constitute harassment or cause distress
throwing any objects in the direction of people or Event property;
inciting or procuring or encouraging others to behave badly or criminally;
preventing or attempting to prevent security or emergency responders (including the Police, Ambulance or Fire services) reacting or responding to a situation;
building or fueling fires including throwing gas canisters onto fires;
being in possession of illegal drugs;
unofficially selling alcohol, tobacco, counterfeit goods or any other unauthorised goods;
ticket touting;
any other behaviour that leaves the Event (including organisations working at the Event) open to prosecution or is not conducive to maintaining a safe Event.

We reserve the right to refuse entry to, and/or to evict from the Event, any ticket holder who we become aware is subject to notification requirements set out in the Sexual Offences Act 2003, or who has been convicted of any sexual offence, or any offence relating to public disorder, violence, abuse or criminal damage, or who is subject to a Community Protection Notice (CPN) or Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).

A comprehensive and robust safeguarding assessment will be undertaken. In the event that a safeguarding concern is identified, appropriate support will be provided, which could include, but is not limited to, engagement with relevant statutory partners.
All evictees will be processed via Eviction Team / Security Coordinator, and their wristbands / tickets will be removed to prevent them from re-entering the Event.
All persons presented for eviction by security will be interviewed by the Eviction Team / Security Coordinator who are independent of security, and their details will be recorded in a database with their full personal details, date and time and the reasons for eviction. A photograph may also be taken.
All evictees will be able to make a free telephone call if they do not have a mobile phone to contact members of their group and/or family.
Evictees will need to phone a friend at the Event to collect their belongings before their eviction as they will not be permitted back into the Event to find them. We will not be responsible for ensuring that they leave the Event with their belongings.
Evictees will receive a letter detailing the eviction process.
As part of the eviction process, we may process your personal data for purposes as detailed herein and for compliance with legal obligations and to protect the vital interests of festival goers and staff. You can find more information on how we process your data in our Privacy Policy.
Evictees are liable to receive a life time ban from purchasing tickets or working/volunteering for any LNE / FR Events.

Campsite Programming