Festival season is in full swing, and it’s time to go too far with the glitter, stock up on your favourite tinned cocktails and get ready. In lieu of Glastonbury, London’s day festivals are having a real moment – prized for providing the joy and atmosphere of a five day event, without the tents, mud or week-long hangover.
While some of the most popular, like Mighty Hoopla, may have already come and gone for 2026, there are still plenty to look forward to – including BST Hyde Park, with Maroon 5, Mumford & Sons, Pitbull and Lewis Capaldi. Elsewhere, All Points East is still yet to come, with a line-up featuring Lorde, Tyler: The Creator, Deftones, and Jorja Smith. Coinciding with his residency at Wembley, Harry Styles’ Meltdown festival is also in the calendar.
While all these events may only be a single day, what you pack can make all the difference. Beyond the obvious (comfortable shoes and a raincoat – this is Britain, after all), it’s the smaller, smarter essentials that often decide whether the day runs smoothly or not.
We’ve all been tempted to order a sparkly top last minute and call it a plan, but experience says otherwise. Forget the right kit, and you’ll feel it quickly. Get it right, though, and suddenly a good festival is an epic one. Here’s our list of day festival essentials to get you there.
Ambre Solaire super UV over makeup face mist SPF50+
First things first – SPF. It might not be the most exciting thing in your festival bag, but it’s arguably the most important. Whether you’re dancing in blazing sunshine or queueing for your favourite food truck, you’ll be spending hours outdoors, so keeping your sun protection topped up is a must. The Ambre Solaire super UV over makeup face mist SPF50+ makes the job effortless. With an ultra light, invisible finish, it can be sprayed straight over makeup, meaning you can reapply throughout the day without disturbing your look.
Buy now £9.33, Boots.com
M&S USB travel fan
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For just £10, this fan is one of those festival essentials you’ll be glad you packed. Available in black, neutral, navy and khaki, there’s a pick to go with every look. Slim enough to slip into a handbag, yet powerful enough to provide welcome relief when the crowds and temperatures start to climb, it strikes the perfect balance between practical and stylish.
Buy now £10.00, Marksandspencer.com
Jimmy Fairly the Elvie sunglasses
No festival outfit is complete without a great pair of sunglasses. Equal parts practical and stylish, they’re one of the hardest working items you'll pack. Jimmy Fairly rarely drops the ball on great style, and the Elvie is a particularly strong contender. Available in a range of colours, from classic tortoiseshell to butter yellow, these streamlined oval frames suit most face shapes.
Buy now £135.00, Jimmyfairly.com
Iniu smallest power bank
Don’t let its compact size fool you. This pocket friendly power bank from Iniu packs a serious punch, delivering up to 75 per cent charge in just 25 minutes. Measuring just 4.5 inches, it’s one of the smallest 20,000mAh power banks around, yet still has enough capacity to fully charge a smartphone up to four times. Fear not, you’ll get the content after all.
Buy now £28.00, Amazon.co.uk
Juno & Pip special assistance charm
You may have spotted Juno & Pip popping up on your Instagram feed over the past few months, with the brand already being worn by the likes of Rosie Fortescue, Saff Michaelis and Laura Coleman. Known for its personalised letter charms and bespoke accessories, once you’ve got one, you’ll want them all.
Particularly useful for festivals is the brand’s safe and seen range, designed to clearly communicate important medical, dietary and accessibility needs in a subtle but stylish way. Each charm is thoughtfully made so the right people notice. If you’re feeling a little nervous about heading to a festival, it’s a small but reassuring addition you won’t want to be without.
Buy now £25.00, Junoandpip.com
Uniqlo round mini shoulder bag
Every festival goer needs a trusty bag, and Uniqlo’s crossbody has become a bit of a cult favourite for good reason, and can be worn as a crossbody or as a handbag thanks to the adjustable strap. It might look compact, but there’s a surprising 4L of storage inside, with clever side tucks and internal pockets to keep everything in check. And if the weather turns, it’s got you covered too, repelling light rain to keep your essentials safe and dry.
Buy now £12.90, Uniqlo.com
Anthropologie oversized stripe scrunchie
A fail safe scrunchie is a festival essential, and you’ll be glad of it when you’re dancing all day and want your hair out of your face. This ruffled, cotton striped design from Anthropologie has British summer written all over it.
Buy now £20.00, Anthropologie.com
Fieldbar mini bar and swing sling
The Fieldbar mini bar and swing sling might just be the ultimate festival upgrade. Designed for one, it’s small enough to carry easily, yet still holds up to (and chill) six cans or four bottles, ideal for long days in the fields. It’s a bit of an investment, but one that’ll take through this festival season and into many more to come. Think of it as a stylish option to saving on overpriced cans of Aperol Spritz. With playful colourways like turquoise, tangerine, navy, cream and forest green, it’s as fun as it is functional.
Buy now £159.00, Harrods.com
Pleasing x Loop experience 2
Loop Earplugs have teamed up with Harry Styles’ brand Pleasing for a limited edition festival ready collaboration. The collection includes a vivid blue inspired by the intensity of live sound and a soft pink to reflect the emotion of being in the crowd.
Designed to protect your hearing without taking you out of the moment, they capture the feeling of live music as much as they preserve it. And if you’re heading to Harry Styles’ Meltdown Festival this month, they’ll have their perfect first outing in the crowd.
Buy now £34.95, Loopearplugs.com
Lisa Eldridge velatura balm dewy lip and cheek stick
Lisa Eldridge’s new lip and cheek sticks feel made for festival season. They glide on effortlessly, melting into the skin for a soft, sheer wash of colour that still manages to last through the day. The range comes in five wearable shades, from reds and pinks to peach tones, delivering buildable pigment that never feels overdone – which is ideal when you’re topping up on the move without a mirror in sight.
Buy now £27.00, Spacenk.com
Ateljé sunlight phone cord
Ever had that feeling that your phone isn’t where it should be, or can’t stop checking your bag to make sure it’s still there? Well, you need a phone cord. Ateljé’s butter yellow, extra long cord, which is made of recycled materials, is the key to keeping your phone safe, and to hand during festival season. Plus, your phone will be right there when your favourite headliner takes to the stage.
Buy now £11.00, Shopatelje.com
Frank Green ceramic reusable bottle
No one wants to be paying £6 for a bottle of water at a festival, so bringing your own is an absolute essential. With refill stations dotted around, there’s no need to lug a huge bottle, just something compact that keeps your drink cold all day.
Frank Green’s 355ml ceramic reusable bottle does exactly that, with triple-wall vacuum insulation to keep water icy right to the last sip. The ceramic lining also means your water stays tasting fresh, without a metallic aftertaste. Plus, you can customise it with different lid options (grip, straw or flip straw) and a handy strap that clips straight onto your shorts or bag.
Buy now £30.00, Frankgreen.com
