What to Bring to a Music Festival: A Packing List

By the Good Seats editorial teamUpdated October 1, 2026How we research

The core festival packing list

For a day at a music festival, bring a valid photo ID, your wristband or mobile ticket, a charged phone with a portable battery, an empty reusable water bottle or hydration pack, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, earplugs, comfortable broken-in shoes and a light rain layer, all in a bag that meets the festival's size rules. Add a payment card, since many festivals are cashless, and a small amount of anything personal you cannot buy inside.

That list covers most single-day trips. Everything else depends on three things that vary from festival to festival: the bag policy, the weather and whether you are camping. Policies change every year, so treat the examples below as a guide to what to look for, dated to the 2026 season, and check the festival's current rules before you pack.

Start with the bag policy

The bag is the item most likely to get you turned away at the gate, and festival bag rules differ far more than stadium rules do. As of 2026:

Lollapalooza: clutches and fanny packs of 6 by 9 inches or smaller need not be clear but may have only one pocket; any larger bag must be clear and smaller than 12 by 6 by 12 inches.
Coachella: bags must be 18 by 13 by 8.5 inches or smaller, and all bags are searched.
Ultra Music Festival: only clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags no larger than 13 by 17 inches, plus a small hand-sized clutch. Backpacks are not allowed.
New Orleans Jazz Fest: small bags, totes, backpacks and cinch bags up to 17 by 12 by 10 inches; no rolling suitcases or duffels.
Lights All Night: small single-compartment bags up to 12 by 12 inches and fanny packs up to 10 by 9 inches.

The safest all-purpose choice is a clear bag of about 12 by 6 by 12 inches or a small single-pocket fanny pack. That combination clears most festivals and most stadiums. For more on clear-bag rules, see Stadium Bag Policies.

Water and hydration packs

Nearly every festival lets you bring an empty container and fill it inside, and nearly every festival bans filled outside drinks beyond a single sealed water bottle. The details are where people get caught:

Coachella: plastic water bottles of 64 ounces or less and plastic hydration packs of 2 liters or less; no metal, glass or aluminum bottles, according to the 2026 FAQ.
Lollapalooza: hydration packs are allowed if emptied of liquid, with no more than two main compartments and one small one; empty reusable, plastic or aluminum bottles are allowed.
Ultra Music Festival: hydration packs are allowed if they are not backpacks, and an extra compartment big enough to hold a paperback book will be refused.
Lights All Night: hydration packs need a removable, transparent bladder that arrives empty; free refill stations are on site.
Electric Forest: reusable bottles and hydration packs must be empty at entry.

A hydration pack is worth bringing to any daytime summer festival. It holds more water than a bottle, keeps your hands free and doubles as your bag, provided it meets the compartment rules.

Dress and pack for the weather

Most festivals run rain or shine, and the weather shapes the rest of your list:

Desert heat and cold nights: Coachella's April weekends in Indio bring hot afternoons and a real temperature drop after dark. Bring a light layer for the evening and a bandana or mask for the dust that blows across the polo fields.
Southern summer storms: Bonnaroo's own packing list in Tennessee calls for rain gear, mud boots, extra shoes, a hoodie for cool nights, a hat, a bandana and plenty of sunscreen.
City park rain: Lollapalooza bans umbrellas, so a packable rain jacket or poncho is the answer.
Spring sun in New Orleans: Jazz Fest allows handheld umbrellas up to 63 inches, useful for shade, and recommends lightweight clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
Humid March in Miami: Ultra Music Festival calls for sunscreen and a light rain layer that still fits the clear-bag rule.
Winter nights: Lights All Night in Dallas runs December 30 and 31, so dress for a cold entry line even if the main stages are indoors.

Footwear matters more than anything else you wear. Expect to walk miles on grass, dirt or pavement over a long day. Closed-toe shoes you have already broken in beat new boots or sandals.

What to leave at home

Prohibited lists vary, but a core set of items is banned almost everywhere: glass, weapons of any kind (including pocket knives and self-defense sprays at Ultra), drones, professional cameras, fireworks and illegal drugs. Beyond that, check these festival-specific rules:

Chairs and blankets: Coachella allows chairs only in the campgrounds, and Lollapalooza bans chairs, blankets, sheets and towels in the venue. Jazz Fest, by contrast, allows single collapsible chairs and stools.
Totems and signs: Coachella bans signs, including items on poles or pool noodles, and Lollapalooza bans totems and flag poles. Lights All Night allows lightweight totems under 10 feet with no metal or sharp points.
Outside food: usually banned in the venue, though Jazz Fest allows snacks and small soft coolers.
Umbrellas: banned at Coachella and Lollapalooza, allowed in limited sizes at Jazz Fest.

If an item is not clearly allowed, leave it in the car, the campsite or at home. A confiscated item is gone for the day, and a long walk back to a parking lot can cost you a set.

Extra gear for camping festivals

Camping turns a packing list into a gear list. Bonnaroo's packing list is a good model for any camping festival:

Shelter: a tent, sleeping bag or bed, a tarp and a shade structure for your campsite.
Light: a lantern, flashlight or headlamp, with extra batteries.
Water and food: a cooler, refillable water jugs and reusable bottles.
Comfort: camp chairs and a table.
Practical extras: biodegradable trash bags, backup toilet paper, a flag or balloon to mark your campsite and an extra set of car keys kept on you.

Camping rules differ sharply. As of 2026, Coachella banned generators and open flames in its campgrounds and limited propane stoves to two burners; Bonnaroo allowed portable grills and generators smaller than 4 kW; Electric Forest banned grills and generators and limited campers to beer and wine within per-person limits. Read the current camping rules before you buy a generator or a grill for the trip.

Phone, payment and staying connected

Your phone is your ticket, your wallet, your map and your way to find friends, and festival crowds drain batteries fast as phones hunt for a signal. Bring a fully charged portable battery and a short cable. Lights All Night rents lockers with optional phone charging.

Payment: many festivals have gone cashless. New Orleans Jazz Fest booths take cards and mobile payments only, and several Palm Tree Music Festival stops are cashless.
Wristband setup: Coachella requires wristband registration in its app before you arrive. Do it at home, not in the entry line.
Re-entry: know the rule before you leave the grounds. As of 2026, Lollapalooza allowed two additional re-entries after your first entry, Bonnaroo allowed unlimited re-entry to its main venue during the day, and Ultra and Lights All Night allowed none.
A meeting point: pick a fixed landmark with your group in case phones fail.
Earplugs: reusable musician's earplugs cut volume without muffling the music, and they fit in a pocket.

For a broader checklist that also covers arena and stadium shows, see First Concert Tips. For the ticket side of planning, see Music Festival Tickets Explained.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring a backpack to a music festival?

It depends on the festival. As of 2026, New Orleans Jazz Fest allowed small backpacks, while Ultra Music Festival banned them and Lollapalooza required larger bags to be clear and under 12 by 6 by 12 inches.

Can I bring water into a music festival?

Most festivals allow empty reusable bottles and empty hydration packs, and some allow one sealed water bottle. Fill up at the refill stations inside.

Are chairs allowed at music festivals?

Usually not in the venue. Coachella allows chairs only in the campgrounds and Lollapalooza bans them, while New Orleans Jazz Fest allows single collapsible chairs.

Do I need cash at a music festival?

Often not. Many festivals, including New Orleans Jazz Fest, are cashless and take cards and mobile payments, so bring a card and a charged phone.

What should I bring to a camping festival?

Add a tent, sleeping bag, shade structure, headlamp with spare batteries, cooler, water jugs, camp chairs, trash bags and a flag to mark your site, then check the festival's rules on generators and grills.

What to Bring to a Music Festival