The Ultimate Festival Packing List 2026
Summer 2026 is shaping up to be the best festival season yet, and if Boardmasters is on your radar, you're going to want to read this. Whether you're heading to Newquay for the surf, sun and live music, or counting down to your next weekend on a field. We've pulled together the ultimate festival packing list for 2026, from outfit picks straight out of the HL London festival collection to the practical essentials that'll keep you going from first act to last.
The Outfits: What to Pack for a Festival in 2026
The festival outfit brief hasn't changed: it needs to look incredible, survive the elements and keep up with you from afternoon sets to late-night stages. Here's how we'd build yours.
The Hero Look
Start with a going-out set that does the heavy lifting. Our Belle Top paired with the Sophia Skirt is the combination of the season - a fitted top, a flowy skirt, and instant festival energy. Layer the brown disc belt over the top to cinch the waist and add that bit of Western detail that's everywhere right now. It's effortless, it photographs beautifully and it works from the main stage all the way through to the campsite bar.
The Day Two Look
Give yourself a second outfit that's just as strong. Think a co-ord from our festival collection - a matching set takes the guesswork out of getting ready when your phone is dead and there's no mirror in sight. Our top pick is the ‘Chelsey’ sarong and cape co ord. Perfect for the beach into the cooler nights. Available in black, burgundy, white, beige, stone and chocolate.
The Cover-Up
Evenings at Boardmasters can get cool, especially down on the coast. Pack a lightweight jacket or a crochet cardigan over the top of whatever you're wearing - something that looks intentional rather than thrown on as an afterthought.
The Footwear: Why Cowboy Boots Are Your Best Festival Investment
We'd never send you into a festival in heels, but we will absolutely send you in cowboy boots. Here's why they're the ultimate festival footwear:
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They're practical. A good pair of cowboy boots will handle uneven terrain, light mud and hours of standing far better than trainers, and infinitely better than sandals.
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They're versatile. Wear them with a skirt, with shorts, with jeans - they go with everything in the festival wardrobe.
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They look the part. The Western aesthetic has been building for a couple of seasons now and at a festival like Boardmasters, where style is part of the whole experience, cowboy boots are a statement.
Sshhh.. Break them in before you go. Wear them around the house for a week beforehand - your feet will thank you on day three.
The Accessories: Finishing the Look
Accessories at a festival aren't just aesthetic, they're functional. Here's what to pack:
Cowboy hat: The single best thing you can pack for a sunny festival. It keeps the sun off your face, it instantly elevates any outfit and it costs you nothing in terms of packing space. Shop our festival accessories edit to find the right one.
Disc belt / waist belt: Our brown disc belt works over everything: dresses, co-ords, oversized shirts. Pack it.
Layered jewellery: Necklaces, rings, ear cuffs. Festival dressing is one of the few times more is genuinely more. Go for pieces that won't snag or stress you out if they get a bit battered.
Small crossbody bag: Keeps your hands free, keeps your essentials close. Non-negotiable.
Hair clips and scrunchies: When it's hot, you'll want your hair off your face. Pack more than you think you need - they disappear.
The Practical Packing List
Style sorted, now the essentials that actually keep a festival weekend going smoothly:
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Dry shampoo: Pack two. One for the tent, one in your bag.
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Baby wipes: The festival currency. Cleanse, refresh, clean surfaces, remove glitter. They do everything.
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Sun cream: Boardmasters is on the Cornish coast and the sun is no joke. SPF 50, in your bag at all times.
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Portable phone charger: Charge it before you leave and keep it in your crossbody. You will need it.
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Waterproof layer: It's the UK. Even at the height of summer, pack a lightweight waterproof that folds small.
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Trainers or wellies as a backup: If the weather turns, you'll want an alternative to your boots. A pair of compact wellies or waterproof trainers takes up one bag pocket.
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Reusable water bottle: Most festivals have free water refill points. This saves you money and time.
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Small first aid kit: Plasters especially. Festival footwear means blisters, no matter how prepared you are.
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Cash: Some traders are card only, some are cash only. Take both.
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Glitter: Optional but highly recommended. Biodegradable only, please.
Packing for Boardmasters Specifically
Boardmasters sits right on the edge of Newquay, which means coastal breezes, salt air, sandy ground and changeable weather even in August. A few things to keep in mind:
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Layers are essential. The afternoons are warm but evenings cool down quickly by the sea. Your cowboy boots and a jacket will work harder here than anywhere else.
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Sand gets everywhere. Pack a small zip-top bag to keep your phone, charger and valuables in.
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The site is hilly. Comfortable footwear really does matter - which is another point in the cowboy boots column.
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It's a weekend away, not just a day out. Give yourself an outfit per day plus a backup. Boardmasters is worth being properly prepared for.
Shop the Festival Edit
Everything we've mentioned is live now in our festival collection. We're dressing some of our favourite people for Boardmasters this year and the looks are already coming together. Stay tuned for outfit inspo across our Instagram and TikTok, and if you're heading there too, you know where to find us.
Shop the full HL London festival collection now and get your look sorted before it sells out. ☀️🤠
