Europe is rich with music festivals that continue to keep their respective cultures rich and alive, drawing music lovers from across the globe to enjoy community and exciting artists.
Tomorrowland, Glastonbury, Primavera Sound Barcelona and many others call this continent their home, and each offer something for fans of diverse genres. Recently, Primavera Sound even mixed things up by splitting itself into two separate music festivals in Barcelona and Madrid in a one-off version similar to the much-loved Reading and Leeds festivals in the UK.
The host of gargantuan events with amazing lineups spells a busy 2025 for any festival-goer, mainly as organisers aim to outdo their previous seasons and accommodate bigger crowds. In 2023, the Hurricane Festival in Germany was one of the highest-grossing in the world selling 233,000 tickets. There’s a lot to contend with when attending these successful festivals, including throngs of strangers, the sun (if you’re lucky), various other weather events, and even unexpected health emergencies.
Preparation will help you easily tackle every European music festival, so pack these essentials and enjoy the music.
Sunglasses
Outdoor music festivals can expose you to plenty of sun, even when there are tents and designated performance areas. The largest dance and music events prefer outdoor settings because they offer a bigger audience capacity and give artists more freedom to set up their stages. Your biggest concern here is getting hit with glare and UV radiation, which makes it harder to see the act you bought tickets for (particularly during the day) and puts your vision at risk.
It’s harmful to believe that Europe won’t have UV indexes as high as tropical countries because many countries known for festivals see very high levels of UVA and UVB rays in different seasons. For example, Germany hits very high UV levels at index nine during the summer, requiring you to wear eyewear to protect from eye pain, blurred vision, and impairment. Festival-goers may have more luck with clip-on sunglasses, as they give you an easy way to switch between daytime and nighttime. The polarised lenses from Foster Grant’s collection reduce glare from both the sun and reflective surfaces exacerbated by bright festival lights and can offer better contrast for huge events that tend to have multiple light sources, even at night.
If you don’t need vision correction or you’re just attending daytime sets, you can go for regular sunglasses as long as they have a legitimate UV400 label and good build quality.
Weather-Appropriate Layers
European weather can flip without warning, so be ready for anything. Pack breathable, lightweight clothes for sunny daytime dancing, but don’t forget a hoodie or fleece for when the sun dips. Nights can get surprisingly chilly, even in summer. A compact rain poncho or waterproof jacket is non-negotiable—because nothing kills festival vibes faster than being soaked to the bone during your favourite act.
Backpack
A dependable daypack is your festival lifeline. Choose something lightweight, with enough space for water, snacks, a rain jacket, and whatever else you can’t live without for the day. Multiple compartments keep you organized, and a water-resistant design means your gear stays safe if the weather turns. Look for adjustable straps to keep it comfy while you’re on the move.
Comfortable Footwear
Your shoes will make or break your festival experience, so choose wisely. Go for sturdy, broken-in sneakers or boots that can handle endless walking, unexpected mud, and intense dancing. Add a pair of lightweight sandals or flip-flops for lounging around the campsite or showering. Comfort beats style when blisters are on the line, but if you can rock both, even better.
Sanitiser
Music festivals expose you to crowds, dirt, and questionable hygiene. The infamous ‘festival flu’ often strikes after long days of drinking, exhaustion, and close contact, leading to symptoms like sneezing, coughing, and fever. Keeping hand sanitiser handy is your first line of defense, especially when using public toilets, drink stations, or sharing snacks. For air travel, TSA allows 100ml containers in hand luggage—brands like Purell and Health Guard are reliable choices. Stay clean to stay healthy.
Sunscreen
As previously mentioned, music festivals tend to expose you to lots of sun and high UV levels. So, you shouldn’t go without sunscreen if you want to protect your skin against sunburn, skin cancer, and premature aging. You should generally go for at least SPF50, even if it’s a cloudy or rainy day. A sweat-resistant sunscreen will be good since you will likely move a lot during the concerts.
Even if you’re relaxed during these events, the proximity to so many people increases the overall temperature of the area. Blue Lizard uses a gentle yet effective formula with shea butter, antioxidants, and vitamin E to keep the skin soft and irritant-free while blocking UV and resisting liquids.
Earplugs
Protect your ears without missing the magic. Reusable earplugs are the way to go—cheap foam ones might dull the music, but high-quality ones will save your hearing without sacrificing sound quality. They’re also a game-changer at night, muffling campsite chatter and bass thumps when you’re trying to catch some sleep. These little plugs pack a big punch when it comes to your long-term festival survival.
