Why work festivals?
Working a music festival is one of the best ways to experience live music, meet incredible people, and earn money at the same time. You get behind-the-scenes access, free entry (saving you hundreds on tickets), and the buzz of being part of something huge.
The UK has one of the richest festival scenes in the world. From the legendary Glastonbury to boutique events like Wilderness and End of the Road, there are hundreds of festivals each summer looking for staff.
Types of festival jobs
Bar staff
The most common festival role. You'll serve drinks from temporary bars across the festival site. It's fast-paced, sociable, and usually pays well (tips on top of hourly rates are common at some festivals). Long shifts during peak times, but the atmosphere is electric.
Pay: £10 to £14/hour plus tips
Experience needed: some bar experience helps but isn't always essential. Speed and a good attitude matter more.
Catering and food stalls
Working in festival food stalls, backstage catering, or crew kitchens. Roles range from cooking to serving to prep work. Hours are long during service but you often get downtime between meals.
Pay: £10 to £15/hour, sometimes with meals included
Experience needed: food hygiene certificate is often required. Kitchen experience is a plus.
Security and stewarding
SIA-licensed security roles or volunteer steward positions. Security staff manage entrances, monitor crowd safety, and handle incidents. Stewards guide people, check tickets, and help with general festival operations.
Pay: Security: £12 to £18/hour (SIA licence required). Stewards: often unpaid but get free entry and camping.
Experience needed: SIA licence for security roles. Stewarding often requires no experience.
Stage and production crew
Building stages, rigging lights, managing sound, running backstage operations. These are more specialised roles but incredibly rewarding if you're into the technical side of live events.
Pay: £12 to £25/hour depending on skill level
Experience needed: varies. Entry-level roles (stage hand, cable runner) need minimal experience. Technical roles (sound engineer, lighting designer) need qualifications.
Litter picking and site crew
Not glamorous, but essential. Site crew handle everything from setting up before the festival to cleaning up after. Litter picking during and after the event is always in demand.
Pay: £10 to £12/hour, or sometimes volunteer (free ticket + camping)
Experience needed: none. Just a willingness to get stuck in.
Campsite management
Managing camping areas, checking passes, helping festival-goers find their pitch, and dealing with any campsite issues. Usually involves early mornings and late nights.
Pay: £10 to £14/hour
Experience needed: customer service experience helpful.
Merchandise and retail
Selling band merch, festival merchandise, or working at pop-up shops on site. Less physically demanding than bar or catering work but still busy during peak times.
Pay: £10 to £12/hour plus sometimes commission
Experience needed: retail experience is a bonus.
Childcare and family areas
Larger festivals with family camping areas need childcare workers, entertainers, and activity leaders. If you have experience working with children, this can be a great fit.
Pay: £10 to £15/hour
Experience needed: DBS check usually required. Childcare qualifications are a strong advantage.
How much can you earn?
Festival work is typically short-term (3 to 7 days per event), so it's not a full-time income. But the money adds up, especially if you work multiple festivals across the summer.
Example scenario:
- 5 festivals across the summer
- Average 4 working days per festival
- Average £12/hour, 10 hours/day
- Total: 5 x 4 x 10 x £12 = £2,400
Some experienced festival workers who do the full circuit (May to September) earn £3,000 to £5,000 over the summer, plus free entry to all the events they work.
Best UK festivals to work at
Glastonbury
The big one. Working Glastonbury is a rite of passage for festival lovers. Huge demand for staff across all departments. Competition for roles is high, so apply early.
When: Late June (5 days)
Size: 200,000+ attendees
Reading and Leeds
Twin festivals running the same weekend in August. Massive lineups, big production, lots of bar and catering roles.
When: Late August bank holiday weekend
Size: 90,000+ each site
Boomtown Fair
Independent festival near Winchester with an incredible immersive theme. Known for great working conditions and a loyal returning crew.
When: August
Size: 70,000+
Download
Rock and metal festival at Donington Park. If you're into heavier music, this is the one. Consistent demand for bar and security staff.
When: June
Size: 80,000+
Wilderness
Boutique festival in Oxfordshire combining music, food, wellness, and arts. Smaller and more upmarket than the big festivals. Good for food and hospitality roles.
When: August
Size: 30,000+
Green Man
Beautiful independent festival in the Brecon Beacons, Wales. Music, literature, science, and nature. Smaller scale with a strong volunteer programme.
When: August
Size: 25,000+
Latitude
Arts and music festival in Suffolk. Family-friendly with a diverse programme. Good variety of roles available.
When: July
Size: 40,000+
How to find festival work
Direct applications
Many festivals recruit through their own websites. Check the "Work With Us" or "Volunteering" sections from February onwards.
Festival staffing agencies
Companies like Festaff, Hotbox Events, Bar Hire, and Event Staffing specialise in placing people at multiple festivals. Sign up with a few and you'll get a steady stream of opportunities.
PeakWave
Set your availability for festival season on PeakWave and add festival-related roles to your profile. Employers and event companies looking for seasonal staff will find you. Create your free profile or browse festival opportunities.
What to expect
Before the festival
You'll usually arrive 1 to 2 days before gates open for setup and briefings. This is when you meet your team, learn the layout, and get your credentials (wristband, staff pass, etc.).
During the festival
Shifts are typically 8 to 12 hours. You'll work hard during your shifts but have time off to explore the festival, watch acts, and enjoy the atmosphere. Most festivals provide staff camping areas (separate from the public, usually quieter and with better facilities) and at least one hot meal per shift.
After the festival
Some roles require staying for breakdown: dismantling bars, clearing litter, packing up equipment. This usually adds 1 to 2 days and is paid.
What to bring
- Wellies (essential, even in summer)
- Tent and sleeping bag
- Warm layers (nights are cold, even in July)
- Waterproof jacket
- Torch/headtorch
- Phone charger (portable battery pack)
- Cash (card machines can be unreliable on site)
- Sun cream and hat (optimistic but necessary)
Festival work as a stepping stone
Many people start with festival work and move into full-time event industry careers. The skills you build (working under pressure, teamwork, customer service, adaptability) transfer directly to other seasonal roles and beyond.
Festival work also pairs brilliantly with other seasonal work. A winter ski season followed by a summer of festivals is a popular combination on PeakWave.
Ready to get started? Create your profile on PeakWave and set your availability for festival season.