Get ready for Roskilde Festival. We guide you through camping life, feeling safe, what to pack, the food, and your first encounter with the music.
New to the festival? Or do you just want a clearer idea of how it all works? This page is for you.
If you are not a seasoned Roskilde-goer, it is completely normal to have questions such as:
What should I pack? Can I find a spot for my tent? Is it easy to find my way around? And what does it feel like to be there with so many other people?
Here you will find answers to the things many people want to know, both when they are considering buying a ticket and as the festival gets closer.
The campsite is like a temporary city. You share it with others, but you also have your own place where you can retreat.
Your first impression can feel big, with lots of people, tents and new impressions all at once. But most people find that it quickly becomes more manageable once they have found their area and got a sense of the rhythm.
For some, the campsite is where they relax, play games and take breaks between concerts. For others, it is where a lot of the festival happens. There is room for both. There is life around you, but that does not mean noise and activity all the time.
Camping is divided into four types:
- Regular Camping, where you find a spot for your own tent
- Special Camping, where you can choose special facilities and pre-booked solutions
- Community Camping, where you stay in communities built around shared interests or activities
- Volunteer Camping, where volunteers stay alongside others who are also part of running the festival
In the campsite, you will find toilets, showers and water points. There are also food stalls and small shops, so you can sort out many practical things close to your camp.
You will also find places where you can sit down and take a break. During the day, many people gather by Badesøen and Fiskesøen.
There are many ways to get to Roskilde Festival by train, bus, bike or car. We recommend using public transport, and there are connections to several entrances in both West and East, depending on where you are staying.
If you arrive by car, you can use drop-off close to the festival. If you want to park, you need to buy parking in advance in our shop.
See our guide to all arrival options
Early Entry gives you access to the campsite before the official opening. It is especially relevant if you:
want to arrive early and avoid queues
plan to stay in Regular Camping and want a better chance of choosing a spot
are arriving with a group and want to set up camp together
want plenty of time to settle in before the festival opens
Yes. Many people go to Roskilde Festival alone, more than you might think.
It can feel like a big step beforehand, especially if you are travelling from another country. But it is often easier to meet people once you are there. It might happen in the camp, in the queue for food, at a concert or in the shared areas.
If you are going alone, it makes sense to be a little extra aware of your belongings and your surroundings, just as you would when travelling alone. Keep your most important things close to you, and ask volunteers or staff if you need help.
You can also consider becoming a volunteer. It is a good way to meet other festival-goers and become part of a community from the start.
In several camping areas, especially in Community Camping, shared activities are organised, making it easier to meet new people.
If you are an international guest, you can also visit Roskilde Road Trip. It is a Community Camping area for people travelling to the festival from abroad who want to be part of an international festival community. Applications for camping in the area are closed, but you can still go there, meet other international festival-goers and get a sense of the community.
There is no single right answer, but some things will make the festival easier.
The most important things are a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, clothes for different weather, waterproofs or a rain poncho, and good shoes. You can also rent camping gear such as a tent, sleeping bag and camping chair from us. It will be ready when you arrive, so you do not have to carry it all from home.
Pack as you would for a trip: toiletries, sunscreen, a towel and a small bag for your most important things when you walk around the site.
Useful extras include wet wipes, hand sanitiser, a power bank, a water bottle, duct tape, cable ties and a small first aid kit with plasters and painkillers.
Bin bags are also worth bringing. You can use them for rubbish in your camp and to keep things dry if the weather changes.
It is also a good idea to check what you are not allowed to bring before you pack, so you do not have to leave anything at the entrance.
Missing something along the way?
A lot can be bought or rented at the festival. You can also buy charging service in the shop, so you do not have to worry about your phone running out of battery. And if you want to avoid carrying heavy drinks from home, you can buy beer, and soon cider too, in the shop and pick it up when you arrive.
There are also supermarkets and shops in Roskilde town and on the route between the town and the festival if you need something along the way.
At the festival, you will also find a pharmacy sales point if you need things such as painkillers, plasters or other practical essentials.
You will find a wide range of food and drink in several places at the festival. There are stalls both in the campsite and on the Inner Site by the stages, so you can always find something to eat during the day.
The selection ranges from quick meals to dishes from different cuisines. On the festival site, you can also visit Food Court, where many stalls are gathered in one place.
Food at Roskilde Festival is based on a requirement of 100% organic produce, and you will find many vegetarian, vegan and plant-based options. All stalls must offer at least one vegetarian or vegan dish. There are also different price ranges, so you can find something that suits your budget.
Your first encounter with Roskilde Festival can feel big. There are many people arriving, signs to follow and a campsite you need to find your way into.
Here you will find answers to the questions that often come up when you arrive: where to go, how to find a spot, how to get your bearings and what to do if you are unsure.
When you arrive, follow the signs and the flow of other festival-goers into the area.
If you are staying in the campsite, continue towards the area where you need to find a spot or where you have booked a solution. If you are arriving as a group, it is a good idea to agree in advance where you are heading and to stay together along the way.
It can feel a little intense at first, but there are signs, maps and staff to help you get started.
Start by checking the camping map. If you have not bought Special Camping or secured a place in Community Camping in advance, you should head for the Regular Camping areas.
Once you enter the campsite, the task is to find a place where there is room for your tent. Your time of arrival can make a difference, and some people choose to arrive early to have more options.
If you are several people together, it can be useful to have a plan for where you are going and to keep an eye on each other along the way.
If you are unsure, it is completely normal to ask the people around you whether there is space. Many are happy to help.
If your whole group does not end up in one single spot, that is not unusual either. Many camps end up slightly split up and still spend time together throughout the festival.
Note: If you arrive after Sunday 28 June at 16:00, there may also be a chance to find space in areas that were previously reserved through Get A Place, Get A Silent Place or Get A Silent Spot. After this time, they are open to everyone, with respect for the rules that apply in the individual area.
It can feel big when you have just arrived. There are many people, areas and impressions all at once.
But the area is signposted, and you can use the map in the app to find camping areas, stages, food stalls, toilets and other facilities. This makes it easier to get your bearings and find what you are looking for.
There are also volunteers and staff throughout the area who can help you. Most people quickly find their own routes during the first day.
No. It is completely normal not to have every detail sorted before you leave.
The most important thing is that you have the basics covered: your ticket, how you are getting to the festival, which entrance to use and what you have packed.
On our Practical Info page, we keep the most important information you need before the festival in one place. You can also sign up to the newsletter, so you receive guides and important information in the lead-up to the festival.
When you are at the festival, the app is useful to have. It contains the site map, programme, updates and practical information in one place.
Once you have found your spot, your camp becomes your base. It is where you head out from into the festival, and where you return when you need to land, change pace or find your friends.
Here you will find answers to some of the things that shape everyday life at the festival: how to find your way around the large festival city, where to take breaks, how to deal with the weather and how the area fits together.
Imagine arriving in a large city with residential areas, shopping streets, venues, parks and thousands of people moving in every direction. That is how Roskilde Festival can feel on the first day.
With more than 130,000 participants, the festival is actually Denmark’s fourth-largest “city” during the festival week. The site covers around 350 football pitches, with camping areas, stages, food places, art, activities and communities spread across the area.
Luckily, most people quickly find their own routes.
There is clear signage across the whole area, and the app has a map that makes it easier to navigate between camping, stages, food areas, toilets and other facilities.
The first days mainly take place in the campsite, where you can settle in, get to know the area and experience the activities and concerts already happening during First Days.
And if you are ever unsure along the way, there are always volunteers and staff in the area who can help you find your way.
Yes. Even though the festival is full of life, there are also places where you can take a break.
You can find calmer areas, green spaces, seating and zones with a slower pace. In the campsite, many people also gather by Badesøen and Fiskesøen during the day.
When the site map is ready, you can use it to get an overview of the calmer areas and places where you can step back a little. Look for the pause button on the map. It shows you where to find more calm when you need it.
There may also be concerts and experiences with a slower pace, where you can sit down or take a break from the biggest crowds.
The days can start quietly and build in pace.
Many people begin at a slower pace, move around the site during the day and end up at concerts in the evening. Along the way, you switch between experiencing things, exploring and taking breaks.
There is no one right way to do it, and that is exactly what makes it manageable. You shape the day around what you feel like doing.
Danish summer can change quickly from bright sun and heat to rain, wind and cool evenings.
That is why it is a good idea to pack for a bit of everything, so you can be outside and get the most out of the festival whatever the weather.
Good shoes, warm clothes for the night, sunscreen, waterproofs and dry spare clothes will get you far. Around the site, you will find shade, covered areas, lounges and places where you can take a break, find shelter or meet up with friends. You can also cool off in Badesøen in Camping East during the day.
We also keep an eye on the weather and will provide updates in the app if there is a need to take special precautions in case of heavy rain, thunder or strong winds.
The most important thing is not to be worried, but to be prepared for the fact that Danish summer can do it all in one week.
Once you get going, the festival really opens up. It is not just about making it to specific concerts, but about finding your own way of being there.
Here we help you explore the programme, discover new names and work out how to experience the festival without feeling that you have to do everything.
Something is happening at Roskilde Festival almost around the clock. In addition to concerts, you can experience art, talks, films, workshops, communal meals, activities and spontaneous moments around the site and in the camping areas.
There is plenty to experience during First Days, when the campsite is full of activities, concerts and communities, even before the Inner Site opens.
Some people plan their days carefully. Others simply explore as they go. Both approaches work.
In the app, you will find the schedule with all timed activities, so you can get an overview of the programme and save the things you do not want to miss. Many of the best experiences also happen between your plans, when you come across something you were not looking for.
That is completely okay, and for many people it is a big part of the experience.
Roskilde Festival is a place where many people discover something new. The programme is put together so you can both find music you already know and be introduced to music you would not otherwise have come across.
If you want to prepare from home, you can listen to our playlists on Spotify, browse the programme, where there are often links to music and videos, and get a sense of what you might want to experience.
You can also use the app to save the things you are curious about and put together your own schedule. It gives you a good overview while still leaving room to change your plans along the way.
No, and you cannot.
A lot happens at the same time, and it is completely normal to choose some things over others. Some people make a detailed plan from home and try to see as much as possible. Others take it more as it comes.
Both approaches work. But most people find that they get more out of the festival when they also leave room for breaks and for the things that happen along the way.
At Roskilde Festival, there is room to be yourself and to be part of something bigger. It is a space for music, community and experiences. It is a place where you should be able to feel safe, no matter who you are.
When many people are gathered, there is both energy and intensity. It works because we show consideration for each other and make room for different ways of taking part.
But it can also become tiring and overwhelming. That is why we have made a guide to having a safe and secure festival, and to your role in the community.
You and all your friends play a role in making the festival safer, more fun and better for everyone.
That is why we have made a code of conduct, a set of shared guidelines for all 130,000 participants.
Roskilde Festival is about contributing to an atmosphere where everyone can be part of it, and the five guidelines help make the experience more fun, safe and respectful.
When you follow the code of conduct, you actively help take responsibility for our unique orange community.
One of the best things about concerts is that we experience them together. But when many of us gather in front of a stage, it can also become intense and very close.
The best spot is not necessarily right at the front. It is where you have the best feeling of space and community around you. That is why we have four tips for finding the best place to stand, whether you are at Orange Stage, Arena or Eos.
When we stand close together, we need to look after each other. And when the music is playing and the energy is pulsing through the crowd, Roskilde Festival is one of the most intense and euphoric places to be.
Behind both large and intimate concerts, there is extensive safety work to ensure that you and your friends can enjoy the music without worry.
Read more about here crowd safety hosts, High Energy concerts and how we work with experts in crowd management and research to create the best possible concert experiences without compromising safety.
Roskilde Festival is many things at once. Close, loud and alive, but also full of places, solutions and people that make it possible to experience the festival in different ways, and on your own terms.
If you have reduced mobility, a disability, get tired quickly, need calm surroundings or simply want to plan your festival with a little extra care, there is help available.
We have gathered five tips that are useful to keep in mind when planning the most accessible festival journey, from arrival to concerts and breaks along the way.
Orange Together is our initiative to strengthen safety, respect and community in a festival city where many people are gathered for a short time.
We launched the initiative in 2018 to prevent innappropriate behaviour as well as behaviour that crosses other people’s boundaries and to create a shared understanding of how we treat each other. The starting point was simple: the festival should be a space where you can express yourself without it affecting others negatively.
It requires both clear boundaries and shared responsibility. Today, Orange Together has become a central part of how we think about community and care.
It is not only about reacting when something goes wrong, but about creating good experiences from the start. That is why we work with knowledge, dialogue and concrete initiatives that make it easier to navigate the community and show consideration for one another.
At the festival, you will encounter Orange Together in concrete ways. This happens, among other things, through Soft Spots and activities where organisations such as Sex & Samfund, Psykiatrifonden, Mino Danmark, DareGender and Everyday Sexism Project Danmark invite you into conversations and share knowledge about wellbeing, boundaries and community.
You can drop by, take a break, take part in an activity or simply have a chat. And when you make space, look after those around you and react if something does not feel right, you help make Orange Together real.
The best way to support Orange Together is to start with the code of conduct and share it with your camp. Here you get five simple guidelines for how we look after each other and the community.
At Roskilde Festival, we make it as easy as possible to show consideration for both the site and the people around you. There are clear waste solutions and good opportunities to keep your camp tidy.
It is not about big decisions, but about the small things during the day: where you put your waste, what you take home and how you leave your camp.
Below, you can see how it works in practice and how you can easily take part.
You sort your waste at Roskilde Festival in the same way you do at home. It is simple and familiar, and it makes a big difference when so many of us are gathered.
In your camp, you use sorting bags for the different types of waste. When they are full, you hand them in at the nearest sorting points or sorting areas, which you will find in many places in the campsite.
The better we sort, the more can be recycled instead of ending up as residual waste.
Check how it works in practice and how to get started easily.
Yes. But from 2026, single-use pavilions are no longer allowed in the campsite.
You may still cover up to 9 m² in your camp. You can do this with a durable pavilion that can last a week at the festival and that you take home again.
Folding and pop-up pavilions are allowed, as they are often designed to be used again and again.
The light, white single-use pavilions, however, are no longer allowed. They often break and are left behind as waste.
If you do not want to bring a pavilion from home, you can rent one from us on site.
This is an offer, not a requirement. The most important thing is that pavilions do not end up as waste when the festival is over.
Leave the area as you found it. Simple as that.
Just as we have celebrated together, we also clean up together.
When you pack down your camp, take your equipment and belongings home with you. Tents, pavilions and gear can be used again, either by you or by someone else.
If something has broken, you can hand it in at a recycling station on site. You will find them on the map, and volunteers are happy to help if you are unsure how something should be sorted.
If you have rented equipment through the festival, return it to a Service Hub before the deadline. This means it can be used again next year.
And then there is the waste: make sure you collect it and sort it correctly before you leave. See our sorting guide.
We sort into the same categories you know from home, and when it is done properly, much more can be recycled.
When you leave your camp tidy and sorted, you help make the festival ready for next year, and we can use our resources to create even more great content at the festival.
We work concretely to reduce our climate footprint across everything from energy and food to waste and materials.
We are phasing out fossil fuels such as diesel and gas, setting requirements for stalls and suppliers, developing new solutions with partners and measuring our emissions, so we know where we can make the biggest difference.
In the guide below, you can read what we do and how it connects to the choices you make along the way.
