“You can’t spend your whole life waiting for people to do things with you,” Jessica Williams tells me. She’s a harm reduction researcher and lecturer in criminology and drug policy at Manchester Metropolitan University – and she’s also a seasoned solo festival goer. “I quickly realised that me and my friends had different music tastes, I wanted to go to different events and different festivals, and I wanted someone to do that with… so I decided to go alone and meet like-minded people along the way.” 

She’s not alone: last year, a survey by Ticketmaster found that the number of people who have attended either a weekend or day festival by themselves has risen from 8 per cent in 2019 to 29 per cent in 2025. The main reasons were because they had a particular interest in a specific genre of music. For others, meeting new people, having flexibility and spending time alone were their main motivators.

Whether it’s navigating a week-long expedition to the sunny shores of Europe or a quick day festival in your nearest city, if you’re going it alone for your first time – or even your fifth – it can be daunting. Here’s the Dazed guide to your first solo festival. 

FIND YOUR PEOPLE

The main advice for going to a festival alone is to find your people. Whether you want to find a group to embed in for the entire festival, hop from group to group – or even if you’re seeking some extended solitude – the best thing to do is to meet as many people as you can, and meet them early.

“You want to find people who will look out for you,” Dr Karenza Moore, a researcher of club culture and recreational drug use at Newcastle University. “So it’s a good idea to find your tribe and take every opportunity to talk to people, because, generally speaking, people at festivals are especially lovely.”

For Williams, whose main motivation for attending festivals is meeting new people, suggests volunteering. “That’s the best way to meet the most people at one time, and you also get groups volunteering together for the cheaper ticket.” She also suggests meeting people at workshops, which tend to be more intimate spaces, as well as on the dancefloor. “There’s lots going on beyond the music, so explore the whole space, and create a family based on all the connections you make.” She continues: “Speak to anyone and everyone; intoduce yourself to people you’re camped near, build rapport with traders and volunteers – the earlier the better.”

PITCH YOUR TENT IN A VISIBLE SPOT

If you’re camping alone, think strategically about where you pitch your tent. “I’d advise staying near to the main thoroughfare, the toilets and the entrance,” says Moore. “Just so that you’re in a space that’s more visible.”

These spots are likely to have more security nearby and more people, plus you’ll limit your time wandering alone trying to find your tent if you have to run to the portaloos at night. While there are advantages to tucking yourself away, like sleeping away from the noise, you’d rather be somewhere with more light and more people. “It probably reduces the possibility of something happening, and if something did, then at least you’re going to be quite close to getting help,” says Moore.

Find your tribe and take every opportunity to talk to people, because, generally speaking, people at festivals are especially lovely

KEEP YOUR VALUABLES ON YOU – INCLUDING A PHONE

Maybe it’s obvious, but make sure to keep your valuables on you. This is particularly important if you’re alone: the last thing you want is to be in a strange place with no phone, no passport or no money. “Try to keep your ID and any other valuables in your person, rather than leaving them in your tent,” says Moore. “Get a nice bumbag, or clothes with pockets – you can do it without ruining your outfit.”

In the same vein, it’s important to stay contactable. While it might be tempting to take a dumbphone to the festival, if you’re going solo, Moore advises keeping your usual phone. “That way you’ve got all your contacts and everything else, like your bank card and your tickets.” She also suggests letting people at home know when you’ve arrived and when you’re leaving. You might even want to share your location with a trusted friend or family members, so they know you’re safe. 

DON’T PICK UP ON-SITE

Try not to use substances to feel more confident, and be extra aware of your consumption. “Being alone at a festival, you might feel you might feel a little bit more nervous, a little bit more shy, and I think the temptation there could be maybe to have an extra drink when you don’t normally, or maybe have a spliff when you're not much of a smoker,” says Moore.

If you’re alone, you might not have someone to carry you back to the tent if you overdo it, and while people are genuinely kind and helpful, it’s not worth relying on that. “Check out the welfare zone when you’re still sober,” says Moore. This might be vital if you overdo it later in the festival.

She also recommends not buying any substances inside the festival. “Particularly if it’s quite a big dance festival. Definitely do not buy all the rubbish that people inside will be selling,” she says. If you do, take a testing kit with you, or see if the festival has its own testing facility. Don’t chance it; especially if you’re alone. And, while you’re at it, bring some electrolytes with you, especially in the heat.

BE CALM AT SECURITY

Navigating security can be a litte different when you’re alone. As Moore states, it can be a lot stricter for men, especially men of colour, particularly when they are alone. “You might be questioned more at the door, or be subjected to a stricter search,” says Moore. “So just have that in mind when you’re navigating security.”

Moore suggests being extra careful, but also remaining calm and respectful if those scenarios do arise – “even if it’s hard”.

KNOW HOW YOU’RE GETTING HOME

While it’s easy to get lost in the haze of dancing and chatting, don’t forget about getting home – especially at a day festival. It’s a good idea to plan your route home before you even arrive at the festival, just in case your phone dies and you can’t find the way. Moore suggests leaving early to beat the rush too. “It’s often a massive madness trying to get Ubers or taxis,” she says. “So leave around half an hour early or have a plan, like a parent, friend or partner picking you up.”

But most of all, go at your own pace and, importantly, have fun! Festivals are intense, but they aren’t supposed to be difficult. So relax, and listen to your body, and take it all in.