New Forest Folk Festival 2026

[Mark J Salt]

Agree with Nick, the holding field, although a neccesity to keep the queue off the main road, needs to be addressed as the 2-3 hour wait is spoiling what is essentially one of the finest festivals in the land. The problem (as I see it) is the pitching up, there seems no urgency, yes its all very polite and nice but when you have that number of vans and tents to get in it needs to be far more millitary, one after the other and kept moving. Between the holding field and actually getting pitched we were stopped 3 times to ask if we were camping with anyone else or with a group, most festivals tell you to meet up off site and arrive in convoy, at one stop the first question to us was simply "campervan", I was very tempted to reply "NO its a Bo-ing 747" but I bit my lip, then the van in front was sent the wrong way and had to be re-directed, at that point even the steward was starting to admit defeat, it cant be good for their morale listening to the moans. Once on the field we were stopped a final time to ask if we were wanting to camp with anyone else or with a group, by which time I'd had enough and put my foot down, once in the field we picked our own pitch (as did all the people around us) as there wasn't a steward in sight. fortunately safe gaps were left between but it could have gone horribly wrong, some even took enough space for 2 vans. Once the camping fields open there should be a non stop stream of vans with a Sargeant Major directing, Hope next year is better for those attending, we however are having a year off as the lineup didn't really do it for us, good selection of artistes, but not enough to our taste for the 500 mile round trip, hopefully back in 2028, with picnic lunch and lots of cold drinks in the fridge just in case.

[Andy]

Just so there's no doubt: the festival Q&A and the information leaflet about it and the email sent out all say that the gates open at 9:00am but the camping fields don't open until noon. Some people do conflate the two, but they are different. Currently the license for the festival camping runs from noon on Wednesday to noon on Monday, so unless that license is changed, queueing will continue for people arriving before noon and those after noon will be queueing behind the early arrivals. The Police won't let us send early arrivals around the block, fyi. I agree that the holding field is not the right solution.


A number of factors exacerbated the situation on Wednesday morning, including a fatal traffic accident on the A36 first delaying, then releasing, a high number of festivalgoers, causing us to have a massive bump in numbers at one point.

But that's no excuse. We recognise that the holding field is a temporary measure whose time has hopefully come to an end. We're working to get a better system in place for next year.

My apologies for the inconvenience caused. We're working on it.

[Mark J Salt]

Begs the question, why open at 9.00. I think it happens at most festivals if you say 7.00 people arrive at 6.00 to be at the front of the queue for a better pitch but with new forest non of the pitches are better or worse and non are too far away from the arena, why not open at 12.00 knowing people will get there at 11.00. I'm sure there has been much discussion and learning over the years and of course there will be the unexpected on the day problems to deal with but it just seems that  by telling people they can arrive at 9.00 it is compounding the problem.

[Andy]

Begs the question, why open at 9.00. I think it happens at most festivals if you say 7.00 people arrive at 6.00 to be at the front of the queue for a better pitch but with new forest non of the pitches are better or worse and non are too far away from the arena, why not open at 12.00 knowing people will get there at 11.00. I'm sure there has been much discussion and learning over the years and of course there will be the unexpected on the day problems to deal with but it just seems that  by telling people they can arrive at 9.00 it is compounding the problem.

I agree.

[Poor Will (Bill)]

In comparison, arrived on site at Wickham Festival yesterday at 12:01, on pitch at 12:06, all sorted and having first beer outside the van at 12:25!

[Nick Reg]

I think that if it wasn't for the first day problems NFFF would be the best around. Sadly for the first time for ages we haven't taken up the early bird offer . Sitting in a hot field for three hours after a five hour drive is no longer an option. I really hope they can sort it.

[Angela]

I have to agree, we purpoosely left home late, arriving on the holding field at 4pm but were still kept there for two hours, not really acceptable. Plus I've had problems with the new ticket distributers. I asked for camping on the accessible field only to be told that the organisers have now stipulated that they will not accept a blue badge as evidence of a disability, and that they require evidence of PIP or attendance allowance or a letter from a GP stating your disability. This I think is discrimination, I really don't think that a ticket selling agency should have to see evidence from your medical records. A blue badge is not easy to get and I believe should be enough evidence of a persons request for access to the accessible field.

[davidmjs]

I have to agree, we purpoosely left home late, arriving on the holding field at 4pm but were still kept there for two hours, not really acceptable. Plus I've had problems with the new ticket distributers. I asked for camping on the accessible field only to be told that the organisers have now stipulated that they will not accept a blue badge as evidence of a disability, and that they require evidence of PIP or attendance allowance or a letter from a GP stating your disability. This I think is discrimination, I really don't think that a ticket selling agency should have to see evidence from your medical records. A blue badge is not easy to get and I believe should be enough evidence of a persons request for access to the accessible field.

Outrageous!  I think you're right - I'd push back strongly....they could find themselves in all sorts of trouble if they don't change that.

[Amethyst (Jenny)]

I have to agree, we purpoosely left home late, arriving on the holding field at 4pm but were still kept there for two hours, not really acceptable. Plus I've had problems with the new ticket distributers. I asked for camping on the accessible field only to be told that the organisers have now stipulated that they will not accept a blue badge as evidence of a disability, and that they require evidence of PIP or attendance allowance or a letter from a GP stating your disability. This I think is discrimination, I really don't think that a ticket selling agency should have to see evidence from your medical records. A blue badge is not easy to get and I believe should be enough evidence of a persons request for access to the accessible field.

Agree fully Angela! We were told we needed a doctor’s letter, the surgery said no, which annoyed me. I contacted the caravan hire company and explained the situation and somehow we found ourselves moored very close to gate 4, so not far to get to the site at all, which was a surprise. Where did you end up?
It really is discrimination and very wrong.

[Lubiloo (Lorna)]

I can understand it’s upsetting, if not asked before…but I don’t think this would be seen as discrimination, it’s really for the benefit of people requiring adjustments.

A blue badge is essentially just an accessible parking permit. For wider facilities, supporting evidence can be requested, to ensure the correct facilities are allocated to the people who need them and the legally-required reasonable adjustments can be made.

At a quick Google of other festivals’ accessibility arrangements…it looks like Download and the BBC Radio Two in the Park asks for free registration with a scheme called Nimbus Access Card, which would require similar supporting evidence,  Green Man asks for PIP, DLA or GP evidence for certain accessible arrangements.

[Angela]

I can understand it’s upsetting, if not asked before…but I don’t think this would be seen as discrimination, it’s really for the benefit of people requiring adjustments.

A blue badge is essentially just an accessible parking permit. For wider facilities, supporting evidence can be requested, to ensure the correct facilities are allocated to the people who need them and the legally-required reasonable adjustments can be made.

At a quick Google of other festivals’ accessibility arrangements…it looks like Download and the BBC Radio Two in the Park asks for free registration with a scheme called Nimbus Access Card, which would require similar supporting evidence,  Green Man asks for PIP, DLA or GP evidence for certain accessible arrangements.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by 'for the benefit of people requiring adjustments '.  As far as I have seen the only adjustments given on accessible fields are that you are closer to the arena and accessible toilets and showers and in the case of Cropredy close to the scooter charging points.
People over state pension age are not able to get PIP but can get a blue badge with disabilities, physical or hidden and it is not an easy process to go through. I don't want to get into a discussion over what can be seen as a disability, but I don't think it should be down to the ticket sellers to make that decision.

[Lubiloo (Lorna)]

No intention to offend nor question/judge your own situation, I am aware how hard it is to get a blue badge, from helping relatives…just wanted to note that it is common practice to ask for additional information, so a complaint might not be upheld.

[Nick Reg]

Disability access is one area where Cropedy wins hands down . On the two occasions that we've needed it , due to ankle fractures, they have been excellent to deal with