A huge thank you to the 5,600+ of you who jumped into our debate about whether to introduce wild venison to the menu at Shambala 2026.
It was a massive turnout – although slightly lower than our Flamboyant Friday vote, which we find fascinating and a tad surprising!
The votes have now been counted:
- 37% voted ‘Yes’
- 59% voted ‘No’
- 4% said they didn’t mind either way.
Based on these results, venison will not be on the menu at Shambala.
While the suggestion was rooted in a desire to provoke important conversations around sustainable food practices and raise awareness about UK biodiversity loss, your feedback has made it clear that enjoying a meat-free weekend has become a key part of the Shambala experience for the majority.
As promised, we will honour this feedback and keep it that way!
Why we asked the question
We understand that for lots of you, even raising the topic of reintroducing meat of any kind came as a bit of a shock and surprise. But, pushing boundaries is in our DNA and we’ve got a long track record of tackling sensitive topics head-on.
Back in 2016, we made the decision to go meat- and fish-free – a move that, at the time, earned us plenty of flack – particularly from those mourning the loss of their morning bacon butties. We did it partly to spark debate, and partly because it was – by some distance – the single most impactful thing we could do to reduce the festival’s overall emissions and wider impacts. That bold step eventually saw us recognised as industry leaders, winning awards in the UK and Europe.
Importantly, this latest proposal came from exactly the same place: a willingness to explore difficult questions and encourage meaningful conversations about how our diet shapes the world around us and our shared future. We also wanted to provoke a conversation about how the locality of our food impacts its sustainability, rather than focusing on the moral “rights and wrongs” of eating meat.
Whether you agreed with the premise or not, the resulting debate was hugely constructive and nuanced, and we’re super grateful to all who got involved. So, big ups and big thank yous all round!
In Your Words: Three Top Takeaways
As we hoped, the debate went far beyond a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ Here’s a snapshot of the different perspectives that have emerged…
1. The Sanctuary of a Meat-Free Space
For lots of you – including some dedicated carnivores – Shambala is valued as a rare, plant-based escape where the quality of the existing food offering proves meat isn’t a necessity for a great experience. You said…
“As a meat eater, I love that Shambala is vegetarian as it shows that you don’t need meat to have tasty food!”
“I love seeing all my meat-eating friends enjoying delicious vegan options and not feeling like they are missing out – it sparks good and open conversations about a difficult topic.”
“As a mostly plant based vegetarian, I was so delighted to discover that Shambala was completely meat free. It felt like coming home.”
“I eat meat and personally love venison, but I don’t need it at Shambala. The food is already probably the best festival food I’ve ever had, better than most street food markets. I enjoy going meat free at Shambala, I don’t miss anything while I’m there and I feel the overall ethos of the festival and strong sentiment of being as kind to nature as possible outweighs the need for any meat to be sold, whether sustainable and ethical or not.”
2. Curiosity Around Sustainable Meat Options
Interestingly, a significant number of vegans and vegetarians were open to the hypothesis, citing the ecological impact of deer populations and the carbon footprint of global produce versus local wild meat. You said…
“I’ve been a fit and healthy vegan for 55yrs! My motivation has been to not support the cruelty-industry. But l don’t object to this.”
“I know that in recent studies our Deer population has increased so drastically in comparison to a few years ago. As a vegetarian I thoroughly loved the plant based food at Shambala (it’s the best festival food I’ve ever had) and I think it’s amazing that you only do veggie food. However I think venison is a great and sustainable option, and will keep the meat eaters happy too!”
“Really interesting reading your reasoning. Some people feel they need meat in their diet to stay healthy so giving a sustainable option feels like a great idea to me!”
“It is an interesting idea, and if the due diligence has been done on the environmental impact being positive then I am all for it.”
“Seems like it’s good for general wildlife. Also having just one meat option/vendor makes having meat a special occasion rather than the norm. It also opens up a less black/white conversation about consumption”.
“Sustainable eating is changing, and typically eating from local butchers and green grocers is more carbon neutral than being vegan and having avocados shipped over from America. This is environmentally beneficial and opens the conversation to what sustainability can look like”
3. Reservations and Accountability
You didn’t hold back on the tough questions, either. Many raised concerns about “slippery slopes,” the actual impact on deer ecology, and whether sustainable meat is truly accessible or just an elite luxury. You said…
“If our food system were plant based, then it would use far less land, and leave much land available for rewilding and a full balance of wildlife. So let’s not pretend that the middle class eating venison will help nature.”
“If meat was to become available in an environmentally sustainable way it would only be accessible for the extraordinarily wealthy. I think this choice perpetuates the thinking that we do not need to change our habits, unless of course the burgers are priced accordingly, £100???”
“I worry that bringing venison in would open the door to other meats in the future.”
“One festival won’t change deer ecology, which is a much greater problem and one caused by humans.”
“For many, Shambala is their first “light bulb” moment that veggie and vegan food is a real alternative without losing their enjoyment and enthusiasm for delicious food. I feel that offering a meat option would dilute your amazing message.”
Something Important We’d Like to Clear Up…
Throughout the debate, we noticed a bit of a common misconception emerging: quite a few of you seem to believe Shambala is a vegan event. While we ditched meat and fish from our menus a decade ago, we are not – and have never been – 100% plant based. We are currently ‘almost completely plant-based’; allowing some food traders to use organic dairy products as part of a strict food policy, and only plant based milks. We also permit people to “BYOM” – for anyone who really can’t stomach a weekend without meat.
We respect that for many, the morality of meat is an emotive and deeply personal topic. Our goal wasn’t to diminish those feelings, but to focus on where local, sustainable ecology and long-held dietary convictions could meet, and fresh conversations could flourish.
What’s Next?
While venison won’t be gracing our menu, we remain keenly interested in the bigger question: What does sustainable eating really look like in a rapidly evolving world?
To dig deeper into the topic, this year’s programme will include talks and workshops discussing the themes we have touched on in this debate.
Stay tuned for more news on that coming soon, and prepare to tuck into the FINEST veggie spread on the festival circuit once again. We can’t wait to see you there!
Huge love and thanks,
Team Sham x
Hungry for more?
Read up on our sustainable food practices and policies here.