Shambala takes place at Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens, Northampton NN6 9LY. It’s a gorgeous countryside site, with stunning lakes, lush flat fields, woodlands and meadows.
Every year, Shambala takes place on the August bank holiday – so for 2026 it’ll be Thursday 27th August – Sunday 30th August.
Tickets for 2026 are on sale now, grab yours here!
Not very big! We’re a comparatively small festival – with between 14,000 – 15,000 public adults (plus kids).
Very! We’ve even been named “The best family festival in the world” by FestivalKidz. Dig into more of our family information here. However, unlike some festivals, this is a family-friendly festival, not a families-only festival.
Yep, there’s hot shower blocks all around the site, and they’re included in your ticket price – no extra charges to keep yourself clean!
Yes, there are water refill points dotted all around the campsites and main arena. Please remember to bring your own bottle, as we don’t sell single-use bottles.
Late! From Friday we run until about 5am each morning (even on the Sunday) but this is in the main arena – you can still get a decent nights kip in our campsites, don’t you worry.
Usually, none, because our audience are diamonds. In 2021, 2022 and 2023, not one single tent was left. In 2024, ONE PERSON LEFT A TENT! FOR SHAME! But seriously please do take your tents home.
Yep! Fires must be:
- Off the ground (i.e. in a fire-wok)
- 2m from any tent and 3m from any vehicle
- Attended at all times and kept well away from gas canisters and cookers
- Campsite Stewards will put out any fires which are not off the ground
Firewood is on sale at Public Info from 9am – 7pm daily. The firewood is sustainably harvested from the Estate and all profits made will go towards managing the Estate’s woodland. Please do not scavenge wood from surrounding areas as they form valuable habitats. Please take note of the fire points (fire towers and Camp Hubs) and return used gas canisters from camping stoves to the Recycling Exchange for disposal and recycling.
There are plenty of food vendors across the site, all of which are meat-free and fish-free.
Please remember to bring your reusable cups, cutlery and dishware to help reduce waste at the festival.
Our food and market traders do accept cash (as well contactless card payments, including chip and pin processing and mobile phone activated payments such as Apple pay). However please note that our bars, official merchandise points and the public info point do not accept cash – just card payments.
There will be on-site ATMs at Shambala, but cash-free contactless payments play an important role in improving security and safety for all and simplifying operations. Please choose contactless/card payments if you can!
Yes, our Medical and Welfare facilities are open 24/7 throughout the event.
We offer a lot of services to make Shambala as accessible as possible, from free PA tickets to Accessible Camping, BSL interpreters and more. To find out more and apply for our Accessibility services, head here.
You may bring limited amounts of alcohol to site. The per adult limit is:
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- 16 x 440ml cans of lager/cider/beer OR
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- up to 70cl of spirits (not in glass) OR
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- 18 x 250ml cans of premixed spirit drinks OR
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- 3-litre box of wine OR
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- 7 litres of cider/lager/beer in plastic bottles or cans.
Excess alcohol will be confiscated and forfeited. Alcohol can only be brought into the festival on your first entry. There is strictly no re-entry to the festival with alcohol. No bulk items e.g. cases or slabs of cans and keg dispensers are allowed.
As an independent event, our bars are a crucial income stream that keep the festival viable – and they’re brilliant so please do support them. Our bars serve the finest ciders, ales, lagers and cocktails and we work hard to keep our pricing affordable compared to many festivals.
General camping is included with your entry ticket; you need to bring your own camping equipment (e.g. tent).
We have a dedicated family camping field – no pre-booking required.
You can also purchase additional pre-pitched camping and campervan vehicle passes for live-in vehicles.
You can bring your camper van, caravan or car fitted with a rooftop tent or trailer tent if you purchase a Camper Van pass.
Please ensure you have the right-sized pass for your vehicle. Cars without fitted rooftop tents and non-live-in vans and vehicles are not permitted in the live-in vehicle fields.
No, you will need to purchase a car pass and park in our car park over the weekend.
Yes, if you must – but we’d rather you embraced our values and went veggie for the weekend. Our food traders are banging and we’d wager you won’t miss it!
No, animals are not allowed on the festival site with the exception of service animals.
Yep! Keep your valuables safe at the festival by using our secure lock up unit. You’ve got two options.
A4 envelope – car keys, passports, bank cards etc.
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- A shelf space suitable for one large rucksack, if you need more space than that simply buy a second space!
Lockers aren’t bookable in advance, just turn up on site to book yours!
You may need to show photo ID for proof of name and age. If you have lost your ID, please email us in advance at enquiries@shambalafestival.org.
Gates for Shambala 2026 will open at midday on Thursday 27th August, car parks open at 11am.
We ask that everyone leaves the site by 12pm on Monday 31st August.
Most venues are covered, and we have covered seating areas around the site. In cases of extreme weather, please check our website, app and social media for updates.
The lineup will be announced in waves, keep your eye on the Shambala website and social media channels for updates.
A £25 refundable deposit is added to all orders. It’s returned to the original booker when you bring your sorted rubbish and recycling to a Recycling Exchange before leaving the festival site.
Please refer to the Shambala website, app or printed programme for Recycling Exchange opening hours. Thanks for helping us leave the site tidy and clean!
Phone signal is limited on site, but we have WiFi points available – just check the map on site to find out where!
Yes, phone charging is available. Please see our map on site for details.
Yes! If the thought of lugging your tent, camping gear, sleeping bag and supplies across the site to your camp site is sending you into a tizzy, never fear, our Shambarrows can help you take the weight off and make your arrival wheel-y easy.
Pick them up inside the gate when you get here, for a £40 deposit. CARD ONLY DEPOSITS (AND REFUNDS). If you return your barrow within 1 HOUR, the service is free and you’ll get your full deposit back. After that, you’re charged £10 for each extra half hour you have them.
The service usually operates on Thursday from gates opening to 9pm, and Friday 10am to 6pm and then for the out on Sunday from Noon to 4pm and finally Monday 9am to Noon.