Friday, January 23, 2026
Missed us? We've missed you!
We're brightening up your January with 2026 festival volunteering applications opening NEXT FRIDAY! This time next week you'll have your place confirmed to see some of the best artists in the world this summer. Excited? Just a little bit.
Set your alarms and mark your calendars, 2026 festival volunteering applications open at midday on Friday 30th January!
We have shift patterns which enable you to be off-shift for every single headliner this summer (including the bonus Kasabian set at Leeds), but as shift patterns are allocated based on shift preferences alongside deposit payment date, you'll need to APPLY EARLY!
It's been a long time coming... but finally, new PAAM is here! For a few days PAAM is going to be offline whilst everything is transferred across to new PAAM, so don't worry if you can't log in to your account over the weekend or the beginning of next week. We'll pop you another email when we're ready for you to log in to your PAAM account and explore everything new PAAM has to offer!
We've seen a huge increase in the number of caravans, campervans and motorhomes coming to festivals in recent years and unfortunately there's not infinite space in the staff area of the festival site. The Latitude Festival organisers have now set a cap on the quantity of caravans, campervans and motorhomes we can bring to Latitude. This is the same number as we had onsite last year, so hopefully all will be fine, but if you would like to bring a live-in vehicle to Latitude please apply early and register your campervan, caravan or motorhome as soon as your application has been confirmed so we can ensure we'll have space for you. You can find a link to the live-in vehicle registration form in the confirmation email you'll receive once your place has been confirmed.
Applications to join us as a paid steward at Camp Bestival will open when 2026 volunteering applications open at midday next Friday. Last year paid steward positions filled within the hour so please be ready to apply at midday if you would like to join us as a paid steward at Camp Bestival!
Latitude paid tower steward applications will open later in the year once any site changes have been confirmed. If you'd like to join us at Latitude, we'd recommend applying to volunteer as a back up so you know you have a confirmed place at Latitude 2026!
There have been some incredible names announced for 2026 festivals so far, with more artists still to be added!
As one refundable deposit covers you for a whole season of events, there's no limit to the number of festivals you can apply for this year! Remember, deposits are refunded in full after the last festival you've applied to each year! There's been no increase to festival deposits since last year, so you can volunteer at a whole summer of events with a fully refundable deposit of £95 if it's your first time joining us, or £45 if you've joined us at a festival before! We charge no admin fees, which means you get 100% of your deposit back after the festival!
Forbidden Forest - 3rd June to 8th June 2026
Line up: Arcadia Spider, Pendulum, Hybrid Minds, Chris Stussy, Wilkinson, Sub Focus, Andy C, Patrick Topping, Hannah Laing, Jamie Jones, Hedex
Download Festival - 10th to 15th June 2026
Line up: Linkin Park, Guns N' Roses, Limp Bizkit, Bad Omens, Electric Callboy, Halestorm, Baby Metal, Architects, Trivium, The All American Rejects
Latitude Festival - 22nd to 27th July 2026
Line up: Lewis Capaldi, Teddy Swims, David Byrne, Alex James Britpop Classical, Tom Grennan, Self Esteem, Tom Odell, Wet Leg, The Last Dinner Party, The Flaming Lips
Camp Bestival Dorset - 29th July to 3rd August 2026
Line up: Bastille, Fatboy Slim, Self Esteem, Example, Billy Ocean, De La Soul, Sara Cox, Dick and Dom, Toploader, Utah Saints, Lucy Spraggan
Reading Festival - 25th to 31st August 2026
Line up: Florence + the Machine, Charli XCX, Raye, Dave, Fontaines D.C., Chase & Status, Role Model, Sombr, Kneecap, Jade
Leeds Festival - 25th to 31st August 2026
Line up: Kasabian, Florence + the Machine, Charli XCX, Raye, Dave, Fontaines D.C., Chase & Status, Role Model, Sombr, Kneecap, Jade
We can't wait to see you in a festival field this summer!
If there is anything you would like to ask or you would just like to chat with us about, the easiest way is to...
You can connect with us @hotboxevents on Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube
If you would like to chat with others who have joined us before, head to our Facebook Group
Here you will find new and returning staff and volunteers chatting about what it is like to join us at festivals, arranging to share lifts, asking and answering questions about working at festivals and making new friends!
If you have not joined us at a festival before and are wondering what it is like, check out some of our staff and volunteer interviews!
In these interviews, you will get to hear from those who have joined us talking about how they found their shifts, how they felt they were looked after by the Hotbox team, what it was like working solo for the first time, taking on more responsibility year on year, and even how the experience and confidence gained has helped with career progression away from festivals.
Another way to see what joining us is like is to check out some of our festival photos!
In our festival photo galleries, you will find thousands of photos covering our festival history over the past twenty years!
It's totally normal to be anxious before coming to a festival, particularly if you're coming solo! We get hundreds of messages every year from people who are keen to join us but nervous about coming alone, so we promise you're not...alone! We're a very friendly bunch and if there's anything we can do to reduce your anxiety, please get in touch! You can also join our Facebook Group to make friends with others before the festival. Within this group you will also find links to some volunteer-led WhatsApp groups that have been set up!
If you have specific questions about joining us at festivals, try our festival FAQs!
Our festival FAQs are regularly updated and packed full of answers to the questions we are usually asked, as well as handy festival hits and tips.
We usually send out an email newsletter every month or so. If you would like to keep up to date with our news and festival happenings, please subscribe!
If you would like to drop us an email, it's info@hotboxevents.com
You can reach our office by phone on the numbers below...
Tel: 01252849600 (UK) select option 2 for Hotbox Events
Tel: +441252849600 (International) select option 2 for Hotbox Events
