Download Festival season might still feel a little way off, but for anyone planning to use the festival’s accessible facilities, now is the time to start getting everything sorted. 🤘♿
The Access Application usually opens around early November, and there are a couple of important things you’ll need to have in place before you can submit your application.
So, to save everyone scrambling around when applications go live, we’ve pulled together the key information covering Access Cards, Digital Passes, Essential Companion Tickets, accessible camping, viewing platforms, toilets, parking, internal transport and more.
Here’s what you need to know. 👇
🚨 FIRST THINGS FIRST – GET READY FOR ACCESS APPLICATIONS
Download Festival operates an application process for customers who require accessible facilities.
You can sign up for notifications about the Access Application opening through the official Download Festival accessibility website:
🌐 https://accessibility.downloadfestival.co.uk/
⚠️ Access Applications usually open around early November.
It’s worth getting everything you need sorted beforehand rather than waiting until applications open.
💳 NIMBUS ACCESS CARD & DIGITAL ACCESS PASS
This is one of the most important things to get organised.
To apply for accessible facilities at Download Festival — including an Essential Companion Ticket — you will need either:
♿ A full Nimbus Access Card
OR
📱 A Digital Access Pass
You need to have this sorted before submitting your Download Festival Access Application.
You can apply through Nimbus here:
🌐 https://www.accesscard.online/apply-or-renew/?type=carer-card
Already have a full Access Card?
Make sure your card is still valid and in date when you submit your application.
Have a Digital Access Pass?
Digital Access Passes last for three years, just like the full Access Card.
⚠️ Important: Every person wishing to apply for accessible facilities needs their own valid Access Card or Digital Access Pass.
Don’t leave this until application day!
🎟️ YOU NEED YOUR DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL TICKET FIRST
Another important one.
You need to have purchased your Download Festival ticket before you can apply for accessible facilities.
Accessible facilities can be requested with the festival’s various eligible ticket types, including tickets being purchased through an instalment plan.
There is, however, an important difference when it comes to Essential Companion Tickets and RIP packages.
👥 ESSENTIAL COMPANION TICKETS
If you’re applying for an Essential Companion Ticket, pay close attention to this bit.
🏕️ If you’re buying RIP tickets
You must initially purchase the appropriate ticket/package for everyone in your party, including your Essential Companion.
Once your Access Application has been submitted and an Essential Companion Ticket has been approved, you can then receive a refund equivalent to the cost of one Arena Weekend ticket.
🤘 For other ticket types
For standard ticket options such as:
- Weekend Camping
- Arena Only
- Day Tickets
You do not need to purchase a separate festival ticket for your Essential Companion before applying.
♿ WHAT ACCESSIBLE FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE?
Download Festival provides a substantial range of accessible facilities across the festival site.
Exactly what you need should be requested through the Access Application process.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s normally available.
🏕️ ACCESSIBLE CAMPSITES
The accessible campsites provide secure spaces where the festival’s accessibility team and stewards are based throughout the weekend.
Facilities within the accessible camping areas can include:
♿ Dedicated Accessibility Information Hub
🚻 Wheelchair-accessible and standard unisex toilets
🚿 Wheelchair-accessible and standard unisex showers
🛣️ Accessible routes
🚻 Changing Places facilities
🔋 Charging facilities for wheelchairs and medical equipment
🚰 Accessible sinks and drinking-water points
☕ Kettle and hot water
💊 Secure refrigerated medication storage
⚡ Essential electrical power supply where requested and approved
🍔 Food traders
👕 Merchandise facilities
🔐 Lockers available to rent
🚻 Changing Places
Changing Places units include facilities such as:
- Adult changing bed
- Toilet
- Sink
- Hoist
⚠️ Hoist slings are not provided, so anyone requiring one should remember to bring their own compatible sling.
👀 ACCESSIBLE VIEWING AREAS
Accessible viewing facilities are available within the festival arena and District X.
These include both:
♿ Raised viewing platforms
and
♿ Ground-level viewing areas
These spaces are intended to make watching bands and performances considerably more accessible for customers who need them.
🚻 ACCESSIBLE TOILETS
Wheelchair-accessible and standard toilets designated for accessibility customers are situated throughout the Arena and District X.
They are available to accessibility customers who have the appropriate access approval.
🔑 You don’t need a RADAR key to use them.
However, you do need to apply for access to these facilities through the Access Application.
🚿 CHANGING PLACES UNITS
Changing Places facilities are also available on site.
These contain:
♿ Adult changing bed
🚻 Toilet
🚰 Sink
🏗️ Hoist
Again, remember that hoist slings aren’t supplied, so bring your own if required.
🚪 ACCESSIBLE ENTRANCE LANES
Dedicated entrance lanes are available for accessibility customers entering the arena.
These are designed to provide a more suitable route into the arena for customers who require accessible facilities.
ℹ️ ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION HUBS
Accessibility Information Hubs are provided within the festival site, including locations in the Arena and District X.
They’re staffed by members of the festival’s accessibility team who can help with information and accessibility-related queries during the weekend.
🧠 SENSORY CALM SPACES
Download Festival also provides Sensory Calm Tents.
These are normally situated within:
🎸 The Arena
🌙 District X
The spaces are designed to provide a safe, lower-stimulation environment where festivalgoers can step away from the noise, crowds and sensory overload of the festival.
For anyone who loves festivals but occasionally needs somewhere quieter to reset and recalibrate, these can be incredibly useful.
🍺 ACCESSIBLE BAR LANES
Yep, accessibility extends to getting your festival pint too. 🍻🤘
Dedicated accessible lanes are available at the main bars.
These areas feature:
♿ Lowered counters
and
➡️ Access that bypasses the main bar queue.
🚗 ACCESSIBLE PARKING & DROP-OFF
If you’re applying for accessible facilities, don’t automatically buy a standard parking pass.
Accessibility customers can apply for either an:
🚗 Access Parking Pass
or
🚕 Access Drop-Off Pass
through the Access Application.
Make sure you request whichever option you require when completing the form.
🚌 INTERNAL ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORT
Download Festival usually operates internal shuttle transport to help accessibility customers travel between key locations around the enormous festival site.
Set stops have previously included locations such as:
🚌 Transport Hub
♿ Accessible Campsite
🎪 District X
The exact route and stops can change, so the confirmed transport arrangements are normally published in the Download Festival Access Guide supplied to accessibility customers closer to the festival.
⛺ WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH ACCESS CAMP B?
At the moment, plans for an additional accessible Camp B have not been confirmed.
Whether Download operates an additional accessible campsite or returns to using only the main accessible campsite can depend on factors including the number of applications received.
That means we may not know the final camping arrangements until later in the year.
Keep an eye out for official updates once the Access Application process is underway.
📋 YOUR DOWNLOAD ACCESS CHECKLIST
Before applications open, try to have these sorted:
✅ Buy your Download Festival ticket.
✅ Make sure you have a valid Nimbus Access Card or Digital Access Pass.
✅ Check that your Access Card won’t have expired when applications open.
✅ Decide which accessible facilities you’ll need.
✅ Work out whether you’ll be requesting an Essential Companion Ticket.
✅ If you’re staying in RIP accommodation, make sure you understand the different companion-ticket purchasing arrangements.
✅ Sign up for Download Festival accessibility notifications.
✅ Get everything ready before applications go live.
⚠️ DON’T LEAVE IT UNTIL APPLICATION DAY
Festival accessibility can involve considerably more preparation than simply grabbing a ticket and packing a tent.
Getting your Access Card or Digital Access Pass sorted early means you’ve got one less thing to worry about when Download’s Access Application finally goes live.
And if you’re applying for multiple facilities — accessible camping, viewing areas, toilets, parking, an Essential Companion Ticket and so on — it’s worth thinking through exactly what you’re going to require beforehand.
The Riff Report will be keeping an eye on the latest Download Festival accessibility information, and we’ll share further updates when applications officially open and additional details are confirmed.
Until then, get those Access Cards checked, tickets sorted and applications at the ready.
Because Download will be here before we bloody know it. 🤘🔥
The Riff Report Blog — Music Journalism With Boots At The Barricade.
