We are fully in the midst of my favourite time of year – festival season. Sure, it's the customary fallow year for Glastonbury this year, so we've missed out on catching the likes of Alexa Chung and Sienna Miller battling through mud in gloriously undone vintage and designer looks shielded by their Barbour jackets. Similarly, Primavera Sound's unprecedented June washout wasn't for the faint-hearted. But none of this has stopped us obsessing over the beauty of a summer spent in music-loving crowds, and more importantly, festival outfit planning.
There are still plenty of the best festivals left to come on the summer schedule. We're gearing up for Wilderness, Lost Village, Reading & Leeds, FORWARDS and Download, as well as lots of the one-day festivals (a good option for those anti-campers out there), like All Points East.
Nailing the packing list is a top priority, even more than planning your must-see line-up. Veterans know that when planning outfits, there are the less glamorous, more practical things to consider – like portaloo toilets and very changeable weather – so a pair of sturdy boots and a durable cross-body bag are outfit essentials, key for surviving multiple days of camping. However, if boots aren't your vibe, a pair of comfy trainers will fit the bill, especially with the consistent sunshine we're experiencing lately and dry fields-turned-dancefloor.
Really, there's an anything-goes approach to festival dressing, which really is the fun of it! But there's no shortage of 2026's festival season trends to embrace, from bandanas and bright bikini tops, to boho dresses and billowing blouses styled with retro sports shorts or denim bermuda shorts. Post-World Cup blues, we're expecting to see a lot of retro football shirts out in the crowds, too.
To help you choose your festival style tribe, or simply get some sartorial inspiration to mix and match your own unique festival vibe, we've rounded up our favourite looks and how to channel them so you can plan what to wear to your next festival with ease. See you in the portaloo queue!
Folk fest
Embrace your inner hippie with applique embroidery, crochet and a spiritual weekend under the stars. For the colour palette, anything goes, mixing earthy tones with pastel brights, but always stick to natural, quality materials like wool and silk. Our top tip? Scour vintage shops to help achieve the look.
Nobody's Child Brown Lace Scoop Neck Cardigan
Underdressed princess
Comfort is key, and simple basics with a laid-back feel make the ultimate festival uniform. Just ask Gracie. Think retro sportswear, tank vests and three-quarter sleeve tops, and shorts that are as functional as they are fashionable.
Adidas Pinstripe Firebird Loose Trackpant
Indie sleaze It-girl
Consider Kate Moss (AKA the OG It girl) strolling through Glastonbury circa the late 2000s, your true style icon. Studs and eyelets, sunglasses to shield the hangover, lots of black, and a je ne sais quoi attitude are all non-negotiables.
ASOS DESIGN Co-ord Eyelet Detail Off The Shoulder Top
Boho babe
From layers of lace to billowing skirts, paisley prints and fringing, 1970s nostalgia just feels right in a festival scenario. Stick to an easy-breezy, light colour palette, mud splatters be damned.
Sezane Nala Skirt Ecru with Petal Embroidery
The minimalist
Festival trends can sometimes lean towards the bold, but there are plenty of minimalist dressers who want to keep their usual pared-back look out on the field. A neutral colour palette and clean silhouettes are the chic approach to nailing heatwave summer festivals. Not a hint of glitter in sight for this gal.
Alohas East Coffee Brown Leather Boots
Nobody's Child White Pintuck Scoop Neck Alex Midi Dress
Utility chic
Over the years, a Barbour jacket has become synonymous with festival fashion thanks to its enduring cool-girl British heritage style and endless practicality, and with cargo trousers a major summer trend this season, we're betting we'll be seeing a lot of utilitarian details out in the crowds. Weave in pops of colour for a cool contrast and to brighten even the rainiest festival days.
Disco raver
Calling all maximalists! Nothing says rave-ready like liquid metalics, mesh and stomper boots. After all, what's a festival without being on your feet all day (and night)? It's high-impact dressing that shines on long after sunset – playful, unapologetically bold and made for the dancefloor.
Sophie Leen is the Bookings Editor for Cosmopolitan UK and Women's Health UK. She specialises in creating fashion and shopping content across both digital and print platforms, as well as producing all of our fashion editorial photoshoots, which have included our digital cover with Olly Alexander and our curve influencer’s letter to the high street story. Sophie also looks after our Try Before You Train franchise where our team have tested and reviewed over 100 gymwear items.
Alexandria Dale is the Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from the celebrity style moments worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there’s nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she’s passionate about sustainable fashion and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!
