Last updated: March 2026
Music festivals have been growing steadily in the UK and beyond. From Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds to Download, Latitude, and countless smaller independent events, there are more opportunities than ever for bands to get on stage. But with that growth comes fierce competition. According to our UK music festival statistics, the festival scene continues to thrive, and that means more bands are vying for those coveted slots every year.
If you want to get your foot in the door, you will need to do a bit of work. This will not be simple – if it was, it would be done by everyone, but it is truly possible to get yourself out there in front of those festival crowds. Here are some practical tips for doing just that.
Get the right gear
With music, as with everything else, you need to have the right tools for the trade. This goes beyond things like guitars, amps, drum kits, and durable custom tents to play in, it also includes talent.
Practice, practice, practice
The band might be ready to play that festival gig, but before booking one, you might want to ensure that you are ready. That is not negative to how good you might or might not be, or to your music, you just need to be prepared for any unique demands that are inherent with playing a festival.
If you do not have a lot of experience with this, you might not be exactly ready. This type of gig is different from playing at a club and, for this reason, promoters tend to seek out bands that have earned a track record of putting on a live show that commands crowds.
Choose the right festivals for your genre
You might not want to apply to any old festival that will book you. That would be kind of like practising your stage presence and then sending your music to every single agent, label, promoter, etc. in town, whether or not they work with your type of music.
What you should do is narrow your search parameters a bit and choose a few of the festivals that you would love to play at. These festivals should be open to your music genre, have stages that will be a good fit for the size of your band, and be easy for you to travel to. If you are an indie band, look at festivals with a strong indie lineup. Rock bands should target festivals like Download or Slam Dunk, while folk groups might look at Cambridge Folk Festival or Shrewsbury Folk Festival.
Do not waste your time trying to get into festivals that will not be a good fit for your band, even if you like them as a fan. Booking will be a lot easier if you can manage to get into where the band will fit in.
Track deadlines and update your calendar
A lot of the time, a massive obstacle for musicians trying to get booked for music festivals or events is just getting their application submitted on time. Do not apply late for gigs.
Never miss deadlines. Make a calendar and fill it with all of the submission deadlines for each of the festivals you are interested in playing in so that you never miss an opportunity. If you miss the deadline, generally there will not be another opportunity to apply until next year. You might technically find a method of doing so, but it probably will not get you booked.
Most UK festivals open their artist applications between September and January for the following summer. Set reminders well in advance so you have time to prepare a strong application for each one.
Tailor every application
One of the biggest mistakes bands make is sending the same generic application to every festival. Promoters can spot a copy-and-paste submission a mile off, and it suggests you have not done your homework.
Before you hit send, research the festival properly. Look at who played last year, which stages featured acts similar to yours, and what the audience demographic looks like. Then tailor your application to explain specifically why your band would be a good fit for that particular event. Mention the stage you are targeting, reference acts from previous lineups that share your style, and explain what you would bring to the festival atmosphere.
A personalised application shows the promoter that you care about their event, not just about getting any gig.
Common application mistakes to avoid
Festival promoters receive hundreds or even thousands of applications for a limited number of slots. Small errors can put your application straight in the reject pile. Here are some common pitfalls to watch out for:
Sending low-quality recordings or live videos with poor audio. If your demo does not sound good, it will not matter how tight your live show is. Spelling and grammar mistakes in your application or bio also make a poor first impression. Applying to festivals that clearly do not book your genre wastes both your time and the promoter’s. And whatever you do, do not pester organisers after submitting. One polite follow-up is fine, but repeated emails or social media messages will not help your cause.
Make the most of your festival slot
Getting booked is only half the battle. What you do with the opportunity matters just as much for your long-term festival career. Arrive early, be professional with stage crews and sound engineers, and put on the best show you can.
Promote your set on social media in the weeks leading up to the festival. On the day, have someone film your performance and take quality photos. Capture content you can use in future applications as evidence that you can handle a festival stage. Collect email signups from new fans at your merch table, and network with other bands and promoters backstage. Each festival appearance should be a stepping stone to the next one.
Build on each festival appearance
After the festival, put in the follow-up work. Share your performance footage on social media and tag the festival. Send a thank-you message to the promoter. Update your press kit and application materials with photos and video from the event. If you had a great response from the audience, mention it when you apply again next year or to similar festivals.
Each successful festival gig makes the next application stronger. Promoters want to book acts they know will deliver, and a proven track record at other festivals is one of the best things you can have on your application.
For a deeper look at the overall strategy, including building your press kit and networking with promoters, see our guide to getting booked for festivals.
Finally, do not give up. It is a competitive business, but that does not mean that you and your band do not belong under the bright lights on the stage. Keep on making music and booking gigs while you are working on getting a slot at one of the music festivals that you aspire to. Remember that each new fan, song, and show is one step closer to your goals being achieved.
Do you have any tips for getting booked for festival shows? Leave them in the comments below…
