There’s nothing that beats the thrill of a festival. The trepidation in the air, the throb of live music, the stands, lights and electricity. As the world continues to slide back into a sense of normality, it has many of us wondering just where festivals will stand within this. Here we take a look at festivals in 2022 and what we expect them to look like.

A look back at festivals in 2021

After 2020 saw events all around the world cancelled completely and the majority of places plunged into a lockdown, we were all looking forward to some respite in 2021. For while the pandemic was still there, vaccines were being rolled out and some restrictions were being lifted. With this, 2021 saw the return of a few music festivals such as Reading and Leeds, Creamfields and South Facing festival. Yet these were still very different to what we were used to in a pre-Covid landscape. People were ready for cancellations at the last moment, crowds were much smaller and the general age of those in attendance was much younger. Those that were old or vulnerable were still very concerned about contracting the virus and therefore there were much fewer attendees in this age bracket. Live events were also still very much a hybrid, with many opting for virtual events or streams instead.  Festival choices were slimmer and there were fewer tickets in circulation, a vast difference to the 2019 festival season where over 33.7 million music fans attended festivals. 

…and what to expect in for festivals in 2022

Fast forward to 2022 and the current landscape is looking very different. The majority of Covid restrictions are set to be abolished completely from the end of March and the number of virtual events has declined considerably, with many experiencing screen fatigue and wanting to go back to experiencing things in the moment.

A change in the way people pay

Contactless payments: Pre-pandemic the majority of festival and event traders worked on a cash basis and it was rarer to find someone with a card machine. As the health risks associated with money continue to circulate, we expect 2022 festivals to operate on a contactless, card-only basis. Some festivals are also introducing digital wristbands that can not only grant attendees access to the festival itself, but also enable them to pay.

A focus on making festivals bigger and better

With the majority of us unable to go out and experience live events for the best part of two years, it’s had festivals work to amp up the effects and give an experience that’s even bigger and better than before. Companies are investing in better equipment, utilising high-quality LED screens for crisper imaging and better sound and light systems. Not only does this offer a better experience but it also enables attendees to feel they’re getting better value for their money and can enable businesses to make money through advertising too. The use of creative lighting and set design is forecasted to make a huge comeback this year and here at Bigabox we have a host of incredible offerings to take your festival stages up a level. A creative set design can really transform a festival, setting it apart from others and creating a truly memorable experience for fans. Make the most of lasers, projections, themed backdrops and so much more.

A rise in health and safety procedures

While a lot of restrictions are being diminished, it’s still expected that individual events will adopt their own strategies to keep their guests safe. This includes asking people who attend to be double vaccinated and/or to provide evidence of a negative Covid test upon arrival. There will also be more sanitizing stations, more stringent cleaning efforts and certain social distancing efforts in place.

An emphasis on sustainability

Over the past few years sustainability has been gaining traction at festivals and there has been an emphasis on how this can be improved. This is no surprise given that an average music festival produces a staggering 23,500 tonnes of waste from plastic, abandoned tents, clothing and food waste. Lockdown had a positive impact on our waste and showed that we needed to focus on a low emission and more sustainable path once we were free – which is something we predict festivals to focus on in 2022.

A change in accommodation

Pre-pandemic, festivals saw fields packed with revellers in tents, crammed almost on top of each other and sharing facilities in extremely close proximity. Since we’ve all adopted an approach to social distancing, many don’t appreciate the idea of sharing a space with strangers anymore. This is why we predict greater numbers of people to opt for glamping, motorhomes or even staying in hotels instead of camping.

A rise in improving virtual festival experiences

Many companies turned to virtual events during the pandemic and could be forgiven for leaving this behind in 2021. Yet this would be a mistake. By tapping into the hybrid experience whereby you sell tickets for both an in-person and virtual experience you open the ticket sales up to hundreds of thousands of people. With the way technology and the metaverse is heading you can also improve the virtual experience for many. Instead of just watching it through a screen, why not create a VR experience? Virtual reality is expected to continue its steady incline this year and you could help those that can’t physically attend your event feel much more immersed than just watching it on a screen at home. 

What festivals are we most excited for this year?

We LOVE festivals and we have been lucky enough to work at some of the biggest and best over the years. This year, we’re really looking forward to seeing and being a part of Sundown Festival: Norfolk’s bass and pop festival is returning this year from the 2-4th of September. Past acts have included Shawn Mendes and Clean Bandit and this year includes 1814, Kora, Masaya and many more.

We also can’t wait to see what Reading Festival has in store! Reading festival 2022 is taking place from the 26-28 August and is set to be back bigger and better than ever. Acts include Paramore, Bring me the Horizon, Halsey and more.

The way that we approach festivals in 2022 has the same approach as most things pre-pandemic – same but different. Expect greater effects and more awe-inspiring experiences alongside additional health and wellbeing features. Here at Bigabox, we are more excited than ever to see just what this year has in store for festivals and can’t wait to continue supporting the industry! Which festivals are you heading to this year? We’d love to hear from you!