Concert News

3-Day Camping Festival Announced in Phase 2 of Government Scientific Event Research Programme

• 26th May 2021

MELVIN BENN: “Following the huge success of our Sefton Park event, we are delighted to contribute to Phase II of the Government’s Events Research Programme with the creation of the first three-day camping festival which will be the Download Pilot at Donington Park. This massive next step will help us understand and study the safe return of large-scale festivals with no social distancing or facemasks over a full weekend… the return of the full festival experience we have all been waiting for and a much needed return to work for musicians, backstage crew, caterers and many more that form part of the UK’s exemplary live music industry.”

Festival Republic today confirm that a three-day, 10,000 capacity, camping only festival will take place this June as part of the second phase of the Government’s scientific Events Research Programme. In the true spirit of rock, the ‘Download Pilot’ will take place on 18-20 June 2021 on the hallowed grounds of Donington Park, the home of rock and metal since 1980. Tickets go on sale on Tuesday 1 June for the longstanding loyal existing Download Festival 2022 ticket holders, before general on sale on Thursday 3 June. The full line-up will be announced Friday 28 May.

The very first major camping event of its kind, the specially created Download Pilot event will form part of the second phase of the Government’s scientific Events Research Programme. This ground-breaking study will look to build on the evidence base gathered from the successful first phase and apply findings on a greater scale with greater crowd numbers than before. The attendance at the Download Pilot will provide additional evidence for government, event organisers, and consumers on the logistical and practical considerations of reopening events safely, including multi-day events.

Working closely with the Government to adhere to safety guidelines, this Download Pilot, as the first 10,000 capacity camping festival event, will play an important role in paving the way for the return of large-scale music events and festivals as the UK emerges from the past year’s restrictions. As a Government scientific Events Research Programme event, festivalgoers will need to consent to take part and must be over 16. There will be no day tickets available with all festivalgoers expected to camp on-site for the duration of the event.  Full details will be available via www.downloadfestival.co.uk/download_pilot.


Moshing will be allowed
With tickets priced at just £120 (plus booking fee) for the full three-day festival and initially being offered as a thank you to existing Download Festival 2022 ticket holders, we are delighted to announce that this loyal community of rock fans will also be rewarded with the closest to a festival experience possible, with no social distancing, no masks, camping and the return of moshing. Whilst this is not Download Festival and will be a much smaller scale, Festival Republic are proud to continue their Gold standard (Attitude Is Everything) accessibility and inclusion services, with dedicated accessibility campsite and facilities.

Whilst festivalgoers will not be socially distanced or required to wear face coverings once inside the festival, they will be required to follow existing Government guidance when travelling to and from Donington Park and adhere to rules set out by the festival organisers. Attendees must have proof of a negative lateral flow test result to enter the festival. As part of the wider scientific research on the trial events, the Download Pilot attendees will also be asked to take a PCR test before and after the event to gather further evidence on the safety of the festival camping experience, reduced social distancing and the removal of non-pharmaceutical interventions like face coverings. They will also have to provide contact details for NHS Test and Trace to ensure everyone can be traced in the event of an audience member receiving a positive test after the event.