Shambala Festival – UK 2025

Background & History

The Shambala Festival, marking its 25th anniversary in 2025, is a cornerstone of independent UK festivals, blending music, arts, and sustainability. Born from a group of friends managing a Birmingham record store in the late 1990s, it has evolved into a 15,000-attendee event held over the August Bank Holiday weekend near Market Harborough, Northamptonshire. Renowned for its grassroots ethos, Shambala has been celebrated by MixMag/Pirate as the UK’s best small festival for new music. Its history reflects a commitment to cultural diversity and environmental leadership, with innovations like banning single-use plastics since 2013 and achieving a 90% carbon footprint reduction.

Event Highlights

• Main Activities or Performances: Spanning over 40 venues, the festival offers diverse music stages featuring techno, reggae, Afrobeat, and folk, alongside microvenues for poetry, puppetry, and political discussions, showcasing both emerging and heritage artists.
• Special Traditions or Features: Iconic events include the fancy dress carnival, the quirky Shambala Olympic Games, and late-night parties extending to 5 am, even on Sunday, embodying its playful yet profound spirit.
• Unique Attractions for Visitors: An enchanted woodland with interactive art installations, a renowned kids’ field with free circus workshops, a healing meadow offering yoga and meditation, and the Pay It Forward initiative supporting low-income attendees create a multifaceted experience.

Date & Duration

• Dates: August 21–24, 2025
• Duration: 4 days

Venue / Location

• Address: 74FF+5QW, Northampton, UK
• Additional Locations: The estate integrates the main arena, woodland, camping fields, and accessibility zones, all seamlessly connected within the secret site.

Contact Information

• General Enquiries: enquiries@shambalafestival.org
• Press Enquiries: press@shambalafestival.org
• Ticket Enquiries: info@theticketsellers.co.uk
• Accessibility: accessibility@shambalafestival.org
• Website: shambalafestival.org
• Social Media: @shambalafest (Twitter/X), youtube.com/@ShambalaFestival, tiktok.com/@shambalafest
• Organizer: Kambe Event

Ticket Information

• How Tickets Are Sold: Available online at shambalafestival.org or theticketsellers.co.uk.
• Admission:
  • Adult Ticket (Tier 3): $385.69 USD
  • Young Adult (18-25): $269.67 USD
  • Teen (15-17): $167.70 USD (max 2 per adult 30+)
  • Kids (5-14): $87.10 USD (max 3 per adult 21+)
  • U5’s: $0.00 USD (must be booked)
  • Sustainable Travel (Coach/Rail): $321.68 USD (with proof)
• Vehicle Passes:
  • General Car Pass: $61.75 USD
  • Large Camper Van Pitch (6m x 10m): $161.20 USD
  • Family Camper Van Pitch (6m x 7m): $108.55 USD (unavailable)
  • Large Family Camper Van Pitch (6m x 10m): $161.20 USD
  • Motorcycle: $13.00 USD
• Coach Tickets: $19.50–$58.50 USD (child/adult) from cities like London, Bristol, and Manchester.
• Rail Shuttle Bus: $13.00 USD return from Long Buckby or Market Harborough.
• Special Seating or VIP Options: Accessibility services include free PA tickets and vehicle passes for eligible attendees, applied via accessibility@shambalafestival.org by August 1, 2025.

Submission Information

• Submission Process: Artists and performers can submit proposals via shambalafestival.org, with applications opening early in 2025. Focus on unique, grassroots, or culturally diverse acts aligning with the festival’s ethos.
• Fees: Vary by act/type; details on the website.
• Selection: Curated by the Shambala team, prioritizing creativity and independence, with notifications by mid-2025.

Cultural Experience

Shambala immerses attendees in a global cultural tapestry, with music spanning Afrobeat, Latin rhythms, and Middle Eastern sounds, complemented by arts like permaculture workshops and political debates. Its independence ensures a non-corporate atmosphere, with no bar sponsors, offering ethical food and drink options. The fancy dress carnival and woodland art installations provide an otherworldly escape, while family zones and late-night parties cater to all ages. Its sustainability—100% renewable power, meat-free since 2016—reinforces its pioneering status.

Food & Drinks

• Vegetarian/Vegan Options: All traders are meat- and fish-free since 2016, offering vegan curries, falafels, and plant-based burgers from local vendors.
• Local Specialties: Northamptonshire ales, ciders, and organic juices sourced ethically.
• Bars: Stocked with varied, sustainable tipples; attendees can bring 16x 440ml cans or 3L wine per adult (limits apply).
• Bring Your Own: Mugs are encouraged to reduce waste, with free hot showers available.

Family & Accessibility

• Family-Friendly: A celebrated kids’ field with free circus workshops, a family yurt with bedtime stories, and a toddler tent, alongside adult-oriented late-night events.
• Accessibility Features:
  • Free PA tickets, vehicle passes, BSL interpreters, and viewing platforms.
  • Wheelchair-accessible toilets, showers, and lowered bars.
  • Sensory spaces, accessibility info point, and cold medicine storage.
  • Mobility scooter delivery coordination via accessibility@shambalafestival.org.
• Contact accessibility@shambalafestival.org for applications (deadline August 1, 2025); Accessible Camping Area is waitlisted.

Getting There

• By Air: Birmingham (BHX, ~1-hour drive) or East Midlands (EMA, ~45 minutes). Taxis (~$50–$65 USD) or coaches are available.
• By Train: Market Harborough or Long Buckby stations, with £10 (~$13 USD) shuttle buses to the site.
• By Coach: Subsidized returns from Birmingham ($39 USD), London ($47 USD), Bristol ($52 USD), etc., at various times.
• By Car: Via M1/M6 to Northamptonshire; park with a $61.75 USD car pass or use accessible parking (by request).
• Sustainable Travel: $65 USD discount on tickets for public transport users.

Local Attractions

• Market Harborough: 15 km away, with historic high streets, canals, and shops.
• Kelmarsh Hall: 20 km away, a Georgian estate with gardens and tours.
• Foxton Locks: 18 km away, a scenic canal flight with boat trips.
• Rockingham Forest is nearby for hiking and wildlife spotting.

Sustainability & Community

• Achievements: 90% carbon reduction, reusable cups since inception, no plastic bottles since 2013, and a third of attendees using public transport.
• Community: No tents left behind, with attendees managing the site; charity support via Pay It Forward donations (up to $650 USD).

Awards & Recognition

• Acclaimed as the “best family festival” (FestivalKidz) and “best small festival” (MixMag/Pirate), with media praise for its unique vibe, sustainability, and inclusivity.