🎤Lineup
Going? Plan your trip
🎧Official playlist173 tracks
Log in to discover your scores for this festival.
✈️How to get to Boomtown
Planning your trip to Boomtown? Here's how to get there by plane, train or car, and plan your route to the festival site.
- Nearest airport: Southampton Airport (SOU), about 15 km from the venue.
- Major international airport nearby: London Heathrow Airport (LHR), about 71 km away (more routes).
- Allow about 21 min by car from the airport to the site.
- By train, head for Southampton or the nearest major station, then finish by bus, shuttle or taxi to the site.
- By car, plan for on-site parking and expect heavy traffic around the venue on festival days.
🛏️Where to stay near Boomtown
Accommodation near the Boomtown site fills up fast. Compare hotels, apartments and rentals nearby and book early to stay as close to the stage as possible.
Also consider staying around Southampton, the nearest large city, if the closest options to the site are sold out.
Estimated travel time to the site
| Distance | 🚗 Car / taxi | 🚴 Bike | 🚶 On foot |
|---|---|---|---|
| ~1 km | ~3 min | ~4 min | ~12 min |
| ~3 km | ~7 min | ~12 min | ~36 min |
| ~5 km | ~11 min | ~20 min | ~1 h |
| ~10 km | ~22 min | ~40 min | ~2 h |
Public transport: depends on the network around Southampton.
Each accommodation's distance to the site is shown on the map above. Rough estimates; allow extra time during festival peak hours.
🌤️Boomtown 2026 weather
Weather in Materley Estate in August 2026?
Typical weather
Chance of rain: about 20% of days
| 2025 | Partly cloudy | 25° / 15° | 1 rainy day |
| 2024 | Drizzle | 21° / 13° | 2 rainy days |
| 2023 | Light drizzle | 22° / 14° | no rainy days |
Based on the last 3 years over the same period.
Hour by hour
Tap a day to see how temperature and rain changed across 24 hours.
🗺️Things to do near Boomtown
Many shows happen in the evening, so use your days to explore the area around Boomtown. Guided tours, museums, outdoor experiences and local activities can be booked in a few clicks before you go.
Nearby, Southampton and its surroundings offer museums, walks and local gems to discover between sets.
Bookings via our travel partners. Prices stay the same for you; festt may earn a commission.
📋About
Boomtown 2026: the theatrical music festival in Winchester, UK
Boomtown is a one-of-a-kind festival in the United Kingdom: set at Materley Estate near Winchester, it builds an entire fictional city each summer with its own districts, themed stages and evolving storylines. Bringing together 100 artists in 2026, it blends spectacle, street arts and an eclectic music programme across five days.
The 2026 programme embraces rock, reggae, hip-hop and electronic music, featuring Skrillex, FAITHLESS, Four Tet and MADNESS among the headliners.
Boomtown's identity rests on its radical diversity: dubstep, drum & bass, ska punk, jungle, rave and metal coexist with singer-songwriter, folk and afrobeat. Each stage has its own sonic universe.
12 to 16 August 2026 at Materley Estate, United Kingdom. A total experience mixing music festival and immersive theatre — check the programme.
❓FAQ
What are the dates and how long does it run?
Boomtown takes place over the second week of August 2026, from 12 to 16 August, at Matterley Estate in Hampshire (SO21 1HW), a working dairy farm set in the South Downs National Park near Winchester.
How is the site laid out and how many areas are there?
The festival spreads across a large valley split into three main areas: Downtown (in the bowl at the bottom, home to Hydro XL, Area 404 and Botanica), Hilltop (high on the hill, with Anara, Throughtopia, Old Town and Grand Central) and the Lions Den Amphitheatre. Getting between them involves uphill and downhill travel.
Is there camping and an eco deposit?
Yes, Boomtown is a camping festival with a wide range of accommodation (campervan, bell tents, tipis, yurts via Camp Skylark, Camp Orchid and more). Every entry ticket includes a £20 Eco Bond deposit, redeemable at the end of the festival by bringing two bags of recyclable litter to a designated hub.
Is the site accessible for disabled visitors?
Yes, accessibility is extensive. The festival follows the Social Model of Disability and offers The Meadow Accessible Campsite (relatively flat), an accessible wristbanding lane at West Gate, calmer spaces and a dedicated Sensory Space, plus free Essential Companion tickets. A Nimbus Access Card is required, with the request form to be completed by 1 July 2026.
Is payment cashless?
Yes, Boomtown runs cash free across the whole site.
How do I get there? Are there shuttles?
The festival runs a coach/shuttle system from a large number of UK cities, including Bristol, Bath, Brighton, Cardiff, Birmingham, Cambridge and Bournemouth, to cut traffic and emissions. Exact routing is sent out with your ticket.
