Every festival season new items pop up that make life on the grounds a little easier. Some are hypes that disappear after one summer, others stay in everyone's festival bag year after year because they simply work. This is our list of festival gadgets for 2026 worth bringing along.
1. A festival cup holder
Starting with the simplest, and maybe the most underrated: a cup clip. You clip it onto your waistband or belt, your deposit cup clicks into it, and your hands stay free the rest of the day. No more cup loose in your hand, no more worrying you'll knock it over or lose it among hundreds of others.
Festiclip is such a clip: 3D printed in the Netherlands, available in any colour, and made to fit the standard deposit cups used at virtually every Dutch or Belgian festival. More explanation in our article what is a festival cup holder.
2. A powerbank you actually remember to charge
A dead phone at a festival means no photos, no sharing your location with your group, and no way to find someone if you get separated. A small 5,000 to 10,000 mAh powerbank is enough for a full festival day and fits easily in a hip bag.
3. Earplugs with a filter
Not the cheap foam ones that mute everything, but earplugs with an acoustic filter. Those lower the volume without making the music sound dull. Your hearing lasts you longer than one festival summer, and you'll have less ringing in your ears the next day.
4. A hip bag or crossbody bag
Free hands doesn't start only with your cup. A hip bag keeps your phone, cash, keys and earplugs with you without needing a backpack that gets in the way on a crowded dance floor.
5. A rain poncho, even if the forecast is dry
Dutch and Belgian festival summers are unpredictable. A foldable poncho barely takes up space and saves your festival day if an unexpected shower rolls through.
6. Sunscreen, even on cloudy days
A full day outside, even without bright sun, still means UV exposure. A small tube of sunscreen in your bag stops you from showing up at work on Monday with a burnt neck.
7. Spare batteries or a charging cable
For people bringing a smartwatch or wireless earbuds: a small extra cable or set of batteries can be the difference between staying reachable or not by the end of the night.
Why cup holders are getting more popular in 2026
Deposit systems for festival cups are now the standard at almost every major event. That means everyone carries a cup around all day, and demand grows for a convenient way to hold it without occupying your hands constantly. Where a cup holder was a niche gadget a few years ago, you now see it more and more among festival-goers. Read also why many people are switching in our article never hold your cup in your hand at a festival again.
Also interesting for brands
Companies and festival brands see the same trend and increasingly use gadgets like the cup clip as a giveaway with their own logo. A printed clip that stays visible on someone's belt all day delivers more brand exposure than a flyer that's in the bin within an hour. Read more about this in festival giveaway with logo for brands.
Pick your own essentials
Not every gadget on this list is essential for everyone, but a cup holder is a simple upgrade for almost every festival-goer. Check out the colours and order your own Festiclip, or as a brand request a quote for printed clips with a logo.