Festival & Concert Safety
Keeping young people safe at festivals and concerts — including crowd safety, drug risks, phone theft, and the risk of predatory adults.
What is this?
Attending festivals and concerts is an exciting milestone for many teenagers, often involving their first experience of large crowds, independence away from home, and late-night environments. While the vast majority of young people have safe and enjoyable experiences, festivals and concerts present a range of risks including crowd crush, drug and alcohol exposure, theft, and contact with predatory adults. Preparation and clear communication before the event significantly reduces these risks.
How it works
Festivals and concerts combine a number of risk factors simultaneously: large, dense crowds; alcohol and drug availability; the normalisation of reckless behaviour; fatigue; mobile network congestion that prevents easy communication; and a culture that can discourage young people from seeking help when things go wrong. Predatory individuals may target young people who are separated from their group, intoxicated, or visibly vulnerable. Crowd surges can occur suddenly, particularly near the front of the crowd at live music events.
Warning signs
Prevention steps
Plan and communicate before the event
Before your child attends a festival or concert, agree on a detailed safety plan: who they are going with, how they will get there and home, where to meet if separated (a specific landmark, not just 'the entrance'), and what time you expect to hear from them. Share your contact details with their friends' parents too.
Discuss drug and alcohol risks honestly
Have a frank conversation about the likelihood that drugs and alcohol will be available at the event. Make clear what your expectations are and explain the specific risks — including drink spiking, adverse reactions to unknown substances, and the vulnerability that intoxication creates. Equip them with the language and confidence to say no and to look out for friends who may be in difficulty.
Prepare for crowd safety
Teach your child what to do if they are caught in a crowd surge: stay calm, face the direction of movement, keep their arms up to protect their chest, move to the side of the crowd rather than fighting directly against it, and shout for help if they fall. Identify the locations of first aid stations before the event begins.
What to do if it happens
- 1If your child is in immediate danger at a festival or concert — including crowd crush, a medical emergency, or being approached by a predatory adult — they should contact venue security or event staff immediately, or call 999.
- 2If your child's phone is stolen, contact their network provider to suspend the SIM and use Find My Device or Find My iPhone to remotely lock the handset. Report the theft to the police via 101 or online at actionfraud.police.uk.
- 3If your child is involved in a drug-related incident, ensure they receive medical attention without delay. Festival medical teams are there to help and are not there to get young people into trouble — getting help promptly is always the right thing to do.
Related topics
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last reviewed: 2026-04-15