What to Bring to a Concert or Festival
Written by Kimberly Saenz | July 10th, 2026
Now that summer has descended somewhat violently upon us, here are some concert-goer must haves! Curated for our Nopals who live in or are traveling to Texas, for our Nopals abroad (across ages and gender), and regardless of indoor or outdoor venues, be prepared for any concert or festival with this list.
Clear bag or venue-friendly sized bag:
Whether you are smuggling travel-sized ranch into the World Cup or simply attending your favorite annual music festival, always remember to check the venue’s bag policy. Small, clear bags have become the standard policy for many arenas, stadiums, theaters, and outdoor venues, with the size ranging from 4.5” x 6.5” to 12” x 6” x 12”. Don’t be the person who has to walk back to the car in the summer heat, or worse, uber back to the hotel while your favorite pop artist is performing because you brought a huge, opaque tote bag filled to the brim with bottles of ranch. For the fashion forward, clear/mini bags and purses come in a variety of colors, materials, and shapes, from affordable to luxury brands. We recommend a bag worthy of multiple wears. Gone are the days of one-time-wear clothing and accessories, you never know when your clutch will come in clutch.
Shades:
Pack your favorite pair of sunglasses (which hopefully include your prescription). Otherwise, you can’t forget your day to day prescription glasses. Seeing your favorite artist in concert should be a euphoric blur, figuratively, not literally. Whether you are watching the stage with the sun overhead, or in the dark recesses of the city’s main amphitheater, you won’t miss a beat.
Sun Protection:
Sunscreen is a practical, preventative item for regular use, especially when attending outdoor festivities. The world is only getting warmer under the current administration, protect yourself while you still can. Like anything else, sunscreen is sold under many brands and prices; do your research, find the one with the best SPF amounts and sheer application (if you mind the pasty residue of mineral sunscreen). Check venue policies for admittance of travel-sized sunscreen, pack a compact umbrella, and wear your lucky dad cap, bucket hat, headscarf, or balaclava.
Comfortable shoes:
The right arch support can determine how the rest of your evening goes. Not only do you want to wear your most comfortable shoes, but you must pick a pair you don’t mind getting scuffed up. Unless you won’t mind dirt, tread marks, and alcohol staining your satin tabi flats, leave your Maison Margiela’s at home. Sneakers can be a great way to maximize comfort while complimenting your outfit. Wear your go-to pair of Chucks or Sambas, anything that will keep the ankle blisters at bay and the tabis in mint condition.
Pocket-sized wallet:
Either your wallet has to fit safely in your pockets, or it has to fit in your clear bag. Do not walk around without identification, the inability to buy drinks, food, and merch, or the inability to enter a library. Get yourself a cardholder, a money clip, a coin purse, a phonecase wallet attachment, whatever it takes to make sure your baby bunnies have a proper place to sleep. If you need anyone to hang on to your finances and your bunnies, we can take care of that.
Camera
No, not the surveillance state M*ta glasses. Go analog. If the venue allows, take your handheld camcorder, film camera (instant, disposable, etc.), or even a handheld digital camera. Bring physical media back, fill a scrapbook or photo albums with pictures of you and your friends spending quality time together at a concert. Create tangible memories and be present while the artist performs for you! This goes without saying, but triple check the venue policy before taking your finest photography and video gear to a place that doesn’t allow cameras.
Earplugs:
Many people overlook how sensitive the ears are, sustaining damage to their hearing each time they go to a live music event. We get it, you want to be at the barricade, you want to be vibrating against the nearest speaker with every guitar strum, but ear plugs can make the experience even better! Loop seems to be the trendier choice for earplugs right now, with collaborations, customizations, and a wide selection of colors, but there is no shortage of options out there. The better you protect your ears, the more concerts you’ll be able to attend with crisp hearing.
Wipes and hand sanitizer:
Think of all of the surfaces you will be touching, the people you’ll be crowdsurfing, the porter-potties you’ll need to brave in the darkness of night, which with your luck, will be out of soap and running water. They are always out of soap and running water. Wipes, hand sanitizer, and even toilet-seat covers are easy to slip into any bag for emergencies.
Empty water bottle:
Most festivals have water stations for you to refill your personal bottle as needed. Think you can tough it out? They also have a medic tent for when you pass out. Global warming is here, baby; you must stay hydrated. Assuming you are of age, drink water in between the alcoholic beverages you’re spending twenty dollars on. You, too, can look as charming as the members of BTS while drinking from your water bottle.
Surely, everyone has different needs and different items they cannot go anywhere without, but this checklist is an accessible and amusing way to make sure you’re not forgetting anything important. One last thing before you go: have fun, take care of yourself and others, and pick up after yourself!
