Boardmasters or Reading festivals for post GCSE next summer?

[Kentmumof4]

My Yr11 daughter and friends want to go to either Boardmasters or Reading next summer (2026).

I need advice please from those whose daughters went to either or both this year.

Which is safer in your opinion? What problems did they encounter? Any tips?

Thanks.

Mine all went to Reading as soon as they got their GCSE results, it’s the same week. They said it’s full of drugs but all festivals are so you need to talk to them before they go. They had a great time and I asked not to hear the stories.

I go to Reading festival pretty much every year, day ticket, and I would not let my DD there without me nearby, it’s mental.
I went to Boardmasters this year and to be honest, I thought it was the perfect festival for a 16 year old. And they were so courteous and polite and really looking out for each other, it was lovely to see. And plenty of grown ups and security about.
The real test is how long it takes you to get to the bar. Reading has massive queues, at Boardmasters you walk straight to the bar. The problem with Boardmasters is the distance , they get driven by their mates who passed their test yesterday, I saw so many accidents.

Like with everything, it depends on your child and what kind of friends they have.

To be fair the organisers of boardmasters have massively upped their game. There seemed to be a real difference to when Dd 1 went in 2021 to when dd2 went in 2025.

I think it depends where you are and how streetwise your dd is. Probably better if their first festival is nearer to home (so you can get there quick if there's any issues), and better still if they go to one just for a day first so they've got an idea of what to expect.

My son and his mixed sex friend group did Boardmasters a couple of times when they were about 16/17 and loved it.

Boardmasters - always sounds lovely
reading - I’d stay away. Always sounds like a nightmare from parents i know whose kids went. Several parents I know were called from the first aid tent and had to pick up in the middle of the night due to spiking and / or bad drugs.

Never been to Boardmasters so can't comment but did do Leeds festival (sister one of Reading) for many years.

However haven't been back since 2007.
The Sunday night is usually when there are issues. I still vividly remember people trying to pick up my tent (whilst I was in it!) to throw on a fire they'd started with gas canisters 😳 riots were quite common, as were thefts in the campsites whilst people were in the arena, I recall one year where the porta loos were tipped over and other stuff as well. I just didn't feel safe and I was 19 not 16 then!

Id hope it's gotten better since then though!

DD hasn’t asked yet, but I’m guessing she probably will soon. I’m happy to let her go reading. but with a little compromise — I’ll be going too. DD does have ADHD and isn’t particularly street-wise, so if I’m being completely honest I wouldn’t be comfortable with her going on her own with friends. That said, there’s no way I’d say no altogether, especially after how hard she’s worked for her GCSEs — I don’t want to deny her the experience.

This feels like a good balance: she gets her independence, and I’m nearby if she wants or needs me, or just for the occasional check-in. The festival is huge, so we’re unlikely to bump into each other, but it gives me peace of mind knowing I’m there if anything does go wrong.

We went to Download last year and did the same thing. it was an absolute blast, so it feels like a nice way to do it again while keeping her safe.

The lineup for Latitude isn’t great and it is very much for middle aged people with kids. My teenager enjoyed it but with us.

He went to Reading for the day and stayed over with someone nearby. His friends did the whole weekend

They all had a great time and want to go again this year. The stories he heard from his friends who went to Boardmasters made him not want to go.