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"EDM Festival Packing List: What to Bring (and Skip)"

Facts checked against the sources below on .

Quick answer: Pack light. Most big EDM festivals want a small clear bag or a tiny clutch, an empty bottle or hydration pack where allowed (Ultra bans bottles), sunscreen (sealed and non-aerosol at Ultra), earplugs and a charged phone. Rules differ by festival and change every year, so read your festival's own list before you pack. [1][4][6]

Every festival has a bag line at the gate. Everyone has watched someone walk back to their car with a backpack. This list gets you through security on the first try.

We built Drop because we kept missing shows, so we've stood in plenty of these lines. Everything below comes from official festival pages we opened (listed at the bottom), plus CDC health guidance. Rules are "as of Oct 2026" and the 2027 pages were already live.

What bag can I bring to an EDM festival?

Small and often clear. The three official lists we read all say the same thing in different sizes:

  • EDC Las Vegas: clear bags up to 12" x 6" x 12", or a small clutch (clear or not) up to 6" x 9". Non-clear hydration packs are allowed with no more than two main compartments and one smaller one. [1]
  • Ultra Miami: clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags up to 13" x 17", a one-gallon clear zip-top bag, a hand-sized clutch, a fanny pack, or a hydration pack that is not a backpack. Ultra says security at the gate makes the final call. [5]
  • Decadence NYE: a clutch no larger than 6.5" x 4.5" or a hydration pack with limited compartments. Backpacks and large purses are out, including the plush ones. [6]

Check your own festival's page. Don't trust a blog post (including this one) over the official list.

Packing list: the essentials

  1. ID and your ticket or wristband. Screenshot the QR code in case service is bad at the gate.
  2. Phone, with a full charge. EDC's amenities page lists battery charging stations and lockers with a universal charger. [3]
  3. A small power bank and short cable. None of the three official lists we read mention power banks either way [1][4][6], so check your festival's current list and put it in your clear bag where security can see it.
  4. Empty reusable water bottle. EDC and Decadence both say it must be empty on entry [1][6]. Ultra bans bottles and canteens but allows empty hydration packs that aren't backpacks [4][5].
  5. Cards, not cash. More on that below.
  6. Earplugs. See the hearing section.
  7. Sealed sunscreen. Ultra allows non-aerosol sunscreen if it's sealed on entry [4]. EDC bans aerosol cans [1].
  8. Sunglasses and a hat. Both are on the allowed lists at Decadence [6].
  9. Any prescription meds. Keep them in the original labeled container. EDC wants to see the prescription and talk to a safety officer [1]. Ultra wants your name on the label matching your photo ID [4]. EDC's prohibited list also bans over-the-counter medication [1], so check before packing painkillers or allergy pills.
  10. Lip balm, tissues and a few wipes. Keep them sealed. Decadence turns away open lip balm and unsealed tampons [6], and Ultra turns away opened tampons and opened over-the-counter medication [4].

What should I wear for heat and sun?

Plan for the whole day, not the first hour. CDC advice for hot weather is simple: wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and sunscreen, and drink fluids even if you aren't thirsty. [7]

  • Broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, applied generously to every uncovered area [8].
  • A wide-brim hat and wraparound sunglasses that block UVA and UVB [8]. Check that the hat is allowed at your festival, and skip anything with a big structure.
  • Comfortable shoes you've already broken in. You'll walk a lot.
  • A light layer for night. Desert and waterfront festivals cool off after dark.

If you feel dizzy, weak or crampy, go find medical staff. CDC lists cramping, heavy sweating, weakness and dizziness as signs of heat exhaustion. [7] EDC says security and medical staff are on site all weekend. [3]

What about cold-weather festivals?

Winter shows like Decadence NYE run on a short, tight bag rule, so your layers have to be on your body, not in your bag. [6] Wear a warm coat you don't mind carrying around or checking into a locker if the festival offers one. Gloves and a beanie beat anything bulky.

Do I really need hearing protection?

Yes. We'd bring earplugs to every show. A few facts help explain why:

  • NIOSH, part of the CDC, recommends limiting noise to 85 dBA averaged over an eight-hour workday, and recommends cutting exposure time in half for every 3 dBA increase. [9]
  • The same page says sounds around 85 dBA often make you raise your voice to be heard at 3 feet. [9]
  • It lists bars, nightclubs and large sporting events among places averaging 95 dBA or higher. [9]

That guidance is written for workplaces, not festivals, so treat it as a rule of thumb. High-fidelity music earplugs lower volume without muffling everything. Foam plugs work too. Decadence lists earplugs as an allowed item. [6]

How do I stay hydrated?

  • Bring your empty bottle or pack and fill it at the free stations. EDC says it offers free water stations all weekend. [3]
  • Drink before you're thirsty. [7]
  • CDC's heat guidance for people working outside says to drink non-alcoholic fluids and take breaks often, and the same advice fits a festival. [7]
  • Eat something real before you go in. Outside food is banned at EDC, Ultra and Decadence. [1][4][6]

Is it cashless? What about cash?

EDC Las Vegas says it's a cashless event. Credit, debit, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Android Pay are accepted, and cash can be swapped onsite for a prepaid card. [2] Its amenities page says food and beverage stands take credit, debit, Apple Pay and Android Pay. [3] Pack a card, and keep your phone charged, because your phone may be your wallet.

Cashless setups differ by festival and year. Look for wristband or payment info in your festival's FAQ before the trip.

What can't I bring?

Same short list almost everywhere. Skip these:

  • Illegal drugs and paraphernalia. All three lists ban them. [1][4][6]
  • Outside food and drinks, including alcohol. [1][4][6]
  • Glass, cans and coolers (EDC), plus bottles, canteens and flasks (Ultra). [1][4]
  • Weapons and fireworks. [1][4][6]
  • Aerosol cans. [1][4]
  • Markers, pens and spray paint. [1][4][6]
  • Drones. [1][4]
  • Laser pointers. [1][4][6]
  • Professional cameras and recording gear. [1][4][6]
  • Chairs, blankets and tents. [1][4]

Some rules are festival-specific. Ultra bans glow sticks and stuffed animals [4]. EDC allows glow sticks, hula hoops and LED poi [1]. Decadence bans LED gloves and hula hoops [6]. Don't pack your favorite kandi accessory without checking.

Safety note: EDC lists sealed intranasal naloxone as an allowed item. [1]

Quick pre-gate checklist

  • Bag fits the size rule (measure it).
  • Water bottle or hydration pack is empty.
  • Sunscreen is sealed, and it's not an aerosol if aerosols are banned.
  • Phone charged, ticket screenshot saved.
  • Earplugs in the bag.
  • Nothing in your pockets you'd hate to lose at the gate.

Never miss the next one

We built Drop for exactly this: Drop is the app we built to find shows near you. Then come back to this list.

Sources

All accessed 2026-10-18. Rules change by year. Reread the official page before you travel.

  1. EDC Las Vegas, "Hours & Info" (EDC Las Vegas 2027), https://lasvegas.edc.com/guide/hours-and-info/
  2. EDC Las Vegas, "FAQ", https://lasvegas.edc.com/guide/faq/
  3. EDC Las Vegas, "Amenities & Services", https://lasvegas.edc.com/guide/amenities-services/
  4. Ultra Music Festival, "Prohibited Items List" (2027), https://ultramusicfestival.com/health-safety/prohibited-items-list/
  5. Ultra Music Festival, "Clear Bag Policy" (2027), https://ultramusicfestival.com/health-safety/clear-bag-policy/
  6. Decadence NYE, "Rules" (2026 edition), https://decadencenye.com/info/rules/
  7. CDC Climate and Health, "Protect Yourself From the Dangers of Extreme Heat" (June 25, 2024), https://www.cdc.gov/climate-health/php/resources/protect-yourself-from-the-dangers-of-extreme-heat.html
  8. CDC, "Reducing Risk for Skin Cancer" (June 17, 2026), https://www.cdc.gov/skin-cancer/prevention/index.html
  9. CDC / NIOSH, "Noise-Induced Hearing Loss" (Jan. 30, 2024), https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/noise/about/noise.html