Glastonbury Named One of Europe’s Most Exhausting Festivals

As the summer festival season approaches, more Brits are swapping hotel check-ins for tents and glitter, but it comes at a cost to their sleep. With late night raves, noisy campsites and packed out schedules, sleep is often the first thing to go. In fact, new research from MattressNextDay reveals the festivals where sleep is hardest to come by, with some attendees averaging as little as four hours of rest per night.

To uncover just how sleep deprived festivalgoers really are, the sleep experts analysed the most popular festivals across the UK and Europe and revealed what’s really keeping people up. From bass heavy nights in Barcelona to early morning wake up calls in the Welsh hills, the results reveal which festivals are a total sleep write off – and which ones still give you half a chance to recharge.

The European festivals that never switch off

When it comes to sleepless festivals, Barcelona’s Sónar takes the top spot – with festival goers managing just 4 hours and 3 minutes of sleep a night. With its buzzing electronic music scene, non-stop late-night sets, and a city that thrives after dark, it’s no surprise that sleep doesn’t exactly make the schedule.

France’s Hellfest and Primavera Sound (also in Barcelona), where some attendees stay awake for more than 20 hours a day. Over in Amsterdam, Dekmantel takes things to another level – with 90% of people admitting they’ve nodded off in the most unexpected places… including mid-rave.

At Poland’s Open’er Festival, it’s tent drama keeping people up – 25% say noisy neighbours are the biggest sleep spoiler. But even at the more intense parties, people are trying to plan ahead. At Primavera, 73% bring earplugs in a bid to grab a few precious ZZZs. Sónar though? It seems sleep is totally optional.

UK festivals that sacrifice sleep for party

Back in the UK, Green Man Festival in Wales ranks as the country’s most sleep-deprived , and second overall in Europe, with attendees getting just 4 hours and 4 minutes of sleep per night. Set in the heart of the Brecon Beacons, the festival’s late night buzz makes it tough for attendees to wind down and get the rest they need.

Sleep takes a stranger turn at Boomtown, where 35% of attendees nod off in crowds, and at Lost Village, where 23% have dozed off in portaloos. Whilst Download is officially the loudest festival, with 65% kept up by non-stop party chatter, over at Parklife and Isle of Wight, 1 in 5 blame sleepless nights on their tent neighbours getting a little too friendly.

How to crack the code to festival sleep

Getting quality sleep at a festival can feel impossible – from noisy neighbours to sloped campsites and late-night partying, there’s no shortage of sleep disruptors. But with a few expert tricks, you can still catch some restorative rest. With this in mind, Martin Seeley, CEO and Senior Sleep Expert at MattressNextDay, reveals his top tips for better sleep at festivals:

“If you can, choose a quiet camping spot away from busy areas like walkways and toilets, or take advantage of any ‘quiet camp’ zones. Bringing your own pillow also makes a big difference by adding a touch of comfort and familiarity that helps you drift off easier. And if you’re feeling wiped out during the day, a 20 minute power nap can really recharge you, just be careful not to nap too long or you might feel groggy instead of refreshed.”

Martin concludes, “Festival sleep might not be perfect, but by setting yourself up properly and sticking to a few good habits, you’ll feel more rested – and be able to enjoy every moment without burning out.”

To see where other UK/EU festivals ranked, please visit: https://www.mattressnextday.co.uk/snooze-news/post/ten-tips-for-getting-the-best-sleep-you-can-manage-at-a-festival