Glastonbury Attendees Get On Average 4.19 Hours of Sleep Per Night

As festival season gets underway, whether attending an inner-city event or travelling to a far-flung field, music fans across the country are preparing for a packed summer of their favourite artists. However, with late-night sets and noisy campsites, a new survey by MattressNextDay reveals that attendees average just 4.33 hours of sleep each night, with a quarter (24%) saying they have gone more than a full day without sleeping. Unsurprisingly, 24% also reported missing performances as a result of exhaustion.

The study of 1,000 UK festival goers looked into their sleep routines, factors affecting rest, and how sleep deprivation has impacted their overall experience. Green Man, held in the Brecon Beacons, was ranked the most sleep-deprived, with attendees averaging just 4 hours and 4 minutes of rest per night.

Following the research, Martin Seeley, Senior Sleep Expert at MattressNextDay, encourages festival goers to “try to schedule a recovery day after the festival to let your body reset and catch up on lost sleep”, outlining that the nervous system can remain in a heightened state, even following the festival.

Green Man is the UK’s most sleep-deprived festival at an average of 4 hours 4 minutes a night

Rank	Festivals	Location	Average amount of sleep at festival per night (hours/minutes)
1	Green Man	Wales, United Kingdom	4:04
2	Boomtown	Hampshire, United Kingdom	4:09
3	Creamfields	Cheshire, United Kingdom	4:16
4	Latitude Festival	Suffolk, United Kingdom	4:18
5	Glastonbury	Somerset, United Kingdom	4:19

Green Man Festival has officially earned the title of the UK’s most sleep-deprived festival, with attendees getting an average of just 4 hours and 4 minutes of sleep per night. Held in the scenic hills of Wales, the festival may be known for its laid-back vibe and eclectic line-up, this year including CMAT, Wet Leg and Underworld— but it’s far from restful when it comes to sleep.

Boomtown (4:09) and Creamfields (4:16) clock in at second and third It’s of little wonder revellers are sacrificing sleep for these line up, with Boomtown’s  eclectic lineup including Hybrid Minds, and punk icons the Sex Pistols, while Creamfields line up features a heavyweight electronic lineup with over 300 acts, including exclusive sets from David Guetta, Martin Garrix, and Amelie Lens.

Glastonbury clocks in at fifth at 4 hours 19 minutes sleep on average, and with the legendary festival this year hosting equally as legendary acts such as Neil Young, and some of the biggest acts of the year like Charli XCX it’s of little wonder festival goers are putting sleep lower down on the priority list.

More than half have fallen asleep somewhere unexpected, like a portaloo or in the crowd

With the recommended amount of sleep being between 7 and 9 hours², the average UK festival attendee falls well short, getting just 4.33 hours per night. In fact, 63% say they get less than 4 hours of sleep, and almost a quarter (24%) have gone more than 24 hours without sleeping.

Sleep deprivation has well-known physical and mental effects, including impaired cognitive function and mood changes, so it’s no surprise that many festival goers find themselves dozing off in unusual locations.

Have you ever fallen asleep somewhere unexpected at a festival?	%
Yes – on someone else’s campsite	24%
Yes – in a crowd	20%
Yes – next to a speaker	14%
Yes – in a portaloo	11%

According to the survey, 24% of festival goers have dozed off on someone else’s campsite, whether getting disorientated and not finding their way back, or being too tired to make the extra journey. Meanwhile, 20% have fallen asleep while still in the crowd, showing just how exhausting the festival weekend can be. Other surprising locations include next to a speaker (14%) and even inside a portaloo (11%), highlighting the uncomfortable lengths festival goers will go for a nap.

A quarter (24%) have missed out on their favourite acts due to lack of sleep

Across the weekend, festival goers will have earmarked their favourite acts to see across the weekend, from legendary headliners to up-and-coming bands. But, unfortunately, a quarter (24%) have missed out on acts due to lack of sleep, with over a third (34%) missing out on a late-night event.

What disturbed your sleep the most at a festival?	%
Noisy campers	52%
Loud music	44%
Uncomfortable sleeping setup	38%
Weather	34%
Lighting	16%
Loud sex	16%
Security	11%

When asked about the most common factors disturbing their sleep, noisy campers topped the list (54%), as revellers debrief on the day and keep the party going. Unsurprisingly, 44% cited loud music, especially among those staying on-site. Unpredictable weather affected 34% of people, with reports of tents being flooded or blown away in previous years.

However, with wellness becoming increasingly important, many are taking matters into their own hands. Over half (54%) of those surveyed said they bring earphones to festivals, while 27% carry noise-cancelling headphones. Interestingly, one in ten (14%) even bring a white noise machine.

Commenting Martin Seeley, Senior Sleep Expert at MattressNextDay said, “Festivals are incredibly stimulating environments – from the constant noise and bright lights to the excitement of live performances and social interaction. These experiences trigger the release of adrenaline and cortisol, the body’s natural stress hormones, which keep you alert and energised but also delay the onset of sleep. Even once the music stops, your nervous system can remain in a heightened state, making it difficult to unwind and achieve restorative rest.

“On top of that, disrupted routines, irregular mealtimes, alcohol, and caffeine all contribute to broken sleep and reduced sleep quality. Over time, this sleep deprivation can impact your mood, weaken your immune system, and slow down overall recovery – particularly if you’re camping in less-than-ideal conditions.

To help combat this, I recommend establishing a small wind-down routine even while at a festival – for example, wearing blue light–blocking glasses in the evening, avoiding stimulants several hours before bed, and listening to calming music or guided meditations through noise-cancelling headphones. An eye mask, earplugs, and a supportive travel pillow can also make a big difference to your sleep quality. If you can, try to schedule a recovery day after the festival to let your body reset and catch up on lost sleep.”

To view more information on the study, including full details on the best and worst festivals for sleep, please visit:  https://www.mattressnextday.co.uk/snooze-news/post/ten-tips-for-getting-the-best-sleep-you-can-manage-at-a-festival