Smukfest packing list 2026: what to bring and what to leave at home

You have a week in Skanderborg Dyrehave and a bag that has to pass through the gate first. Every entrance at Smukfest runs a bag search for all festival goers. That changes the calculus for what you carry. Here is what actually earns its place in your day bag, what belongs in an Event Locker on the grounds, and what you can leave at camp or at home entirely.

Smukfest 2026 runs 4-9 August on the festival grounds, with camping available from 2 August at Skanderborg Dyrehave.

What happens at the gate

Smukfest's official order rules are direct: only persons and bags that have been inspected gain access to the festival area. Security staff check every bag at every entrance. This is not a spot-check system.

The rules do not list a specific bag size limit, but a small, organised day bag moves through the queue far faster than a loaded backpack. Keep your daily carry lean, and let an Event Locker hold what you do not need on your body all day.

What gets stopped at the gate

The following items cannot be brought onto the festival grounds, per the official rules:

• Drinks not purchased on-site (including cans, cartons, and bottles from outside)
• Glass bottles of any kind
• Food (not permitted past the entrance gates)
• Professional recording equipment, cameras, video and audio gear
• Drones
• Illegal substances
• Weapons of any kind
• Flags, banners, and banner poles
• Fireworks and laser pointers
• Seating furniture
• Animals

If you are diabetic or have a medical need to carry food or drink, speak to staff at the entrance with documentation.

What goes in your day bag

Pack for a long day in the forest. These are the items that genuinely earn their place:

• Valid ID and wristband. Both are required for entry. Keep your ID in your pocket, not buried at the bottom of your bag.
• Empty refillable water bottle. Free water stations are on the festival grounds. Bring the bottle empty through the gate and fill it inside. Glass is prohibited, so bring plastic or metal.
• Earplugs. Front-of-stage sound is loud. Good earplugs improve the experience and protect your hearing across a full week.
• Rain layer. August in Skanderborg can turn wet with little warning. A packable jacket takes up almost no space in a day bag.
• Sunscreen. The open stages offer little shade on clear days. Bring enough for the day or buy it on-site.
• Cash or card. Most vendors at Smukfest are cashless, but it is worth having both options.
• Charged phone. Your wristband QR code, the Smukkortet app, and stage maps all live on your phone. Make sure it is charged before you walk through the gate. If your battery is already low, pick up a Volt-Charger on arrival.

Keeping your phone charged all week

Battery management is one of the few festival problems with a simple fix. Volt runs charging services across Smukfest: three staffed Volt Charging Service booths on the grounds and six Volt Self-Service Charging stations in the camping areas, according to the festival's practical guide.

The Volt Charging Service works on a swap model. Pick up a Volt-Charger at a staffed booth, a refundable deposit applies if you do not already own one from a previous year, then swap it for a fully charged unit once a day. Choose a swap pass if you want unlimited swaps across the full week, or go pay per use if you only need power on certain days.

The Volt Self-Service Charging stations in the camping areas are grab-and-go: three cables built into each unit, no staff needed, open when the staffed booths are not. SOUNDBOKS battery swaps are also available at KærligHeden, Mark 2 for anyone bringing a speaker.

AURA also provides free table-mounted phone chargers on the festival grounds for short top-ups when you are near a stage area.

Book the Volt Charging Service ahead of time at smukfest.dk/kiosk. Walk-in is possible but booking saves time in the first busy days of the festival.

What goes in your Event Locker

An Event Locker at Smukfest changes what you need to carry through the gate each day. Store valuables, an extra layer, or your spare Volt-Charger in the locker, then collect them when you need them rather than lugging everything around the forest from noon to midnight.

Volt's Event Lockers at Smukfest are located at Sølund, Skanderborghus, and Skovlunden. Each unit measures 30x30x50 cm, enough for a phone, wallet, light jacket, and a few personal items. You can open and re-lock as many times as you like during operating hours. Book in advance via smukfest.dk/kiosk or through Smukkiosken on-site.

Note: Event Lockers do not have built-in power outlets. Charge your devices at a Volt Charging Service booth or a self-service station, then store them in the locker.

What stays at camp

The camping rules permit several items that cannot pass through the festival entrance:

• Coolers and ice boxes with closed, sealed ice systems
• Light camping furniture
• CE-certified electrical devices and solar panels (unmodified)
• Wagons or carts for moving luggage (must fit within your tent footprint)

Tents are capped at 16 m² including guy ropes and pegs. The camping area prohibits open flames, disposable grills, camping stoves, generators, large batteries (car, scooter, boat), keg systems, gas cylinders, and upholstered furniture. No candles either.

What to leave at home

To save yourself a confiscation at the gate: leave glass, outside drinks and food, professional camera gear, drones, fireworks, and seating furniture at home. None of these will get through. Flags and banners also will not pass, regardless of size.

The short version: what goes where

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring food through the entrance gates at Smukfest?

No. Smukfest does not allow food or drinks purchased outside the festival grounds past the entrance gates. Eat at camp before you go in or buy food from vendors on the grounds. If you have a medical need, speak to staff at the entrance.

Can I bring a reusable water bottle?

Yes, bring it empty. Fill it for free at the water stations inside the festival grounds. Bring plastic or metal, not glass.

Where are the Event Lockers at Smukfest?

At three locations: Sølund, Skanderborghus, and Skovlunden. Book ahead at smukfest.dk/kiosk or through Smukkiosken on-site.

Where can I charge my phone at Smukfest?

Volt runs three staffed Volt Charging Service booths on the festival grounds and six Volt Self-Service Charging stations in the camping areas. AURA also provides free table-mounted chargers in certain areas of the grounds. Book a swap pass at smukfest.dk/kiosk before the festival starts.

What is the bag size limit at Smukfest?

Smukfest's official rules require all bags to be searched at every entrance but do not publish a specific size limit. A small day bag (roughly 15-20 litres) is practical and fast to search. For the latest rules, check the official order rules page ahead of your trip.

Can I bring a cooler to Smukfest?

Coolers are allowed in the camping area only, and only those with closed, sealed ice systems (no loose ice). Coolers cannot be brought through the festival entrance onto the festival grounds.

Is there SOUNDBOKS battery swap at Smukfest?

Yes. Volt runs a SOUNDBOKS battery swap service at KærligHeden, Mark 2. Fresh batteries are available on demand throughout the festival. Check smukfest.dk/kiosk for the latest service details.