Creamfields 2026 has opened at the Daresbury Estate in Cheshire, beginning four days of electronic music over the August Bank Holiday weekend with more than 250 artists and about 80,000 festivalgoers expected.

The festival runs from Thursday, August 27 to Sunday, August 30, with campers remaining on site until Monday. Swedish House Mafia, Calvin Harris, Tiësto, Martin Garrix, Disclosure, Faithless, Underworld, Fisher and Carl Cox are among the major names appearing as Creamfields celebrates 20 years at Daresbury.

For anyone attending, the line-up is only part of the planning. Exact set times, entrances, transport arrangements, camping rules and what visitors can take through security can make a major difference to the weekend.

Creamfields 2026 dates, location and opening times

Creamfields takes place at the Daresbury Estate in Cheshire from Thursday, August 27 through Sunday, August 30. The site is off the A56 and close to the M56, between Warrington and Runcorn.

Campsites open at 12:00 BST on Thursday and close at 12:00 on Monday. Day-ticket entry times vary, with last entry to the festival site at 21:00 each day.

Creamfields Thursday line-up

Thursday begins with a more compact programme before the festival expands across additional stages on Friday.

Laidback Luke, Vikkstar, Pretty Pink, Morgan Kasiera and Kola are among the Steel Yard Cream Terrace acts. Richard Durand, Shugz, Tenishia and Maria Healy feature at Rong, while Ferreck Dawn, Matt Sassari and Alex Mills are among the Cream performers.

Friday: Disclosure, Fisher, Eric Prydz and Carl Cox

Friday brings several of the weekend’s major performances. Disclosure Live leads the Arc programme, while Fisher tops Apex with Eric Prydz appearing as a special guest.

Carl Cox leads HALO, with Ben Nicky, Darren Styles, Lilly Palmer, Maddix, Eats Everything, Shy FX & MC Rage, Paul Oakenfold and Giuseppe Ottaviani among other Friday performers.

Saturday: Calvin Harris, Martin Garrix and Underworld

Saturday has one of the festival’s biggest schedules, with Calvin Harris among the headline attractions.

Martin Garrix, Armin van Buuren, Alesso, Dimitri Vegas, Ben Hemsley and MK are also among Saturday’s major names. Steel Yard features Underworld Live and Amelie Lens presents AURA alongside a wider electronic programme.

Sunday: Swedish House Mafia, Tiësto and Faithless

Swedish House Mafia are one of Sunday’s biggest attractions at Apex, alongside Duke Dumont, D.O.D, Danny Howard and Ewan McVicar.

Sonny Fodera, Becky Hill and Armand van Helden feature on the Arc programme. Steel Yard includes Tiësto and Faithless Live, while Fatboy Slim fronts the Fatboy Slim Loves programme.

Where to find Creamfields 2026 set times

Festivalgoers searching for the exact time Calvin Harris, Swedish House Mafia, Tiësto or another artist performs should use the official Creamfields app.

The app provides current set times organised by day and stage and allows visitors to favourite artists and create reminders. It also provides festival information and maps, including Find My Tent and Find My Car tools.

Running orders can change, so visitors should check the app during the festival rather than relying entirely on an older timetable or screenshot.

How to get to Creamfields

Big Green Coach is offering direct return services to the festival from numerous UK pickup locations. Creamfields shuttle services operate to and from Liverpool, Manchester and Warrington, while return-only services operate to Runcorn and Widnes.

The nearest useful rail stations include Runcorn, Warrington Central, Warrington Bank Quay and Liverpool Lime Street. Festival traffic and the wider Bank Holiday rush mean passengers should allow additional time for connections.

Anyone driving should follow temporary festival road signs rather than relying solely on sat-nav because several traffic-management measures are operating around Daresbury. Drivers can check the Creamfields 2026 road closures and travel restrictions for details on local closures, one-way systems, parking, shuttle buses and the busiest travel periods.

Parking, taxis and Monday departures

On-site parking is available, along with designated taxi drop-off and pickup areas. Visitors who have not already arranged parking should check current availability and pricing before travelling rather than assuming spaces will be available on arrival.

Monday is likely to be particularly busy as thousands of campers leave at similar times. Return shuttle services operate during the morning, including connections towards major rail and transport hubs.

Creamfields is not the only major UK music event taking place over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Reading & Leeds Festival 2026 also runs from August 27 to 30, meaning festival traffic and rail demand could be heavier on some long-distance routes during the weekend.

What can you take into Creamfields?

The rules differ between campsites and the main arena. Arena bags must be A4 size or smaller, although larger camping bags can be taken into the campsite.

Day visitors can bring a sealed 500ml plastic bottle of water. Empty reusable plastic or metal bottles are also permitted for refilling.

Campers can bring food into the campsite, but outside food cannot be taken into the arena. Alcohol can be brought into camping areas within the festival’s permitted allowance, but visitors cannot take their own alcohol into the arena.

Prohibited items festivalgoers should know about

Glass is prohibited, so campers should check toiletries, drinks and other belongings before leaving home.

Aerosols, gas canisters, fireworks, flares, drones, selfie sticks, portable speakers, weapons and professional SLR cameras are among other restricted items. Disposable vapes are prohibited, while refillable vapes are permitted under the festival rules.

Because restrictions can be updated for operational or safety reasons, attendees should check the latest festival guidance before travelling.

Creamfields is an 18+ festival

Creamfields is an 18-and-over event. Under-18s are not permitted in the campsite or arena.

Visitors should bring acceptable identification where required. Ticket holders should also keep their digital ticket accessible before approaching the entrance to avoid unnecessary delays.

Police, searches and festival security

Cheshire Police is working alongside Creamfields security throughout the weekend. There is an increased police presence, with officers focusing on festivalgoer safety, crime and disorder as well as limiting disruption for people living around Daresbury, Warrington and Runcorn.

Entry security includes searches, and festivalgoers should allow enough time to pass through entrance procedures before an important performance.

Police are also using retrospective facial recognition during Creamfields 2026, allowing CCTV images to be compared with police databases where appropriate as part of investigations.

Medical and welfare help

First Aid and Welfare facilities are available around the festival, including facilities near Downtown and the arena entrance.

Visitors can seek confidential assistance for medical problems and concerns involving alcohol, drugs, mental health or sexual health. Campsite zone hubs can also help festivalgoers reach medical or welfare teams.

Downtown Village: what is available beyond the stages?

Creamfields 2026 is offering more than music. Downtown includes fitness, sport, wellness and quieter activities for campers looking for a break from the main arenas.

The Sunrise Strip houses the Creamfields Gymnasium, while two padel courts have been introduced for 2026. A darts challenge and football tournament are also part of the programme.

Pilates, yoga, meditation and sound baths are among the wellness options. A quiet sensory corner with activities including colouring and jigsaws offers another option for visitors wanting time away from the intensity of the stages.

What to check before travelling

Festivalgoers should download the Creamfields app, save priority performances, confirm their transport and entrance, check their ticket and identification, and remove prohibited items before setting off.

Those driving should leave additional time for local congestion, while rail and shuttle users should check live services before departure, particularly for the Monday journey home.

With more than 250 artists spread across multiple stages, the most useful step once inside is to check the current set times in the official app and plan around the performances that matter most.

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