Festivals put huge numbers of people, crew and artists on one site for days at a time. Lanyards help organise all of them: they hold passes, show who can go where, and put your festival’s branding, or a sponsor’s, on thousands of people. Here is how to plan lanyards for a festival.
Lanyards or wristbands?
Most festivals use both. Wristbands are ideal for general admission because they stay on for the whole event and can’t easily be passed to someone else. Lanyards are better when you need to display a printed pass with a name, photo or access zones, which is typical for:
- Crew, stewards and security
- Artists and performers
- Press and photographers
- Traders and caterers
- VIP and hospitality guests
Colour-coding access zones
Backstage, production, artist areas and hospitality all need controlled access. Give each pass type its own lanyard colour or printed wording so security can check access from a distance, even in a crowd or at night. Ready-made Crew, Security, VIP and Volunteer lanyards are quick to order, or we can print your festival’s own design for each zone.
Built for outdoor conditions
Festival lanyards face rain, sun, mud and days of continuous wear. Choose:
- Dye sublimation lanyards, where the print is bonded into the fabric so it won’t peel or crack.
- Reflective lanyards for crew working after dark, in car parks or near vehicles.
- Safety breakaway clips, so a lanyard that catches in a crowd or on equipment releases rather than pulls.
- Strong, weatherproof card holders to protect passes.
Sponsorship and merchandise
A festival lanyard is seen all weekend and often kept as a souvenir. That makes it a valuable sponsorship asset, and a strong merchandise line. Full-colour designs with the line-up artwork or festival branding are popular with fans who want a keepsake. Our eco lanyards, made from recycled PET, bamboo or organic cotton, suit festivals with sustainability commitments.
Planning timeline
- Confirm pass types and how many of each you need, plus spares.
- Finalise artwork, including sponsor logos and colours.
- Request a quote and approve the free digital proof.
- Allow time for production and delivery, with a buffer before build week.
- Pack and sort lanyards by pass type before accreditation opens.
See our event lanyards or get a free quote. We reply within 30 minutes during working hours and deliver free to any UK address.
