Busfest 2026: Your Complete Guide to the World's Biggest VW Bus Festival

Busfest 2026 runs from 11–13 September at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern, Worcestershire — the 32nd year running that VW events have been held on this site, going all the way back to the original Vanfest in 1994. Whether you're bringing your bay window, T5 or a rusty project bus, here's everything you need to know about tickets, camping zones, the programme and getting there.

Quick Facts

• Dates: 11–13 September 2026, Friday gates open 16:00
• Location: Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6NW
• Tickets: Weekend camping from £70 (adult) + £35 per camping unit (7m x 7m plot); day tickets from £20
• Camping zones: 6 zones to choose from, from Family to No Dog to the new Electric Hook Up zone
• On the programme: 5 stages of live music, a stunt show, Show & Shine, the Syncro Trial, Trade Village — plus a brand-new "Winter Wonderland" in the middle of September
• No mains power in most zones: only two of the six camping zones offer electric hook-ups, so self-sufficient kit is worth packing

What is Busfest?

What started in 1994 as a small meet called Vanfest at the Three Counties Showground has grown into the world's largest international festival for VW Transporter owners and enthusiasts. Busfest 2026 marks the 32nd year of events at Malvern, split across the Vanfest and Busfest names. Despite the VW-heavy branding, the organisers are clear that this is a family-friendly weekend for everyone — you don't need a rusty camper, a lifted 4x4 or a mint classic to have a good time here.

When & where is Busfest 2026?

The festival runs Friday 11 September to Sunday 13 September 2026 at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern, Worcestershire (WR13 6NW). Friday evening visitors can enter from 16:00 via Yellow Gate and must leave by midnight. Saturday and Sunday day visitors park at the dedicated Day Visitor Car Park and enter through Day Gate.

Getting there

The showground sits right in Malvern and is well served by the A449 and A438. Parking is free for day visitors, while camping guests park directly at their booked pitch. Disabled parking is available at both the Day Visitor car park and Yellow Gate. For a full interactive site map with halls, gates, camping zones and toilet blocks, check the official Busfest site information page.

Busfest 2026 tickets: prices & camping zones

Day visitor tickets

• Friday evening entertainment ticket (16:00–24:00): price TBC
• Saturday day ticket (09:00–24:00, includes evening entertainment): £25 (pre-booked)
• Sunday day ticket (09:00–18:00): £20 (pre-booked)
• Combined Saturday & Sunday ticket: £40 (pre-booked)
• Children 5–16: £5, under 5s free
• Buying on the gate costs £5 more per ticket than pre-booking

Weekend camping tickets

• Adult weekend ticket: £70
• Camping unit (7m x 7m plot per vehicle/tent): £35
• Children 5–16: £10, under 5s free
• Extra adult on the gate: £75

Example: a family of four with one camper (2 adults, 2 kids over 5) pays 2 x £70 + 1 x £35 + 2 x £10 = £195 for the whole weekend.

The camping zones

Busfest offers six different camping zones:

1. General Camping (Yellow): the standard zone with no special restrictions
2. Family Camping (Brown): a bit quieter, with a 10pm noise curfew
3. No Dog Camping (Orange): for anyone who'd rather not camp near dogs — limited spaces
4. Disabled Camping (Green): closer to the action, the only zone where an electric hook-up can be pre-booked for medical needs
5. Club Camping (Blue): for registered clubs booking a minimum of 10 pitches with public liability insurance
6. Electric Hook Up Camping (Purple): new for 2026, limited pitches in a prime spot near the trade area — bring your own 25m cable

One thing to note: once booked, you cannot change your camping zone, so agree with your group in advance who's booking where.

How booking works

1. Create an account at tickets.busfest.org and verify your email
2. Order an adult ticket plus one camping unit per vehicle (larger campers or tents may need extra units)
3. Confirm payment via Stripe — this confirmation is not your ticket
4. Around two weeks before the event you'll receive your QR-code tickets by email — download, print or screenshot them

What's on: the Busfest 2026 programme

Busfest runs five stages at once, alongside a packed daytime schedule:

• The Hub: hosted by VDub Radio, with live DJ sets from midday to midnight (Fri/Sat) and 10am–3pm (Sun)
• Sheep Shed Stage: live bands including Growler, Iron Maiden tribute act Hi On Maiden, Rammstein tribute Rammlied, and long-time Busfest favourites Devious
• The Party Stage (Severn Hall): Robbie Williams tribute "Blobbie Williams", Dr Clive from Dr & The Medics, and more DJ sets
• The Chill Stage: acoustic and folk acts such as Tom Dibb, Frankie Roe and Kavalla

During the day, the Kangaroo Kid ATV stunt show, Jitterbug Circus, Bubble Inc. with 12-time Guinness World Record holder Samsam Bubble Man, and Angie's Animal Antics keep things entertaining — plus face painting, a huge Jennings Brothers funfair, and shopping-trolley dance troupe Granny Turismo. If you want to show off your own vehicle, sign up for Show & Shine or the Syncro Trial; the Trade Village (open Friday from 10am, Sat/Sun from 9am) and the vehicle sales area near Brown Gate cover parts, project vans and autojumble.

New and slightly unexpected for 2026: part of the showground becomes a Winter Wonderland in the middle of September, complete with a Christmas market, Santa's Grotto, a skating rink, an Ice Princess Pageant and a giant snow globe photo spot.

Want a feel for the atmosphere before you book? This recap video from last year shows the camping areas, stages and crowd:

Camping at Busfest: toilets, water & staying self-sufficient

Worth knowing while you plan your pitch: only two of the six zones (Disabled/Green and the new Electric Hook Up/Purple zone) offer electric hook-ups at all — and even those are limited and must be pre-booked. In the other four zones, you're camping completely off-grid for power.

Sanitary facilities work in a similar way: fixed toilet blocks and mobile welfare units are dotted around the site, with showers concentrated near Teme Hall, Yellow Gate, the No Dog toilet blocks and Stockmans restaurant. For chemical toilets there are Elsan emptying points — but only 4 in General (Yellow) camp and 2 in Family camp, plus the ones at the permanent blocks. With several thousand campers on site, that can mean a longer walk to the nearest facilities depending on where you're pitched, especially at night.

This is exactly where having your own compact setup at the pitch pays off. A BOXIO composting toilet means you're not dependent on the walk to the nearest block — no chemicals, low odour, and no trekking across the site every time you need to go. For washing up or freshening up between showers, a BOXIO mobile washbasin does the job right at your pitch. And if you want to keep your whole camp setup tidy and modular, the BOXIO RACK bundle lets you store your toilet, washbasin and accessories in one unit — handy in any of the six camping zones, whether you're in Family or No Dog camp.

Come and see us: the BOXIO stand with André

We'll have our own stand at Busfest 2026 again. Our team, led by André, will be showing the full BOXIO range in person — from the composting toilet to the WASH range and the RACK modules for van conversions. Pop by, ask us anything about off-grid camping, and see for yourself how the products fit into your bus, camper or tent setup. (Exact stand number/hall to be added once confirmed by the Trade team.)

FAQ: Busfest 2026

When is Busfest 2026? 11–13 September 2026, at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern.

Do I need to own a VW to attend? No. Busfest describes itself as an event for "everybody" — you're welcome with or without your own VW.

How much are Busfest 2026 tickets? Day tickets start at £20 (Sunday), and weekend camping tickets start at £70 per adult plus £35 per camping unit.

Are there electric hook-ups for camping? Only in the Disabled zone (Green) and the new Electric Hook Up zone (Purple) — both need pre-booking, and you'll need your own 25m cable.

Where are the toilets and Elsan points? Fixed toilet blocks and mobile welfare units are spread across the site; Elsan emptying points are located 4x in General camp and 2x in Family camp, plus at the permanent blocks.

Are dogs allowed at Busfest? Yes, dogs are welcome and must be kept under control at all times. If you'd rather not camp near dogs, book the No Dog zone (Orange).

Final thoughts

Busfest 2026 packs live music, vehicle displays and family entertainment into one weekend at Malvern (11–13 September) — with fairly limited power and sanitary infrastructure on site. The right kit makes all the difference: check out BOXIO or come find us at the stand with André.