Glastonbury Festival attendees face a significant risk of losing or damaging their mobile phones, with a new study by mobile recycling experts Compare and Recycle estimating potential losses of up to £22 million. Their research indicates that around 46,200 festival-goers—roughly the population of Yeovil—may experience phone loss or damage during the event.
The survey highlights that 11% of festival visitors have previously lost or had a phone stolen at similar events, while an additional 11% have damaged their phone. This suggests that nearly one in five of the expected 210,000 attendees could end up with a broken or missing device.
Antonia Hristov, Head of Marketing at Compare and Recycle, offers practical advice for keeping phones safe in crowded festival environments: “Avoid putting your phone in your pockets, especially back pockets, even briefly. In large crowds, it’s easy to brush past people and not notice if your phone is stolen or dropped.”
She also recommends safer alternatives such as phone leashes, lanyards, or running belts that can securely hold your device hidden beneath clothing.
In addition, securing mobile phone insurance is a wise precaution. “Even the most careful people can have accidents, especially in busy, muddy environments where phones can be dropped or stepped on,” Hristov notes. “Insurance helps protect against the cost of loss, theft, or damage during festivals since there’s no dedicated ‘festival insurance’.”
For those who want to avoid risking their expensive smartphones altogether, Hristov suggests carrying a burner phone such as an old Nokia. These simpler devices offer essential communication capabilities without the worry of costly repairs or replacements.
As Glastonbury Festival prepares to welcome crowds next week from June 25 to June 29, attendees are urged to take precautions to keep their phones secure and their festival experience enjoyable.