Attending | Core Element

You must be 18 or older to attend Core Element.

ID will be required on entry to the festival gates. Accepted forms of ID include passports, driving licences, national ID cards, ISIC cards, military ID, and any card bearing the Home Office PASS mark.

For full terms on entry, sale and conduct, head over to our Policies page.

When do we celebrate?

Core Element - Ritual 2026, runs from Friday the 14th of August, through to Monday the 17th.

Gates open at 2pm on Friday the 14th. Friday will be a more relaxed day so that you can get yourself settled and comfortable, without worrying about missing out on events.

Core Element runs for 3 days and 3 nights. Guests must be off site by 12pm noon Monday the 17th.

Where do we gather?

Our home is nestled within the rolling hills and forests of Derbyshire countryside, Elvaston castle's showground and forest. Although much has changed throughout the centuries, these grounds have been beautifully preserved and looked after.
A regular site for nature lovers, adventurers and historians, Elvaston castle is a beautiful site to behold.

The Core Element festival site will be private and only accessible to our attendees. However, if you wish to explore the gardens and grounds, you are welcome to wonder the pathways.

Last year, you gathered within forest and upon field. We are pleased to announce that you will once again be treated to the comforts of the forest! You will pitch up on the field and enjoy your events / activities both within the forest and the field.

Travelling here

Car / Taxi:

Parking is free in OUR carpark. Elvaston castle has its own carpark which is pay and display. The Elvaston Castle carpark is tarmac, the Core Element carpark is on the field.

Please follow the signs for Core Element, these will be standing signs placed on the route into the site. Only park WITHIN the fencing. For taxis, follow the same directions and disembark the taxi upon the entrance to the field. Taxis are from Derby train station are typically around £15.

Please pre-book to avoid delays! Prices are based on quotes from local taxi services, not Uber.

Train:

If you are travelling by train, you will be pleased to know we are only a 15-minute taxi journey away from Derby city train station. Derby city train station is the closest / most accessible station to Elvaston castle.

Bus:

It is possible to access the site via bus, if you are willing to walk the latter part of the journey on foot.

On foot, it would take 20-25 mins to get to the site from the nearest two bus stops.

We do not advise this, especially if you have heavy bags!

Plane:

The nearest airport is East Midlands airport (EMA). Alternatively, Birmingham airport is a 20-minute train journey from Derby train station.
We understand more plane routes may stop at Birmingham, so check Birmingham too!

East midlands airport is only a 20-minute car journey from Elvaston castle. Therefore, a taxi from the airport is very possible.

The Derby Skylink bus also stops outside Elvaston castle grounds, however this is the same bus mentioned above. The walk from the bus to the site would be 20-25 mins. We advise taxis and car shares.

What about the shuttle bus?

Last year, we felt the shuttle bus was absolutely essential as our location was a 35-40 minute car journey from the nearest main train station. With our location being far closer to a main transport hub, and baring our attendee numbers in mind, we doubt we will receive enough demand for the shuttle to make it possible. It is extremely expensive to run a shuttle service, even for just a few short trips. With the shuttle times being at odds with arrival times of groups, and with taxis being much cheaper, we believe the shuttle service will not be feasible... for now. That is, until our attendance grows, or our venue changes to a more remote location.

Tickets

If you feel the Ritual's call, you are welcome to register and purchase a ticket. Only registered members can buy a ticket and it is one ticket per registered person.

Registration will require your date of birth to confirm you are over 18,
ID will still be required to enter Core Element.

Your registration will be approved by our team, and you will then receive an email to confirm this.
You may then access the ticket page!
DJs, Acts, vendors and Crew applications can be accessed by registering, and then heading here for vendors. And here for DJ's, acts, workshops, events, activities and more.

Due to the extra run time of the event, our ticket price has increased by £30 for each tier.

Tickets this year are:

Standard Entry: £130

Sponsor Entry: £160

VIP Entry: £200

For information about what each ticket tier grants you, check out the registration and tickets page here!

Camping on site.

At the heart of our festival is the camping experience!
Our community, gathered together in a new way.
Free to create your own setups, areas and vibes!
It was truly wonderful to see last year's camp site full of cooking, laughter and chatter!

Tents:

Almost any size and style of tent is allowed as long as they're not bigger than a 10 person, and definitely no circus tents!
All tents must be able to be safely secured to into the ground. Tent sharing is permitted at your own discretion. Bringing extra pegs is a good idea, especially if ground condition is very dry. 'Peg removers' are recommended.
When erecting your tent, please leave enough space for people to easily and safely walk past your tent and others, this includes the guide ropes. That is unless you are camping with your party, you may then pitch your tents close.
Please be aware, tents are cold at night and potentially hot in the morning if the sun is not behind the clouds.
Pack accordingly! Creatures who attended Core Element 2025 were quite surprised how cold it got when it was so warm in the day.
Extra layers and pyjamas are recommended. For more tips on staying comfortable, check out the FESTIVAL GUIDE!

Campervans:

Campervans, RV's and converted vehicles are welcome. We now ask for a £40 pitch fee for RV's, Campervans and converted vehicles to stay within the campsite area.
Camping next to your own campervan in the allocated space is allowed.
Camper vehicles must camp in the campervan area. The area will be next to the camping area this year.
Campervans must stay onsite for the duration of the event. This is for safety reasons, with tents potentially being setup next to a van, we have to ensure everyone's safety. If your vehicle needs to leave, please locate a member of staff to arrange an escort who will also open the gate for you.

Staying off site.

Camping not for you? No problem! With us being a short car journey from Derby city, there are plenty of hotels and B&Bs around the area. To re-enter the festival, you will need to show your wristband at the gates.

Don’t have a tent? Don’t like the idea of bringing a tent and your bags on public transport? Then we may have a solution for you!

Our 5-metre luxury bell tents will be available for hire when purchasing a ticket. This tent will be clean, high quality and ready for your arrival. You will not be required to pack down these tents, however they must be left clean on your departure.

Our bell tents now come with proper camping beds! This upgrade ensures a comfier night sleep, and you don't have to set them up. Just bring your sleeping bag, pillows and blankets.

Your bell tent will have a printed sign attached to it, so you know which one is yours. These tents fit up to 7 people. The amount of belongings you bring will depend on how many people will fit in the tent.

Bell tents can be purchased when purchasing a ticket. The cost is per tent, not per person.
We cannot facilitate split payment currently. It is up to the person who purchases the tent hire to collect any contributions from their party towards the tent. The attendee who purchases the tent will be requested to provide either a name for the tent sign or artwork of their choice.

The number of beds must be selected on the purchase page.
Please email us if the number of beds required changes.

Hire a bell tent.

Amenities:

Toilets, hand wash stations, and showers will be provided on site.

Shower tokens cost £4 per entry and can be bought at the bar.

Medical and security will be provided by Stone Horse Events and Century security.

Drinking water can be found close to the bar, refill your bottles and stay hydrated!

Contraband and restrictions:

No glass or glass bottles are allowed on site, any glass bottles found will be confiscated. We must respect the wildlife, and the regular families and dogs who enjoy Elvaston year round.
Attendees are allowed to bring 6 cans of alcoholic drink. Our event survives from the bar, festivals are extremely expensive to run! We understand this may be a surprise, but please understand this is standard practice for festivals. But our bar prices will be far more reasonable than your average mainstream festival.
No illegal substances are allowed on site.
No blades or weapons of any kind are allowed on site. Any prop weapons for costumes, may need to be approved by a member of staff. Check our weapons and props policy HERE.
Non-service animals are not permitted on site. Documentation is required for registered service animals, but animals are not recommended at this event, especially in the main event area at night as noise levels will be high in the evening.
No fire pits, barbecues, flares, lanterns, naked flames on the camp site, camping stoves must be raised up off the grass.