Reading Festival 2026

Event overview

Colwick Park Lifeguards is excited to be heading to the iconic Reading Festival this year – one of the UK’s biggest and most celebrated music festivals. This festival attracts thousands of music fans and features world-class artists across multiple stages.

We’re looking for dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers to join our team supporting safety operations along the stretch of the River Thames that runs alongside the festival site. Roles include open water lifeguards, safety boat helms, and catering officers.

Through volunteering with us, you’ll have plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the lineup for free – with major acts this year including Charli XCX, Chase & Status, Florence + the Machine, and Fontaines D.C., just to name a few.

What you’ll be doing

We have a range of roles available, each playing a vital part in keeping the festival safe and running smoothly:

• Open Water Lifeguards – Monitoring river activity from the bank, or on a safety boat and responding to incidents
• Safety Boat Helms – Operating safety boats, patrolling allocated stretches of the river Thames
• Catering Officers – Planning menus, preparing, cooking and serving meals for the entire team.

Lifeguards and helms may also have the opportunity to take on paid night shifts, providing additional cover during late hours.

We’ll be looking to have several static lifeguard positions on the bank, as well as two safety boats active for the duration of the event. We’ll look to provide a flexible rota so that you have plenty time to enjoy the festival while you’re there.

Ahead of the event, you’ll be provided with all necessary documentation to do your job so you know what you’re doing, as well as on-site training, inducations & briefing. You’ll be supported by the rest of the team during the event to ensure you have the best experience possible.

Food & accommodation

Looking after our team is important to us. While volunteering with us, we’ll provide you three meals each day including breakfast, lunch and an evening meal. This will be cooked on site by our catering team.

While at the festival, you’ll be camping in the staff campsite, so make sure you pack your tent, sleeping bag and other camping essentials!

If you’re interested in volunteering at Reading Festival 2026 with us, please do not hestitate to fill in the form below, and provide any necessary additional details. Spaces are limited and roles will be filled on a rolling basis. Complete the form below to secure your place on the team.