How festival organisers are preparing for overcrowding this summer

The good thing is, crowd scientists around the world have dedicated their lives to understanding how individuals behave when part of a huge group – how they move and the limits on how many people can safely occupy one specific area.

It is observed that, in standing spaces, five people per square metre is generally considered the absolute maximum number that should be allowed. Anything more and crowds become dangerous, with people losing their ability to stand properly, making them susceptible to life-threatening issues like crushing and collapse.

Strategic protocols, live risk-assessment, and carefully monitored camera feeds are all part of Glastonbury’s operation to ensure that everyone at the festival can enjoy the music and culture within a like-minded community without compromising safety.

While the heart and soul of Glastonbury has remained largely unchanged since its inception, festival organisers are aware that they are dealing with new kids of crowds.

The virality of certain artists thanks to social media means fanbases are bigger, with more attendees aiming to go to the same performance. These acts tend to cause ‘rush hours’ where large numbers of people head towards a single stage at the same time.

Ahead of major acts, members of security prepare themselves for these rush hours, which typically require implementation of one-way systems or temporarily restricted access to avoid bottlenecks.

Scheduling is also critical. Organisers will deliberately ensure two of the most popular performers are scheduled at the same time and at different sites in order to split crowds and disperse the flow of attendees. The overlap of Charli xcx and Doechii’s slots at Glastonbury this year are a great example.

So, the next time you find yourself conflicted with having to choose between seeing one two major artists that you love, just know, that’s done intentionally to protect your safety.

It’s important to recognise that – no matter how much prep goes into these events – crowds can become unpredictable very quickly.

Variables like weather, scheduling of acts, site layout, poor signage, and even the characteristics of fanbases can determine how a crowd behaves.

During a rock performance, for example, a dense and lively moshpit might be part of the fun. During a techno set, people may dance their asses off and bump into each other because of, well, drugs.

On-site security are present to monitor these crowds to mitigate danger in these unique circumstances, while the Glastonbury app will delivers push notifications to communicate updates on crowding to all attendees.

The euphoric high of experiencing a great festival can last long after we’ve made the treacherous journey home and taken that first glorious shower. It’s great to know that organisers are taking our safety seriously, no matter how big their event grows, so we can all continue to experience that indescribable afterglow.