Festival Location and Traffic Advice for 2026
Thousands of music fans will travel to Cumbria for Kendal Calling to see a list of artists when the festival returns from Thursday, July 30, to Sunday, August 2, 2026.
Despite its name, Kendal Calling is not held in Kendal. The festival takes place at Lowther Deer Park, near Hackthorpe and Penrith, around 25 minutes north of Kendal. The official postcode for the site is CA10 2HT.
With most visitors expected to arrive on Thursday and Friday before leaving on Monday morning, residents and other drivers are being advised to allow extra time for their journeys. Temporary one-way systems and road restrictions will also be in place around Lowther, Askham, Whale and Thrimby.
When Is Kendal Calling 2026?
Kendal Calling will run from Thursday, July 30, until Sunday, August 2.
An additional Thursday ticket is needed by festival-goers who want to enter the site on July 30. Most other campsite arrivals will begin from 7am on Thursday, with the campsite remaining open until 2pm on Monday, August 3.
People staying in The Frontier campervan field can begin arriving on Wednesday, July 29, between 9am and 9pm.
Where Is Lowther Deer Park?
Lowther Deer Park is close to Hackthorpe, between Penrith and Shap.
The site is approximately five miles from Penrith and is much closer to Penrith than Kendal. Drivers travelling from the north or south will generally be directed towards the festival from the M6, A6 or A66.
Festival organisers advise drivers to follow the temporary road signs as they approach the site rather than relying on their sat-nav for the final part of the journey.
Advice for Drivers Travelling on the M6
Drivers approaching Kendal Calling on the M6 are instructed to leave the motorway at Junction 39, which is signposted for Shap and the A6.
From there, visitors should turn off their sat-nav and follow the coloured festival signs for the entrance linked to their ticket or camping area.
General admission, Emperor’s Fields, Great Plains, Tangerine Fields and Deer Lodge visitors will be directed towards the Red Gate.
People travelling to the accessible campsite or with certain live-in vehicle tickets will need to follow signs for the Silver Gate. Frontier live-in vehicles will be directed towards the Purple Gate. Before entering all attendees should double check rules and allowed items.
Advice for Drivers Arriving from the A66
Traffic approaching from the A66 should use Kemplay Roundabout and take the A6 southbound exit towards Shap.
Drivers will then be directed towards the correct entrance using the temporary festival signs. Routes will differ depending on whether visitors are using general camping, upgraded campsites, accessible camping or live-in vehicle areas.
Festival organisers have warned that traffic around Penrith can become particularly heavy on Fridays, especially during the afternoon and evening rush hour. Visitors are advised to leave plenty of time and consider arriving on Thursday where their ticket allows.
Temporary One-Way Systems and Closures
Several traffic controls will be introduced around the festival site.
New Road at Lowther will be closed to support a temporary one-way system. The closure is expected to begin at 7.30am on Thursday, July 30, and remain in place until 3pm on Monday, August 3.
A southbound one-way system will also operate between Askham and Whale. Traffic will continue east through Whale before joining vehicles arriving through Thrimby.
Another one-way route will begin at the junction of the A6 and Emperor’s Drive. These inbound one-way systems are due to operate from 6am on Thursday until midday on Saturday.
The one-way arrangements around Askham and Whale will be reversed on Monday morning to help vehicles leave the festival.
Traffic Advice for Local Residents
The busiest periods are expected to be during campsite arrivals on Thursday and Friday and during departures on Monday morning.
Residents travelling through Lowther, Askham, Hackthorpe, Whale, Thrimby or southern Penrith should expect slower traffic and possible delays.
Where possible, local drivers may wish to avoid the A6 near the festival entrances during peak arrival periods. Extra time should also be allowed for journeys towards Junction 39, Kemplay Roundabout and the roads surrounding Lowther.
Drivers should follow all temporary signs and avoid attempting to bypass queues using narrow rural lanes. Festival visitors have also been asked to stay on marked routes and avoid driving on grass verges.
Getting to Kendal Calling by Train
Penrith North Lakes is the nearest railway station. It is around a 15-minute taxi journey from the festival site.
A dedicated shuttle bus is planned between Penrith station and the festival on Thursday and Friday, with return buses operating on Monday. The shuttle will not run on Saturday or Sunday. Exact timings should be checked again before travelling.
The provisional shuttle times are:
Penrith station to the festival
- Thursday: 10am to 6.45pm
- Friday: 8.30am to 7.15pm
Festival to Penrith station
- Monday: 6am to 1.15pm
Pick-Up, Drop-Off and Taxis
The official pick-up and drop-off area is at Green Gate. This is also where the festival taxi rank and coach drop-off point will be located.
It is around a five to ten-minute walk from Green Gate to the wristband exchange. Drivers giving someone a lift should use this area rather than trying to stop near the campsite entrances.
Taxi availability around Penrith and Eden is limited, so festival-goers are advised to book well in advance. Organisers estimate that a standard taxi between Penrith station and the festival site may cost around £25 to £30, although the final price will depend on the operator.
Parking at Kendal Calling
A parking pass is required for vehicles using the festival car parks.
General parking currently costs £24.50 when booked in advance or £40 when paid for on arrival. Buying in advance should also reduce the time needed to process vehicles at the entrance.
Visitors staying in Emperor’s Fields, Great Plains or Deer Lodge will need the correct parking pass for that camping area. A general parking ticket cannot be used for these dedicated car parks.
Vehicles cannot be parked beside tents, so visitors should be ready to carry their equipment from the car park to their campsite.
Festival Residents’ Contact Line
Kendal Calling will operate a residents’ phone line from 7am on Thursday, July 30, until midday on Monday, August 3.
Residents with urgent concerns during the festival can call 01768 753110. Non-urgent complaints and ticket questions can be sent to residents@kendalcalling.com
