It's hard to picture a more unsuitable environment than a music festival for somebody with IBD related bowel urgency. 

Ridiculously long queues for toilets, huge crowds of people trapping a quick exit and diet options lacking in healthy options. 

But i did it. Three years in a row now, and every time I've never regretted it (despite some tricky, embarrassing scenarios). I hope to share some of my management tips with you to help deal with, let face it, the worst place for us IBDers haha! 

My Top Tips for Surviving a Music Festival with Bowel Urgency/Leakage:

1. Tell Your Friends

This list is in order. The number one thing that helped me: I messaged my mates prior (easier by text). I told them: 'There is a good chance i will poo myself this festival, but theres no way im not going'. 

I am lucky, in that my mates already know i have IBD and were completely accepting of this when i told them. However, the relief i felt once they knew was immeasurable. I've talked about this before, but the anxiety of dealing with bowel urgency/leakage is a lot of the time a head game. It also meant they understood why i was sneaking off to the toilet a fair bit more. 

TIP: Agree a meeting point. If i disappear - we will meet at X. Signal can be patchy at times. The last thing you want is to feel guilty making them miss a band while you go the port-a-loo. 

Sure, it became a good source of a laugh at times. You know what though, humour is the best medicine for me when it comes to the stigma attached. 

Now if you don't have good friends. Then honestly, this is a very good screening method to remove them from your life. I would not have gone, if there response was 'well, you shouldn't be going then' - and that would of hurt a lot. 

I messaged my mates i was going with. And said: 'There is a good chance i will poo myself this festival, but theres no way im not going'. 

2. Get Yourself an Access Pass

I've actually not followed my own advice here in previous years. An access pass grants you access to the disabled toilets. That often have small, to non existent queues. 

TIP: Apply for the access pass early. Requirements vary by festival, so its best to check the festival’s accessibility page and bring any supporting evidence they ask for (sometimes they will require a doctors note).

As i walked to the main area ready for the day, I felt that dreaded pinch. It's a long walk. On the way past the first stage, they had disabled toilets. With no queue! The other toilets were a short walk away, but who knew what the queue situation was. 

I had to try, I explained to the staff member on call at the toilets i had Ulcerative colitis. (Actually i said i had Crohn's - my logic was more people seem to know what Crohn's is, rather than UC)

It took around 10 mins, to explain my situation before she very kindly let me in. However, i was on the verge of firsthand showing her why i was asking haha :D

If you have IBD - you certainly qualify for an access pass. I think in the past, i felt as if someone else deserved the limited number of them more. The truth is though, i needed it. 

It took around 10 mins, to explain my situation before she very kindly let me use the disabled toilet. However, i was on the verge of firsthand showing her why i was asking haha :D

3. Get yourself some pads

OK - i know I'm obviously biased here. However, IB3 pads were created for exactly this. As i sat on a port-a-loo at Download music festival 2025 thinking to myself, why couldn't i find some back up protection (apart from very large, uncomfortable, full incontinence diapers, nappies). 

In 2026. They really saved me. Coming from Bad Omens at the main stage, my mate had brought me a Pepsi. I wouldn't normally touch this stuff, but sweet jesus this liquid sugar tasted so, so good! 

After bad Omens had finished playing we headed for a different stage to watch 'A Day to Remember'. Suddenly, we hit a bottleneck. A wall of trapped people. It's like your gut knows when to strike you at the worst possible time. 

I told my mates i needed to head to the toilet. We started walking out of the sea of people. Sensing my situation, i sped up, slowly leaving them behind - sorry guys!

While heading to the toilets (at a fair pace now!) . The inevitable happened. Bowel leakage. Waiting in the queue, i was worried that the pad might not have worked. That would of meant missing linkin park and heading back to camp. Guess what though, the IB3 pad worked. It caught it all, and absorbed the smell entirely. 

That was a good feeling. It meant everything i had building for a year of prototyping meant, i had created something that truly helped me a bowel urgency situation. 

In 2026. They really saved me. Coming from Bad Omens at the main stage, my mate had brought me a Pepsi. I wouldn't normally touch this stuff, but sweet jesus this liquid sugar tasted so, so good! 

4. Eat familiar foods

Food choice will vary festival to festival. It will also be VERY tempting to enjoy yourself as much as possible, including eating the good stuff. However, after my Pepsi incident demonstrates above - festivals are not the place to be trying new foods ha!

Stick with what you know works. Personally, I head for BBQ/meat. That works well for me. 

 

5. Know your toilets.

This one is a given. Not a day goes by i don't know the toilet locations 😀. However, this habit is just as important at a festival. 

This also extends to camping spots. Before arriving, figure out a spot that is handy for a toilet near your tent. 

TIP:Be sure to have the festivals app installed (if available). Often they will have a map that links to google maps so you can know your nearest one. Also, scout out the best ones. Main arena toilets are going to be crowded - Id rather be walking to a quiet location than waiting in a queue of a busy toilet. 

6. Get your poops out early. 

One thing i always figured out works for me. Wake up early. Go the toilet before all those hungover people have even had time to get out of bed!

7. Why on Earth Would I Choose to go a Festival with Bowel Urgency and Leakage!?!?

Why do i force myself into these situations? It's not always the most comfortable situation to be in. Regardless of how well you have prepared for every eventuality. In a tent, 25 mins away from any toilet - can suck. 

The reason for me - confidence. If you can handle a music festival. Then you can handle any other situation your bowel throw at you. This symptom can become isolating. I really don't think it needs to be. Sure, leakage can happen to us now and again. It doesn't matter. It's not personal failure. Clean it up, plan for it. Crack on. 

You're likely judging yourself way more than anyone else is. Other people are far too concerned with themselves to really care for more than 20 seconds that you pooped yourself. 

Everyones situation is different. But there are pads and diapers that will help amongst tons of other advice out there. You are capable of far more than you think you. Don't let it hold you back. 

The reason for me - confidence. If you can handle a music festival. Then you can handle any other situation your bowel throw at you. This symptom can become isolating. I really don't think it needs to be. Sure, you poo yourself now and again. It doesn't matter. Clean it up, plan for it. Crack on. 

8.  My Music Festival Checklist:

My Festival Bowel Urgency Emergency Kit

• Pads or backup protection
• Wetbag and spare clothing
• Wipes and toilet roll
• Barrier cream
• Spare underwear and bottoms
• Wet/disposal bags
• Hand sanitiser
• Water/electrolytes
• Medication
• Portable tent toilet

 

9. You can prepare for bowel urgency without letting it decide whether you get to live your life.

Music festivals are not exactly built with bowel urgency in mind. The crowds, queues, unfamiliar food, long walks and lack of quick exits can make the whole thing feel like a nightmare before you have even arrived.

But with a bit of planning, honest friends, access to better toilet facilities and a solid backup plan, they do not have to be off limits.

You might still have difficult moments. You might need to leave a set early, use a pad, change clothes, or laugh your way through something embarrassing. That does not mean you have failed. It means you have found a way to keep living your life around a condition that can be incredibly unpredictable.

Since creating IB3, I have spoken with many people in a similar situation who, like me, refuse to let symptoms stop them from enjoying music festivals. Every festival I have managed has built a little more confidence and reminded me that bowel urgency and leakage can be something I prepare for, rather than something that decides what I am allowed to do.

Now go enjoy that music!

 

With love,

Chris