Vegan Camp Out 2026 Why We are Excited to Join the UKs Biggest Vegan Festival
- The Young Vegan
- 3 days ago
- 9 min read
There are festivals, and then there are vegan festivals. Events where you can eat loaded fries at 11 pm, hear a talk that makes you rethink the world, meet a rescue dog in a bandana, and still be surrounded by people who understand why oat milk matters. That, in a very crunchy nutshell, is Vegan Camp Out.
Vegan Camp Out 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting dates in the UK vegan calendar. It’s widely known as the largest vegan camping festival in the UK, bringing together speakers, activists, creators, families, food vendors, musicians, campaigners, and a gloriously high number of people who know the correct pronunciation of seitan.
We’re especially excited this year because we’ll be there on Sunday giving two talks. One will be for little vegans, and one will be for vegan teens. More on that in a bit, because yes, we are already mentally packing snacks for the (4-hour) drive.
What is Vegan Camp Out?
Vegan Camp Out is a huge outdoor gathering for people who care about animals, the planet, justice, food, community, and generally trying to live with a bit less harm and a bit more hummus. Another way of putting it is that it's a time when huge numbers of vegans can gather and not be forced to eat falafel or go hungry.
It’s part festival, part camp-out, part learning space, part food adventure. The event includes:
Talks from campaigners, authors, athletes, activists, well-known vegan voices and us
Live music and entertainment
Vegan food from a wide range of traders
Stalls, charities, and independent brands
Camping, chats, meet-ups, and community moments
Family-friendly activities and spaces for younger people
At its best, it does something rare. It takes veganism out of the comment section and into real life. Instead of explaining for the 900th time that yes, plants have protein and no, they don't feel pain, people get to spend a weekend surrounded by others who already get it.
That really matters.
Online vegan spaces can be brilliant, but they can also feel a bit like being trapped in a blender full of opinions. A real-world vegan event gives people a chance to connect, learn, laugh, rest, and remember that this movement is made of actual humans, not just usernames and vegan supermarket finds.
A short history of Vegan Camp Out
Vegan Camp Out began in 2016 as a much smaller gathering and has grown into a major fixture in the UK vegan scene. Its rise mirrors the wider growth of veganism in Britain over the past decade.
The Vegan Society, founded in the UK in 1944, gave the movement its name and still defines veganism as a way of living that seeks to avoid animal exploitation and cruelty as far as possible and practicable. That definition has travelled a long way, from a small group of early vegans to supermarket shelves, school dinner debates, sports nutrition, restaurants, high street cafés, and now, fields full of campers eating dairy-free ice cream.
Vegan Camp Out sits in that story as a sign of how much has changed.
Years ago, being vegan in the UK often meant carrying emergency oatcakes and hoping a café could manage chips without frying them in animal fat. Now there are enough vegan cheeses to start a mildly chaotic cheese board, and a whole festival dedicated to vegan living can draw people not just from across the country, but around the world.
That growth hasn’t happened by accident. It’s been pushed forward by animal rights campaigns, environmental research, food businesses, documentaries, sanctuaries, community groups, families, young people, and countless awkward dinner-table conversations handled with saint-like patience.
Vegan Camp Out brings all those strands together. It’s not just a weekend away. It’s a marker of a movement that has become visible, organised, and much harder to ignore.
Why Vegan Camp Out matters
The biggest reason Vegan Camp Out matters is simple: community keeps people going.
Most vegans know what it’s like to feel outnumbered at some point. It might be at school, in a workplace, at a family meal, or during that classic barbecue moment when someone asks, “But what about lions?” as if arriving armed with a wildlife documentary has defeated the whole vegan movement.
A festival like this flips the script. For a few days, veganism is the norm. The food is vegan. The talks are centred on vegan ideas. The charities focus on animals and justice. The jokes land without needing a footnote.
That can be powerful, especially for people who don’t have many vegans around them day to day.
It also matters because veganism touches several big issues at once.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, animal agriculture contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions and land use. It is also linked to important questions around food systems, water, biodiversity, and how humans treat other animals. None of that means every conversation has to be gloomy. Nobody wants a side order of despair with their noodles. But it does show why vegan spaces can’t just be about recipes.
Vegan Camp Out creates room for the whole picture:
Animal rights and activism
Climate and environmental concerns
Food, farming, and sustainability
Health and wellbeing, handled sensibly
Inclusion, families, and young people
Culture, music, and joy
That last one matters more than people sometimes admit. Joy is not a distraction from the work. Joy is part of how movements survive.
A vegan festival that feels like a vegan party, a celebration of vegan unity, and a welcoming vegan event all in one field is doing something useful. It reminds people that care and fun are allowed to share a tent.
Who is going to be at Vegan Camp Out 2026?
The full and final line-up for Vegan Camp Out 2026 can be checked through the official festival website, but we're hoping to see Moby, Michael Klaper, Vegan Mic and Earthing Ed for sure. Vegan Camp Out brings together a broad mix of people from across the vegan world. Expect the kind of weekend where you might move from an animal rights talk to a food stall, to a music set, then to a conversation with a charity and later to someone explaining their favourite brand of vegan marshmallow with the seriousness of a legal witness.
The types of people who tend to be there include:
Animal advocates and campaigners
These are the people keeping animal protection at the heart of the conversation. They often speak about farms, sanctuaries, rescues, investigations, law, and practical ways to help animals beyond personal food choices.
Writers, speakers, and educators
Veganism has a lot of doorway topics. Ethics, food systems, climate, parenting, sport, social justice, nutrition, and culture all connect. Good speakers help make those links clear without turning every sentence into a 45-minute lecture; that's where we're adding our voice.
Food traders and independent makers
Let’s be honest, the food is a major character. Festival food used to mean a portion of chips, if you're lucky. At Vegan Camp Out, it can mean burgers, curries, cakes, wraps, loaded fries, ice cream, doughnuts, and so much more.
Musicians, performers, and entertainers
There will be music and live entertainment to add to the weekend's energy.
Families, young people, and first-timers
This is one of the parts we care about most. Veganism isn’t only for adults who can quote studies and batch-cook lentils. It’s for children asking kind, direct questions. It’s for teenagers navigating school, identity, friendships, family pressure, and the endless “but bacon” comments.
And yes, we’ll be there too, speaking on Sunday.
Why we’re so excited to be speaking on Sunday
We’re giving two talks at Vegan Camp Out 2026, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.
The first will be for little vegans. Children often understand fairness quickly. They ask direct questions, spot contradictions, and have a built-in alarm for things that don’t feel kind. A good talk for little vegans has to respect that. It can be gentle without being fluffy. It can be honest without being heavy.
We want our session to feel encouraging, safe, and fun. Think less “serious lecture”, more “kindness, curiosity, and maybe a joke about broccoli trying its best”.
The second talk will be for vegan teens.
Teenagers deserve their own space in the vegan movement. They’re not tiny adults, and they’re not taller children. They’re dealing with real social pressure, school lunches, friendships, online arguments, identity, activism, climate worry, family differences, and the exhausting business of becoming yourself.
A vegan teen might be the only vegan in their friendship group. They might be passionate but unsure how to speak up. They might be tired of veganism being treated like a phase. They might want practical tips, or they might just want to meet other teens who get it.
That’s why this talk matters to us. Vegan teens are not “the future” in some vague, poster-slogan way. They’re already part of the movement now. They’re asking sharp questions. They’re changing family habits. They’re starting conversations in schools and online. They’re showing courage in everyday ways that adults sometimes forget to notice. They're showing up in ways that sometimes adults don't.
If we can help them feel seen, supported, and a little more confident, that’s worth every bead of sweat in the sweltering summer that the UK is having.
What makes the festival feel different
There’s something special about being in a place where the default choice is kindness to animals.
At most events, vegans scan menus like detectives at a crime scene. At Vegan Camp Out, the question isn’t “Is there anything vegan?” It’s “How many meals can I reasonably fit into one afternoon without needing to be rolled back to the tent?” Vegan Camp Out if a place where the amount of choice causes stress.
This is more than convenience. It creates a sense of belonging.
For families, it means children can choose from food stalls without a long explanation. For teenagers, it means they can relax around peers who understand. For long-time vegans, it can feel like a recharge. For newer vegans, it can show just how broad and joyful the movement is.
There’s also a useful mix of seriousness and silliness. You can hear a talk that challenges you, then eat a brownie the size of a small paperback. Both are valid. Both may change your life, although one comes with more calories.
Tips if you’re going for the first time
If Vegan Camp Out 2026 will be your first time, a little planning helps. A field is a field, even when it is full of tofu.
Bring the basics:
A tent you’ve practised putting up at least once, unless you're hiring one
A comfortable sleeping bag
Layers for classic British weather, which may include all four seasons before breakfast, ending in a heatwave
Comfortable shoes, at least two pairs
A reusable water bottle
Sun cream and waterproofs, because the sky enjoys suspense
Earplugs if you’re a light sleeper
Snacks for the tent, even though the food options are usually a big part of the fun
Bags for waste
Plastic-free wet wipes and a couple of toilet rolls
It also helps to look at the programme ahead of time and pick a few must-see sessions. Leave gaps too. Some of the best festival moments happen between planned things, in food queues, by stalls, or while sitting on the grass discussing whether vegan cheese has finally completed its hero’s journey.
For families with children or teens, talk beforehand about what they want from the weekend. Some might want talks. Some might want food and music. Some might need quiet breaks. That’s all fine. A good festival experience doesn’t have to look like a military schedule with falafel. We'll be giving out some free printables in the family section in case anyone fancies some colouring in. We'll also have discounted books on offer.
FAQ
Is Vegan Camp Out suitable for families?
Yes, it is generally known as a family-friendly festival, with many families attending. Check the official event information before booking so you know what facilities, age guidance, and activities are planned for 2026.
Do you have to be vegan to go?
No. Vegan Camp Out is centred on vegan living, but people who are curious, transitioning, or supporting vegan friends and family can still attend. Just arrive with respect, an open mind, and room for an alarming amount of good food.
What should teens expect from Vegan Camp Out?
They can expect talks, music, food, and a lot of people who share similar values. For vegan teens, the biggest benefit may be meeting others who understand the social side of being vegan, not just the food side.
When are your talks at Vegan Camp Out 2026?
We’ll be speaking on Sunday, with one talk for little vegans at 12:00, and one for vegan teens at 14:00. Check the official festival schedule closer to the event for confirmed times and locations.
Why is Vegan Camp Out called the UK’s biggest vegan festival?
It is widely described as the UK’s largest vegan camping festival because of its scale, its national draw, and the range of speakers, performers, traders, charities, and visitors it brings together.
We’ll see you in the field
Vegan Camp Out 2026 feels like one of those weekends that reminds people why this movement matters. Not just because of the talks, the food, the music, or the camping, although the food is doing some very impressive heavy lifting. But do remember to bring lots of water; the forecast is looking pretty hot.
It matters because veganism can be hard to carry alone. A gathering like this makes it lighter and so much fun. It gives people stories, friends, ideas, confidence, and probably at least one sauce stain on a hoodie.
We’re thrilled to be going, and we’re especially proud to be speaking to little vegans and vegan teens on Sunday. If the next generation of vegans leave feeling braver, kinder, and more connected, that’s a pretty wonderful reason to pitch a tent.
Now, if anyone needs us, we’ll be making a packing list and pretending we won’t forget something obvious. On the day, we'll be in the family area, and we genuinely can't wait to see you there.
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