🇧🇪 Dessel, Belgium

What to Pack for Graspop Metal Meeting 2026

Built from about 15 years of weather records at the site: typical highs of 22°C, overnight lows of 14°C and around 3.2mm of rain per day.

The weather you're packing for

DayHighLowRain
Thu 18 Jun23°C14°C4.4 mm
Fri 19 Jun22°C14°C1.3 mm
Sat 20 Jun21°C13°C2.9 mm
Sun 21 Jun21°C13°C4.2 mm

Long-run averages for each festival day, not a forecast. Check the Graspop forecast page in the week before you travel.

Always in the bag

  • Refillable water bottle — sealed or empty so it gets through the gate.
  • Sunscreen SPF 50 — even a cloudy festival day is six hours outdoors.
  • Power bank — your phone is your ticket, your map and your group chat.
  • Earplugs — for the front rail and for the campsite at 4am.
  • More socks than days.

Sun and heat

Highs average 22°C, so heat is rarely the main problem — but the warmest day still reaches about 23°C and shade is limited at most sites.

  • A wide-brim hat and sunglasses beat a cap for full-day sets.
  • Loose, light-coloured long sleeves cover more skin and feel cooler than a vest.

Rain and mud kit — don't skip this

Rain falls on roughly 100% of Graspop days, averaging 3.2mm a day and about 12.8mm across the main days.

  • Wellies or waterproof boots, plus dry shoes for the good spells.
  • A real rain jacket and a cheap poncho — the poncho covers your bag in a crowd.
  • A tarp under the tent and pegs that hold in soft ground.
  • Dry bags for phone, power bank and one sealed set of dry clothes.

Sleeping and night layers

Overnight lows average 14°C, with the coldest festival night typically near 13°C (Sun 21 Jun). A 2-season bag with a comfort rating around 8°C covers these nights comfortably.

  • An insulated mat — the ground takes more heat than the air.
  • Thermal base layer and sleep socks that never leave the tent.
  • A packable insulated jacket for the walk back from the last set.
  • A hoodie you don't mind losing.

Why the Graspop site matters

The Kempen's sandy soil drains better than most North European festival sites, so mud is less of a problem than at Glastonbury or Wacken. Thunderstorms are the bigger concern — they can be dramatic and have caused short stage delays in past years. Sunburn catches metal-clad fans out on the rare hot days, since shade is scarce on the open fields.