Accessibility

Our approach to inclusivity is developed according to the constructive feedback we have received from the Deaf community, from Boomers with disabilities, from elderly Boomers and many others who have experienced previous editions of the festival.

Changes to our policy for Accessibility have been made in relation to this and are in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals and Disability - Inclusive.  

If you are a Boomer with a disability, hearing or sight impairment, require access to a fridge to store medication, require access to power up your wheelchair, require access to a personal assistant, and if you are elderly or pregnant, please read the information on Booking Disability Access. 

Boom is an outdoor gathering which caters for thousands of Boomers. 

Situated in a remote location near a large lake, temperatures can reach highs of 45 degrees celsius by day, and drop to lows of 10 degrees celsius by night.

The intense climate and dusty environment brings both challenges and innovative solutions to living and loving the festival experience.

The landscape itself is pretty rough and uneven. Solutions to this include infrastructure developments such as pathways, which are paved with sand, stone and roots in order to allow easier navigation of the festival. 

Please look out for our survival guide, the Art of Living at Boom, in the upcoming months, which has been designed to help all Boomers fully prepare for these environmental conditions. Do also feel free to contact us with any additional questions. Make sure youn subscribe the Boom newsletter to receive all our latest updates.

To allow Boomers to walk around Boomland safely, we do not allow motorbikes on site. However, feel free to bring hand-bikes, electrical devices and wheelchairs. Remember to adapt wheelchairs in order to better navigate the uneven terrain.

Should you encounter a problem with your wheelchair during the event, please visit the Bike Village.

Boomland is a vast area. Here are some important distance references:

• The distance between the Accessible Campsite and the stage areas ranges between 600 metres and 3 km;
• The distance from the Accessible Campsite to the accessible car park is less than 1 km; 
• The distance from the Accessible Campsite to Boom Medical Services is only 400 m.

An Inclusive Shuttle service is available to wheelchair users, Boomers with mobility impairments, advanced pregnant Boomers, the elderly, Boomers with any kind of health condition, temporary or permanent, and families with young children.

An accessible beach area is also allocated for your comfort and will be manned/watched over by lifeguards. It is also equipped with an aquatic chair for their comfort.

Boomland has several campsites and caravan parks. To ease Boomers with disabilities, we have created both an accessible camping and caravan area. These are smaller, calmer and more friendly spaces, regularly patrolled by stewards. 

They are settled in a flat terrain, and occupy a more central position, even being closer to the hospital.

Accessible camping and caravan parks are also located close to shuttle stops.

ACCESSIBLE CAMPSITE FACILITIES 

• Accessible toilets

• Accessible showers

• Waste disposal points

• Freshwater point

• Team available 24 hours a day, every day (from the moment you arrive, until the time you leave the festival)

• Inclusive Shuttle bus stop located about 100 metres from the campsite

• Electrical point for charging wheelchair or other equipment*
  *Charging equipment is supervised but not secured by the festival therefore left at the owner’s risk.

 If you plan to use this service, please let us know when you submit your Access Requirement Form (closed since 1 July).

If you plan to travel to Boom in your caravan or campervan, please read our Boom Guide.
 

ACCESSIBLE CARAVAN PARK FACILITIES

• Accessible toilets
• Accessible showers (not within the accessible caravan park, but very near)

ACCESSIBLE CARAVAN PARK NECESSARY DOCUMENTS

To access the Accessible Caravan Park, please be sure to have both access pass and blue badge on display. No other documentation will be accepted.

Please show your requested access pass along with your blue badge to the Boom crew onsite. They are there to guide you and help maintain the highest standards of safety. Please respect them and their guidance.
 

CAMPING WITH LARGE GROUPS

Along with yourself and your companion or PA we ask you not to bring a big group to camp with you in this accessible area. If you want to camp in a bigger group please choose one of the surrounding camping areas; you will still be able to use the accessible campsite accessible facilities.
 

• This is an online form that is made available closer to the Festival’s date. Once you access it, pay attention to the submission deadlines;

• Here, blue badge holder Boomers or with mobility impairments, advanced pregnant Boomers, the elderly and Boomers with any kind of condition, temporary or permanent, can specify their needs so that we can best meet them;

• This is also a way to manage supply and demand, assuring there is no overbooking of the required services;

• To complete the process, please provide supporting documentation to validate your request for your chosen facilities. This can be a letter from a doctor or other medical professional verifying your condition, a certificate, a blue badge, etc;
   
• Please notice that the Access Requirement Form is not a guarantee for accessibility, instead it is an application, subject to approval.

The Access Requirement Form is closed since 1 July. Thank you for sending us your requests. 
 

To apply for accessible services, please identify what you require in the Access Requirement Form.

Fill the form and upload relevant documentation.

Boom is an inclusive event. As a Boomer, you play a crucial role in helping us to provide everything we can to ensure your needs are met. Your constructive feedback is fundamental to improving the service. Let's join forces to create a barrier-free event.

There is a dedicated Accessible Parking zone at the festival. It is available to: blue badge holders, pregnant Boomers and the elderly.
 

• Please let us know if you require this service when you fill out the Access Requirement Form (closed since 1 July). If you are a blue badge holder, please photograph both sides of your blue badge and upload to the form;
   
• You will also need to provide a letter from a doctor or other medical professional verifying your condition;
   
• Families and friends arriving in separate cars must park their vehicles in the general parking areas;
   
• Non-registered cars will be immediately removed.
   
• Your access pass will allow you to drive into the Accessible Parking zone where you will be guided by the Boom crew. Please respect them and their guidance. 
   
• All vehicles must be parked safely with blue badge and access passes visibly on display;
   
• The car park is a dusty area and located three kilometres from the main gate;
   
• The distance separating the Accessible Parking from the Accessible Campsite is less than 1 kilometre;
   
• You can get hop on the Inclusive Shuttle to move around more comfortably (for more info on the Inclusive Shuttle Stops, please check the map);

Please read the Boom Guide for information about arriving at the festival.

This is an ongoing process, evolving in each edition. The following are at your disposal:

• accessible parking
• accessible campsite and caravan park
• complimentary ticket for personal assistant
• accessible showers and toilets, including in the campsite
• 24/7 access to a fridge (to store medicines or other medical products)
• stage viewing areas
• electricity charging points (for medical equipment or wheelchairs)*
• wheelchair adapted shuttle bus
• accessible beach with aquatic chair
• team of volunteers and producers
• Boom Medical Service & Kosmicare
• meals with vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, low sugar and organic meat options

*The Festival does not take any responsibility for the security of charging equipment.

Some of these facilities can be booked via the Access Requirement Form (closed since 1 July).
 

We love animals as much as you do, but the hot, dry dusty climate and noise from loud sound system is detrimental to the health of all animals.

Protect your Assistance Dog from this harsh environment. Boom is not a place for animals. Instead, we can offer a free ticket to your personal assistant. Email us at accessibility@boomfestival.org for further details.

You will find more information about animals at Boom in our Pets guide, where you will find helpful information, such as where to leave your dog while you are enjoying the festival.

For any further questions you may have, please contact the Accessibility team by emailing: accessibility@boomfestival.org. We will respond to any queries within five working days.

During the festival, you are welcome to speak to a member of staff at the Info Stand. 

• Boom Festival has 45 restaurants across the site, including food vendors and chai shops and a bio market;
• Options include vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, low sugar and organic meat at restaurants across the site.

• Boom Festival has two vans that work as shuttles. One of them is adapted with a wheelchair platform. These vans are quite small, so priority is given to wheelchair users, Boomers with mobility impairments, advanced pregnant Boomers, the elderly, Boomers with any kind of health condition, temporary or permanent, and families with young children;
   
• We kindly ask families to be conscious of the shuttle use, meaning that we recommend that just one of the parents pops in with the children;
   
• Their use is free;
   
• Shuttles run every day from around 09:00 until 00:00;
   
• The shuttle covers all the precincts and runs in a loop. On the way back to the beginning, the shuttle only stops in the accessible campsite before arriving to stop 1;
   
• On 20 and 28 July, the shuttle circuit differs as these are high flux days (when Boomers arrive and depart from the festival);
   
• The entire circuit takes around one hour. The circuit includes 16 stops (check the map to see the numbered stops);
   
• We have not yet found a way to let Boomers know when the shuttle is arriving or when it has passed through the stops. We ask for your patience and understanding;
   
• Some of the shuttle stops already have a shaded resting area. However, all shuttle stops are duely identified.

• Should you need to keep medication such as insulin, enteral feeding or any other medical product refrigerated during your time at the Festival, please be sure to let us know through the Access Requirement Form (closed since 1 July);
   
• After arriving at the festival, please visit the Boom Medical Service (BMS) with your identification and doctor’s prescription;
   
• Here, our welfare team will identify and label your medication before storing it in the fridge. Medicine that is not registered can not be accepted;
   
• The BMS is also accessible to all other Boomers who may require its use. Please note that this service is only available within the parameters of the festival.
   
• There is no onsite pharmacy, however, the on-site medical service will administer any essential medications if and when required and these may incur a fee.

• A 24-hour medical service is available to Boomers throughout the festival;
   
• In the case of a medical emergency, head to the First Aid points located at any of the Social Hubs in the camping areas;
   
• You can also visit the on-site hospital or talk to any member of the Boom team. There is no onsite pharmacy, however, any essential medications will be administered if and when required; 
   
• The festival is equipped with 24/7 medical services and firefighter units.

Personal assistants (PA) of Deaf and disabled Boomers will receive a (free) complimentary ticket to the festival.

In order to receive the ticket, please provide at least two of these mandatory documents with your completed form:

• If you are Portuguese, provide documentation to show you are registered disabled (Atestado de Incapacidade Multiuso acima de 60% de incapacidade; Cartão de Identificação do Assistente Pessoal)

• Evidence that you are registered blind or Deaf

• Letter (dated within the last 12 months) to show you are receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment

• Front page of Attendance Allowance letter dated within the last 12 months (UK)

• Eligible documents from your country about PA payments

Complementary documents:

• Blue badge: only accepted as adequate evidence for parking / drop off access

• Doctor’s letter or other documents might be requested

If you do not have all these documents please email us accessibility@boomfestival.org and we will check on a case-by-case basis.

Personal Assistant must be a person above 18 years old, responsible and willing to assist you throughout the duration of the festival and assist you in the event of evacuation or emergency.

PA’s must sign a Responsibility disclaimer.

Let us know that you intend to bring your personal assistant to the festival when you fill out the Access Requirement Form.

Please do not buy a ticket for your personal assistant as this will not be refunded. Approved personal assistant tickets will be sent in July, closer to the festival dates.

• Please note: Strobe lighting may be used at any time during the festival.

Getting to Boom does not have to cost the Earth. To find out more about the different options for traveling to the festival, please visit our Transport page.

Please note: not all public transport is accessible, therefore we advise you to plan your journey with care. 

For those arriving by caravan, campervans/live-in vehicles, please see the Caravans and Cars page.

If you would like to explore Portugal, the following links send you to relevant accessible tourism companies: 

• Accessible Portugal
• Euvoo
• Hands to discover
• Madeira Acessível by Wheelchair
• Equal for All
• Tourism for all
• Portugal 4 All Senses
• Azoresforall
• Milacessos
• Douro4all

• There are 10 accessible compost toilets at Boom Festival. They operate without water, both to flush the toilet or to wash your hands; 
   
• Their use is exclusive to specific needs Boomers;
   
• These are located at the accessible campsite as well as throughout the venue (check the map);
   
• Toilets are locked, therefore you will need to input a code to access them.The padlock’s code is given upon arrival or previously by email to all those who have applied for the access facilities, but it is also possible to ask for it to any accessibility staff member or at Info Stand;
   
• These toilets are larger and more spacious than regular toilets. They are at ground level or have a small access ramp;
   
• Please note: there aren't any aid products inside, such as support bars;
   
• Inside the toilets there is a power switch. This is an emergency power switch, not a light one. It must only be used in case of emergency, if a Boomer falls or has any kind of accident inside the toilet. Pushing the power switch activates a red light outside.
   

Please do not throw the following items into the toilet:

• Cigarette butts cannot be broken down by the composting process, use the portable ashtrays instead;

• Urinary sondas, gloves or any other medical support items into the composting toilets. Use the waste buckets instead;

• Female hygiene products (sanitary towels and tampons);

• Nappies / diapers.

• There are accessible points to view performances positioned at some of the stages;
• 
  We kindly ask you not to bring an accompanying person to the platform, in order to leave more free space;
   
• Chairs are not provided on any of the platforms;
   
• These platforms are based on a first-come first-served basis. We ask for your understanding if the platforms become full;
   
• To find out more about these points and how you can utilise them during your Boom experience, please get in touch by emailing us at accessibility@boomfestival.org.