Camping, travel and getting here
Mersea Island sits eight miles south of Colchester. Cross the causeway, pitch your tent, and you’re home for the weekend.
FAQ’s
Camping & travel
Accommodation
Camping
On-site camping tickets available alongside your weekend ticket. Quiet camping and live-in vehicle pitches also available as add-ons on Skiddle.
Travel
By car
From the M25, head east via the A12 and A120 to Colchester, then south on the B1025. Causeway tide times will be posted closer to the festival.
Travel
By train + shuttle
Train to Colchester, then a festival shuttle bus runs across the weekend. Shuttle tickets sold separately on Skiddle.
Frequently asked questions
Good to know
What’s the vibe like?
If you love dance music like we do, Secret Island Festival has something for you to shake a leg, raise your hands in the air, skank and get seriously loose to from house and drum & bass to disco, roots, reggae, and ska.
4 stages. 3 party-packed days. More incredible acts than ever, including DJ Todd Terry, Fish56Octagon, The Cuban Brothers, Dan Shake, and 30 Years of Playaz. With more acts to be announced.
From day-party to full summer weekender: Secret Island is evolving. But don’t worry: it’s still fundamentally the same intimate, musically eclectic party you know and love.
The festival is organised by a group of best friends, with a lifelong love of dance music – and a shared goal: to put on a feel-good, inclusive, community-first party that you’ll never forget.
What stages are there?
There’s 4 specialist stages at this year’s festival, providing a full spectrum of music
- Main stage: new design for 2026, expect house and underground sounds – and expect it to be loud
- DnB stage: we’ve got a killer line-up for all junglists in attendance, courtesy of local promoter heroes Rough Tempo
- Live bands stage: Curated by Blackcat Studios and back for a 2nd year by popular demand, our live stage will be showcasing live music leaning into roots, reggae and ska
- Disco stage: Funky floor fillers & deep house grooves
- Chillout area to relax and enjoy the views
Camping information
On-site camping tickets available alongside your weekend ticket. Quiet camping and live-in vehicle pitches also available as add-ons on Skiddle.
Make your Secret Island experience a real summer getaway this year by booking yourself a spot in our brand new camping field.
Wake up on the island with time to explore its beaches, enjoy those dreamy Essex sunsets – and forget about the stress of getting that last train home.
Campsite opens 12pm Friday and closes at 12pm Monday – so you can sleep off the weekend and make their way safely off the island). Tents and campervans welcome. (Sorry: no motorhomes or caravans).
Getting here
By car
From the M25, head east via the A12 and A120 to Colchester, then south on the B1025. Causeway tide times will be posted closer to the festival. Dont forget to buy your car park ticket!
By train + Bus
Take the train to Colchester, then use the # 55 Colchester to Mersea Bus service. Then jump on the Secret Island Festival Shuttle Bus that runs across the weekend.