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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Accessible Parking
O2 Victoria Warehouse does not have parking facilities, but there is a drop-off point at the venue entrance. You can search for local accessible parking on the Manchester City Council site.
Q: Accessibility
We aim to make RADAR Festival a fully accessible event, to read more on how we are making this possible please visit our accessibility page. The venue has level access to most of the main auditoriums, and they work hard with Attitude Is Everything to continually improve access for all customers. For venue-specific accessibility information, please follow this link. Don't forget to check out our Accessibility page, too.  
Q: Is there an age restriction?
Yes, the event is for 14 years +
Q: What is Challenge 25?
If you are lucky enough to look under 25 (but are 25 or older) you may be asked for ID.
Q: Can I bring my own food and drink?
Sorry but no, and this includes chewing gum. We have bars, snack food and free drinking water available. If you require any specific food for medical purposes, please get in touch with the venue beforehand to arrange this.
Q: Is there food?
An emphatic yes! We will have on-site caterers at the festival, with a mix of food offerings. We understand accessibility includes dietary requirements and will do our best to ensure that there are options for everyone, including vegan and gluten-free.
Q: Is there an official app?
There is!  Our app covers all bands, has info on the traders, artists and timings of everything - plus so much more!   It's available on Android and Apple stores, just search "RADAR Festival" and install it to make the best of your weekend with us.
Q: When is it?
RADAR Festival 2026 is 31st July - 2nd Aug. The doors open at midday and the last band finishes at 11pm
Q: Can I bring my own food and drink?
Sorry but no, and this includes chewing gum. We have bars, snack food and free drinking water available. If you require any specific food for medical purposes, please get in touch with the venue beforehand to arrange this.
Q: I'm thinking of coming on my own, should I still come?
We’re an inclusive and friendly festival, and we’d love to welcome you. We have a group set up for people to meet others, chat through the line-up and so on, and they’re always really friendly. Come and join in here: RADAR Festival Group link. We also have a thriving Discord server, come chat with us, make friends and meet up at shows!
Q: When does the festival open?
The festival is open 12:00 - 23:00 with Masterclasses starting at 12:30 and the music scheduled to begin at 13:00. Things can happen, so timings are always subject to change.
Q: Parking
THERE IS NO VENUE PARKING, but please try Parkopedia or the Manchester City Council site to find more information on local parking options nearby. Times and prices may vary. Parking options adjacent to our venue are not affiliated with O2 Victoria Warehouse.
Q: Where is RADAR Festival?
RADAR Festival is held at O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester. It is an indoor event.   Google maps location.
Q: How far are you from the nearest train, tram or bus?
For local travel information, look at the Victoria Warehouse site or in our travel sections on this website.
Q: Is there merchandise?
Yes, definitely!  It's one of the best ways to support the festival, and we love seeing it out in the wild.  Keep an eye out nearer the time for pre-orders which can be collected at the event without a queue, and don't forget to buy your favourite bands' merch, too.  We charge no commission on any sales for the bands, so every penny spent goes straight to them (after merchant fees, none of can avoid those unfortunately!) Keep an eye out on our socials or our merch page for the latest info on everything.  
Q: Can I buy band or festival merch at the event?
You certainly can! We have our own merch, and every band that wants to sell at the festival will be stocked at our central merch point. We’ve waived all fees to bands playing at the event. Every penny you spend will therefore go straight to the artists. If you’d like to support us too, we have a great range of products so that you can rep RADAR when you get home! We will be releasing our merch catalogue ahead of the festival so you can pre-order.
Q: Set times / when do set times release?
All our set times are already on the app (search "RADAR Festival" in your app store) but will also be published online nearer the time.  To keep up with any changes, we advise the app for the latest information, and make sure you set your notifications to 'on'!  
Q: Can I apply to perform?
Yes: email [email protected]. To manage expectations, we receive over 1000 applications per year for 36 slots, but we love hearing new music and suggestions, so send it in!
Q: Are there any clashes?
Stage One and Stage Two are scheduled for no overlaps. Masterclasses will clash with artists between 12.30 and 6pm.
Q: Is there a welfare area?
Yes, we have WELSAFE at the festival, who provide our fantastic welfare area, and team up with our own Accessibility Co-ordinator, Scarlett.  Check out our Accessibility page for more info on everything, or download our app (search "RADAR Festival" on the app stores.)
Q: Is there seating?
Yes, there is seating around the venue, outside and upstairs there will be more seating in quiet areas, plus comfier chairs in the coffee shop area!  Ask anyone for directions, or have a look on our app for a map to take you straight there (search "RADAR Festival" in your app store.)  
Q: Do you have any general festival tips that would be useful for me?
  • Keep your mobile phone charged to stay connected with friends, especially in case of separation.
  • Foster a sense of community by getting acquainted with your fellow attendees and offering mutual assistance when needed- you already have something in common!
  • Consume alcohol responsibly, knowing your personal limits and pacing yourself accordingly.
  • Plan ahead for potential separations by arranging meeting times and places with your friends.  You will be perfectly safe exploring solo, just meet up for your favourite bands together to share the experience!
  • Protect your hearing from potential damage due to loud noises by using earplugs.
Q: I'm nervous of fitting in, how should I approach this?
Discrimination in any form is strictly prohibited within our festival community. Regardless of an individual's background, whether it pertains to gender, race, disability, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy, or maternity, we uphold a commitment to inclusivity and celebrate the diverse makeup of our festival attendees. Should you witness or encounter any behaviour that undermines this principle, regardless of its severity, we urge you to promptly report it to our on-site team for immediate action.
Q: Will it be loud?
Quite probably, but we’re happy to give out ear plugs if you ask for them. Just find a staff member during a show and our bar staff will have them too.  Welfare will also have ear plugs.
Q: Is ticket resale available?
These are done through the point of purchase for safety of everyone concerned, so we direct customers back to either Eventim or Ticketmaster, both of whom have official resale platforms in place. On our Discord, there are people who link to their official resale listings for peace of mind.

We are also working with Tixel HERE who provide a safe and easy place for you to sell your ticket to another fan.

To sell your ticket please go to tixel.com/sell and follow the prompts.  ​If you have already found a buyer for your ticket but want to complete the transaction safely, you can create a private sale by selecting the ‘make my listing private’ option at the final step. 

 
Q: Are there any instalment plans?
Yes!  Head to SeeTickets who facilitate this for you, or if you're using Ticketmaster, you can pay with Klarna and spread payments. There are options for paying in instalments through our ticket page too.
Q: I have a query about my tickets, what do I do?
Get in touch with your ticket agent - that’s who you booked through – not the festival as we can't help directly unfortunately.
Q: Can I buy a day ticket?
Yes, you can buy day tickets separately to the full weekend tickets.
Q: Are the Masterclasses ticketed?
The Masterclass programme is ticketed, but we want to make it more accessible to our audience, so we have worked to lower the prices. Please note that you must have a ticket to the festival to attend our masterclass events, as they have been moved into the main building for 2024.
Q: Can I buy on the door?
Yes, we have the ability to sell tickets on the door - subject to availability
Q: Someone else bought my tickets for me to collect, what do I need to do?
Occasionally, some events might need you to prove with photo ID that you’re the person named on the actual ticket. If you’ve booked with Ticketmaster, ‘Ticket Transfer’ usually - but not always - lets you sends tickets to a friend before the event, straight from your Ticketmaster account to theirs. Log into your Ticketmaster account to find our more. Your ticket agent will always give you full details in advance of every show, so it's really important to check all emails and official information in advance please.
Q: What is a restoration levy and why is it charged?
There’s sometimes a charge per ticket called a ‘venue restoration levy’. This levy assists in preserving these buildings and improving the audience and artist experiences.
Q: What are booking fees and charges and why is there a cost for a digital ticket?
Every ticket agent will have different arrangements, but these normally cover the cost of fulfilling the order. Do check their individual FAQs for more detail.
Q: Is there an age limit?
Currently, the venue is operating an age restriction where attendees must be over the age of 14.
Q: Is there a festival information point on site?
Yes- there is a general info point of contact on the ground floor just as you enter the site, and a Welfare space where you can receive more info on the festival in a calm space.  Both of these will be marked on the app (search "RADAR Festival" in the app stores) and can be found by looking on the O2 Victoria Warehouse site maps, plus are clearly labelled once you arrive.  
Q: I lost something at the show, what do I do?
The ‘lost property’ section is on the 'Contact' page of the venue's website and is the best place to head.
Q: Can I bring my own food and drink?
Sorry but no, and this includes chewing gum. We have bars, snack food and free drinking water available. If you require any specific food for medical purposes, please get in touch with the venue beforehand to arrange this.
Q: Are there any COVID-19 measures in place at all?
No, it is no longer a legal requirement for venues and events in England to use the NHS COVID Pass to show their COVID status – proof of full vaccination or negative test result.
Q: Is there a cloakroom at the venue?
Yes, there is. Ask at the main entrance and the venue hold your belongings safely for a small fee. Only one small bag per person is permitted, and it must not be bigger than A4 size. Height: 29.7cm / Width: 21cm / Depth: 15cm. Large bags - including rucksacks - are not allowed, so please make alternative arrangements. More information is available on the venue website.
Q: Can I bring my medication with me?
If you need to bring medication with you, email O2 Victoria Warehouse to make them aware. You should bring any medication in its original packaging (where possible), clearly labeled with its contents and prescribed dosage. We recommend bringing only what you think you will need. If you need to bring large quantities, or would like to discuss specific medications, you can speak with staff on arrival - in short, they're not going to turn you away, but would like to know what you're carrying, and how they can help you. Due to limitations with facilities on-site, visitors will not be able to store medication at the venue. Instead, accommodations can be made for guests who may need to leave and re-enter in order to administer medication.
Q: Can I leave the venue and come back again in between bands?
The venue will operate a pass-out system, speak to a member of security on the day.
Q: Can I smoke an e-cigarette or vape?
‘Fraid not, but staff will direct you to a dedicated smoking area and can advise on times it’s open from and to. Make sure you’re of legal age to do so, obviously.
Q: Do I pay with cash/card/contactless?
The venue bars no longer accept cash, so it's contactless or card payments only for bars and cloakrooms please. You can still buy merchandise with cash or card.
Q: What is your bag policy and will I be able to bring in my rucksack/helmet?
Short answer, no. Security measures are in place with bag checks on arrival. Only one small bag per person is permitted, and it must not be bigger than A4 size. Height: 29.7cm Width: 21cm Depth: 15cm Large bags - including rucksacks - are not allowed, so please make alternative arrangements. There are no facilities to leave large bags or luggage. If you really have to bring a bag – and it’s preferable you don’t – please do make sure its small.