Only pre-registered journalists will have free entry to the festival, based on a completed online accreditation form. The form is intended for the registration of one person, not multiple individuals. Applicants will be informed about the approval or rejection of their accreditation via email along with organizational instructions.

An accredited journalist must present a valid press identification at the event venue. The organizer reserves the right to refuse accreditation if the organizer's conditions are not met. Accredited journalists will have special identification and their movement within the festival will be precisely defined in the organizational instructions. Movement under the stage of the Big Scene is not allowed except for the STVR crew. The location of the Press Center will be marked on the site map.

Photography is permitted exclusively for accredited photographers. Non-professional automatic cameras without flash use are tolerated near the stages of the Big Scene and the Small Scene. The use of any unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is prohibited on the festival area.

By entering the amphitheater area, each visitor grants consent and acknowledges that photographs or other recordings of their person from the festival will be used in any technical form to promote the festival during and after the event with unlimited time and territorial use.

CAMPSITE FFV

This year we have also set aside space for camping in the festival grounds. The campsite is part of the festival grounds (see the Map), places are available to the general public with the condition of purchasing a full festival pass (i.e. a multi-day ticket, which allows you to stay in the area for more than one day). Camping is free of charge, has reserved spaces with limited capacity and no advance registration is required. Use of the campsiter is at your own risk. The organiser is not responsible for any loss, damage or theft. Tents may only be pitched in the designated area.

Sanitary trailers will be available in the area, which include

• flush toilets/urinals,
• shower enclosures,
• washbasins with running water,
• dispensers for soaps and wipes,
• touchless hand dryers or napkin dispensers,
• mirrors.

The tent village is part of the site, so it is necessary to follow the rules listed under Prohibitions and also Safety and health. Camping in car parks and outside the designated areas is strictly forbidden!

• Pitching the tent will be possible:
  • from Friday, 3 July, 2026 from 09:00 – with Pass to the Big Scene for 3 days (includes entry to the Big Scene and the festival zone).
  • event. from Saturday, 2 July, 2026 from 18:00 – only with a valid ticket to the festival side event Rodná zem and also with Pass to the Big Scene for next 3 days
• The composition of the tent at the latest: Sunday, 5 July, 2026 to 16:00

• If necessary, parking must be purchased separately at the designated public parking lot. Parking at the tent/festival zone is not possible, nor is it possible to enter the festival zone with your own car!

ACCOMMODATION NEAR THE FESTIVAL

• https://www.travelguide.sk
• https://www.booking.com

Thanks to our eco-friendly transport partner ZSSK, you can also reach the festival by train. The list of ZSSK express trains (Ex) with special stops at Východná station during FFV can be found on a separate subpage here . The schedule for local trains (Os) can be found in the ZSSK timetable.

To facilitate access, we have arranged shuttle bus transportation from the Východná railway station to the Amphitheater (SAD Garages) and back. The shuttle bus schedule can be found on a separate subpage here .

Opening hours – Festival Zone for Visitors

Opening hours – Tickets

Opening hours – Information

Opening hours – Festival Shop

Opening hours are subject to change.

Parking spaces and their organization are managed by the municipality of Východná and its staff. Parking of festival visitors is only allowed in designated parking lots outside the Amphitheatre; in case of parking the vehicle in a place outside the designated parking lot, the vehicle will be towed!

There will be no space available for caravans!

For more information, contact the Municipal Office of Východná, Culture Department at kultura@vychodna.eu or call (+421) 044 / 520 74 19.

Measures:

• Entry and movement within the festival zone are only permitted with a valid and undamaged wristband.

Prohibitions:

• Drugs, psychotropic substances, weapons, combustibles, and any kind of pyrotechnics.
• Strictly prohibited: making audio/visual recordings or videos.
• Flying drones.
• Film cameras, video cameras (DV, DV Cam, Beta Cam, etc.).
• Professional cameras.
• Items that pose a safety risk, including glass containers and bottles.
• Bringing your own non-alcoholic beverages in plastic containers.
• Strictly prohibited: lighting fires within the amphitheater area.
• Any kind of stoves.
• Tape recorders.
• Strictly no smoking in children's/family zones (KOŠIARIK) and in all tents.
• Strictly no camping in the parking lot and outside designated areas.
• Use of umbrellas in the audience area of the Main and Small stages is prohibited (to ensure better visibility of the program).
• Parking of festival visitors is only allowed in designated parking lots outside the Amphitheatre; in case of parking the vehicle in a place outside the designated parking lot, the vehicle will be towed!

For detailed instructions on what to do in the event of a storm or extreme heat, see the tab Weather and Health.

The safety and health of festival attendees are our top priorities.

A properly marked security service ensures safety at the festival. They are responsible for protecting visitors and guarding the festival grounds.

Within the festival premises, there is free movement of police, fire, and medical services with their own visibly marked permanent locations. The permanent locations of the state police, medical service, and fire service are properly marked on the information map at the festival venue and are available electronically here.

We recommend that all festival attendees wear their festival wristbands directly on their wrists to reduce the risk of misunderstanding with the organizational staff and security forces.

Competencies of the Security Service:

• Checking festival wristbands.
• Inspection of the campsite area.
• Personal searches (to prevent the introduction of dangerous and unauthorized items).
• Escorting individuals out of the premises (unidentified persons, aggressive individuals, persons endangering safety, unauthorized vendors and vendors violating sales agreements, drug dealers of any kind of drugs and psychotropic substances, etc.).
• Directing movement based on organizer's instructions.
• Assistance to visitors in wheelchairs and holders of ZŤP-S cards with escorts upon entry.

For detailed instructions on what to do in the event of a storm or extreme heat, see the tab Weather and Health.

In the event of sudden changes in weather and the activation of the crisis plan, visitors will be informed immediately via the stage announcers, the festival Public Address system, push notifications through the festival app, and via the festival website and social media channels.

Folklore festival Východná takes place in a beautiful setting beneath the Tatra Mountains, where weather conditions can change rapidly. To help you enjoy the festival in good health and without incident, we have prepared this practical guide, based on the recommendations of the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic, the Regional Public Health Authority (RÚVZ), and the National Platform for Civil Protection and Risk Management. Please follow all instructions from the organisers at all times and respect the rules in place.

1.COPING WITH HEAT AND PROTECTING YOUR HEALTH

During warm, sunny days, please limit the time you spend in direct sunlight on the open areas of the amphitheatre, particularly between 11:00 and 15:00, when solar intensity is at its highest. For this reason, the main programme on the Grand Stage is scheduled for the late afternoon hours. During the day, we recommend exploring the Festival Area (Small Scene, Tancovisko (Dance House), Humno (Barn)) or the Východná village. If you attend performances in direct sunlight, take regular breaks in the shade.

• Sun protection: Wear peaked caps or hats that also protect the neck and ears, and sunglasses with UVA and UVB filters. Apply a high-SPF sunscreen. Lips are particularly susceptible to sunburn — use an SPF lip balm.
• Hydration: In warm weather, drink 2 to 3 litres of non-alcoholic fluids per day. Drink small amounts frequently and before you feel thirsty. Still drinking water is the best option and is available at designated points throughout the site (water cisterns/a drinking fountain). Limit coffee, sugary drinks, and alcohol, as these contribute to dehydration. Choose lukewarm drinks rather than ice-cold ones.
• Hearing protection: Avoid standing directly next to the loudspeakers near the stages. We recommend using earplugs and taking regular breaks in quieter areas of the festival to rest your hearing.

2. WET CONDITIONS: RAIN AND COLD NIGHTS BENEATH THE TATRAS

The Východná area is well known for sharp temperature drops after sunset. Please be prepared for both dry and wet conditions.

• Clothing: jacket. Dress in layers. Bring warm clothing for the evening and a windproof, waterproof
• UMBRELLAS ARE PROHIBITED: For safety reasons, umbrellas are strictly prohibited in the Grand Stage area. In a crowd, they pose a risk of eye injury, and during a thunderstorm they act as a lightning conductor. Please bring a waterproof poncho or rain jacket and sturdy waterproof footwear.
• Amphitheatre terrain: The natural site and auditorium are predominantly grassed and sloped. In wet conditions, the grass becomes slippery and water may run down the slope. Please move with care.

3. WHAT TO DO WHEN A STORM, STRONG WINDS, OR DOWNBURST IS APPROACHING

If the festival crisis team declares an approaching thunderstorm or downburst (extreme gust-force wind), the programme will be suspended immediately. At that point, one rule applies: Preserving life takes precedence over entertainment.

Where to seek shelter:

• Your own vehicle is the safest shelter: Proceed calmly to the car parks via the emergency exits marked on the site map and take shelter in your vehicle. A car acts as a Faraday cage and provides reliable protection from lightning. Close all windows and doors.
• Help others ("Hazard lights"): If you have a free seat in your vehicle, leave your hazard lights on. This signals to other visitors that they are welcome to shelter with you.
• Solid masonry buildings: If you cannot reach your vehicle in time, seek shelter in a solid masonry structure within the festival site or the village.
• ⚠️ LARGE MARQUEES (e.g. THE DANCE HOUSE TENT) ARE NOT SAFE SHELTERS: During a thunderstorm or strong winds, never shelter in large marquees (catering areas), vendor stalls, or small camping tents. There is a risk of structural collapse. Security personnel will evacuate you from these areas for safety reasons.
• Dismantle temporary structures: If you have permitted awnings, scissor tents, or parasols in the campsite area, you must dismantle, tie down, and lay them flat before a storm. If left standing, the wind may turn them into dangerous projectiles.

What to do if a storm catches you in an open area:

If you cannot reach a vehicle or building and the storm (or lightning) is directly overhead (i.e. the time between the lightning flash and thunder is less than 30 seconds), take the following steps immediately:

1. Make yourself as small as possible: Do not run or dance around. The safest position is to crouch down on the balls of your feet, tuck your head to your chest, and cover your ears with your hands. NEVER lie flat on the ground. Rucksacks, blankets, or sleeping mats may be used as insulating material beneath your feet.
2. Spread out: If you are in a group, do not stand close together. Disperse to a distance of at least 3 metres from one another.
3. Keep away from hazardous objects: Maintain a distance of at least 2.5 metres from metal structures (fences, railings, stage frameworks, masts). Move away from tall, isolated trees.
4. Step potential: When retreating from an open area, take only small, shuffling steps and keep your arms close to your body to minimise the risk of step potential should lightning strike nearby ground.
5. Mobile phone: Keep your mobile phone switched on in your pocket in case you need to call the emergency services. However, during a storm in an open area, do not take it out, make calls, or film lightning.

The festival takes place in all weather conditions, with the exception of natural disasters and situations posing a danger to life. After a storm passes, a structural engineer and the technical team will inspect the site and all stages. The programme will resume only once the site has been declared completely safe. Please monitor updates via the festival app, the website, social media channels, and the festival Public Address system.

Escape Zones:

All entrances and exits are visibly marked on-site and on information maps within the amphitheater area, on the map in the festival bulletin, and in electronic format here.

The festival zone has five main entrances/exits: A1/VÝCHOD, A2/VÝCHOD, A3/VÝCHOD, A4/VÝCHOD, A5/VÝCHOD, and another exit, EXIT A6.

In the event of an emergency, we kindly ask visitors to exercise caution and follow the instructions of the security service, organizational staff, and security personnel.

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