REVIEW: Into the Wild 2026, Chiddinglye Farm, Sussex
August 2026 – Article written by Jennifer Le Roux
Getting ‘Into It, Not Out of It’: Why Into the Wild Is the Conscious Festival the World Needs Right Now.
In a world that feels to be on its knees, there was something deeply visceral about this year’s Into the Wild festival at Chiddinglye Farm over the August bank holiday weekend. Hidden in the woods—far from outside noise and commercialism—a vibrant pop-up community was born. Guided by the festival’s ethos to ‘get into it, not out of it,’ the event cultivated a conscious, family-friendly environment rather than a zero-tolerance sober lockdown. The impact of this mindful approach was immediate: there were no boisterous disruptions for security, the grounds were free of typical festival litter, and the eco-friendly compost toilets were well-maintained throughout.
It was a haven of connection and community that brought together lone wanderers, families, couples, and collectives who unitedly became one safe sanctuary. Walking through the busiest moments, amidst the echo of music, drum circles, and inspired conversation, I took in profound micro-moments of connection: newfound friends bonding over a workshop, toddlers in old-world carts gleefully absorbing the environment, couples snuggling on the grass, strangers dancing with abandon to a DJ in the cafe, and families sharing a group nap enveloped by healing sounds.
This year—my first at the festival—I watched Into the Wild evolve from an empty field into a vast village packed with creativity and music weaving beautifully into the untamed surroundings. Behind the scenes, I witnessed the immense solidarity, communal strength, and ingenuity, it took from the core team and volunteers to make it all happen. It began with the simplicity of the kitchen team chopping vegetables and stirring large pots as volunteers and workers queued to fill their bowls with wholesome vegan food before attendees arrived.
I walked through the unfolding skeleton of the festival site, watching people hammering, building, painting, weaving, and making the magic happen from the ground up. To then see the crowds appear, the lights go on, and the music, workshops, and echoes of children playing fill the air was truly enchanting. The team didn’t stop there, either; beyond the programme, the security and volunteer teams were ever-present to ensure everyone’s wellbeing and safety. This commitment was demonstrated when organisers carefully lowered the central totem pole with a crane in light of growing concerns for raised structures at UK festivals.
One of the toughest realities facing attendees from the outset was a total ban on individual campfires and stoves due to the heightened wildfire risk. For a festival renowned for its fireside bonding and late-night acoustic sessions, this could have been a devastating blow, but it was handled masterfully by the organisers. Light and water displays were created, and designated safety zones were quickly established for cooking stoves, before a primary communal area was thoroughly hose-soaked on the opening night to safely permit a spectacular community fire. This space rapidly evolved into a vibrant hub, drawing in musicians to play and children to roast marshmallows on sticks. As the rain poured on day two, cheers were heard as everyone made it to a tent and put on their waterproofs. The sun prevailed eventually though, and as the downpour ceased, the fireside camaraderie was instantly rekindled—safely and beautifully uniting the crowds.
The abundance of areas, workshops, and music was so eclectic and vast that the schedule did become overwhelming. While many of us surrendered to playful curiosity, discovering the festival on the fly, helpful chalkboard schedules at the information tent kept everyone grounded, offering clear daily listings alongside printed programme guides. This approach led to a magnificent ‘singing community choir’ workshop, where I stood in awe of the layered harmonies and intricate vocals that filled the tent from an expanding circle of strangers. The diversity across the fields was endless; attendees could drift seamlessly between laughter yoga, drumming circles, tarot speed-connection, creative writing, drawing workshops, Bollywood dance, and emotionally grounding sessions like ‘Permission to Feel Lonely’. Much like the branches twisting and extending from the woodland canvas surrounding us, there was an activity at Into the Wild to cultivate any soul or resonate with any wild heart.
As the festival truly came to life and the crowds emerged, my favourite pastime was to simply drift through the distinct zones, taking in the profound micro-moments of community playing out across the grounds. I found myself inspired to capture these scenes in a series of original artworks, illustrating the exact spaces where the festival’s soul felt most alive with fairy lights, entwined twigs and pathways that led to enchanted discoveries. There were so many amazing artists and musicians throughout the festival that I could gush about endlessly, but I was completely captivated by Rockpool, a band formed through Starfish Youth Music with a phenomenal 12-year-old lead singer whose mind-blowing voice could easily rival Benson Boone, as well as brilliant local artists Reid and Hildebrand—the latter delivering a unique performance that felt as if someone had spun Björk, Florence Welch, and Kate Bush into a musical blender.
Later on, as new friends gathered for coffee at the ‘Outer Regions’ cafe, buzzing over their daytime experiences, this particular hub quickly became my personal festival living room. It was the perfect sanctuary to sit back with a delicious vegan breakfast and an iced matcha latte while being immersed in the flawless vocals of Reid, Hildebrand, and Massive Daughter (Bessi), who brought the magical essence of their home-based ‘Living Room Sessions‘ straight into the cosy café. The unique food vendors added a fantastic layer to the fields, from pedal-powered bicycle smoothies to The Enchanted Glade’s Wild Spa zone, a hidden woodland sanctuary complete with wood-fired saunas, hot tubs, and refreshing showers under the trees. Nearby, volunteers shared waterproofs and wellies, adults helped children roast campfire treats over open flames, and musicians riffed off one another. This culminated in a spectacular, spontaneous fireside sing-along tribute to Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5, led by Ian Jamieson and Jasmine Rowe—who were also on the bill for The Sun stage that Sunday and charmed the audience with soulful sounds and mindful sing-alongs that they share at home in Portsmouth at community Flowjam events.
From the very start, nature itself bookended the experience with the magic of a lunar eclipse and the striking beauty of a daytime rainbow. Ultimately, to be nestled in a field surrounded by genuinely good people, awe-inspiring music, and mind-altering workshops was an unforgettable experience. It captured the exact kind of effortless, face-to-face connection many of us craved while watching Friends back in the 90s. As the final notes faded into the trees, I found myself wishing this community could have lasted for a week, a month, or even a year—leaving with the comforting knowledge that if the world ever brings you to your knees, the Rembrandts were right: at Into the Wild, everyone will be there for you.
Article written by Jennifer Le Roux
Details
Into The Wild Festival 2027 takes place next year at Chiddinglye Farm, West Sussex, from 26th August – 30th August 2026
Dates: 26th August – 30th August 2026
Venue: Chiddinglye Farm, Selsfield Road, West Hoathly, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 4QS. Please use Sharpthorne RH19 4NU for your SatNav and stay on the main road.
Accessible: Accessible camping areas for Blue Badge holders, special accessible ticket options, and dedicated accessibility toilets alongside spacious compost facilities. Because capacity in designated accessible zones is limited, attendees must email their Blue Badge paperwork to the organisers in advance.
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