Organised by Helcity Promotions VZW — Helchteren, Belgium

Version: 1st April 2026
Contact: helcityopenair@gmail.com

​

Welcome to Helcity Open Air.

Help us make the festival safe, welcoming and enjoyable for everyone.

Respect other people, look after the festival grounds and follow these house rules.

​

1. Scope and instructions

These rules apply to everyone on the festival site, including visitors, artists, crew, volunteers, contractors and staff.

Everyone must comply with Belgian law and follow lawful, reasonable instructions from authorised festival personnel and emergency services. Instructions from emergency services take priority.

Artists, crew, contractors and vendors must also follow the arrangements applicable to their roles. Equipment and supplies required for authorised festival operations may be brought into designated areas with the organiser’s approval and appropriate safety measures.

​

2. Tickets, wristbands and access

Entry requires a valid ticket, wristband or accreditation for the relevant day and area.

Wristbands must be worn securely and visibly. Issued wristbands and accreditations are personal and may not be shared or transferred. Altered, copied or fraudulently used access credentials may be invalidated.

If your wristband is damaged or lost, report to entrance staff. Replacement requires verification of your entitlement to enter and is not automatic.

Entry and re-entry are subject to the arrangements published on the official festival website and communicated at the entrance. Any admission-age or accompanying-adult requirements are published with the ticket information.

Backstage, production areas, stages and other restricted areas are accessible only to appropriately accredited persons.

​

3. Entrance safety checks

Legally authorised security personnel may request voluntary entrance safety checks for weapons and dangerous objects, within the limits of Belgian law.

These may include a visual inspection of belongings you voluntarily present and, where legally permitted, a superficial check of outer clothing. Physical checks must comply with the applicable legal requirements.

Refusal of a lawful safety check may result in refusal of entry. These rules do not authorise forced searches or give festival personnel police powers.

If you bring an item that is not permitted, you may be asked to remove it from the entrance area before admission. Storage is not guaranteed. Suspected illegal items or criminal conduct may be referred to the police.

​

4. Prohibited items

Visitors may not bring the following onto the festival site:

• Weapons, knives, explosives or objects carried or used as weapons.

• Fireworks, flares, smoke bombs, candles, fuel or other unauthorised sources of fire.

• Illegal drugs.

• Glass containers, cans and aerosol sprays, except necessary medical products.

• Outside food or drinks, except as provided under Article 5.

• Laser pointers and hazardous chemicals.

• Flagpoles, sharp-ended umbrellas or other objects that create a foreseeable injury risk.

• Unauthorised drones.

• Camping equipment, bulky luggage or furniture that obstructs circulation or evacuation.

Other items may be refused where they present a specific safety risk. Staff will explain the restriction where circumstances permit.

Ordinary phones and personal cameras are permitted. Professional recording equipment requires prior authorisation.

​

5. Medical needs and accessibility

Necessary medicines, medical equipment, mobility aids and medically necessary food or drinks are permitted, subject to proportionate safety arrangements.

Tell entrance staff if you need an exception to an item restriction. Questions about medical needs should be handled discreetly. Do not leave essential medication behind because of a general item prohibition.

Where practical, keep medicines in their original labelled packaging. Contact the organiser before attending if you need arrangements requiring preparation.

Assistance dogs are admitted in accordance with applicable law. Other pets are not permitted.

​

6. Respectful behaviour

The following are prohibited:

• Violence, threats, intimidation or deliberate injury.

• Racism, discrimination, hate speech or targeted abuse.

• Sexual harassment, unwanted sexual contact, stalking or drink spiking.

• Theft, vandalism or damage to property.

• Throwing objects or liquids at other people.

• Entering restricted areas without permission.

Respect personal boundaries and anyone who asks you to stop.

If you feel unsafe, need help or witness an incident, contact security, first aid or a clearly identified festival team member immediately. Seek medical help promptly if someone becomes unwell.

​

7. Crowd safety and emergencies

Keep emergency exits, aisles, evacuation routes, emergency vehicle access and firefighting equipment clear.

Do not climb fences, stages, towers or other structures. Crowdsurfing and stage diving are prohibited.

Do not force your way through the crowd or deliberately push, strike or endanger others. Give people space to leave crowded areas and alert security if someone falls or appears in distress.

During an emergency, listen to announcements and follow instructions. Use the indicated evacuation routes and do not re-enter an evacuated area until authorised.

The organiser may temporarily stop performances, restrict access or evacuate areas where reasonably necessary for safety, including severe weather.

​

8. Food, drinks and alcohol

Outside food and drinks are not permitted, except for medical needs under Article 5.

Alcohol may not be sold, served or offered:

• To anyone under 16.

• To anyone under 18, except beer and wine without added spirits.

Visitors may be asked to show a document proving their age. Alcohol service will be refused if age cannot be established.

Do not obtain or supply alcohol for anyone who is not legally entitled to receive it.

Alcohol service will be refused to visibly intoxicated persons. Unsafe behaviour associated with alcohol or other substances may result in intervention or removal.

​

9. Smoking, hearing protection and wellbeing

Smoking and vaping are prohibited in enclosed public spaces and all other areas marked or legally required to be smoke-free.

Use appropriate receptacles for cigarette ends. Never discard burning materials on the ground.

Amplified music can damage hearing. Wear suitable hearing protection, take breaks from loud areas and protect children’s hearing carefully. Ask festival staff where hearing protection is available.

Dress for the weather, stay hydrated and seek first aid if you feel unwell.

​

10. Photography, recordings and privacy

Visitors may take personal photographs and short recordings where this does not obstruct others, compromise safety or breach an announced restriction for a performance.

Professional recording, commercial filming and unauthorised livestreaming require the organiser’s prior permission.

The organiser and accredited media may photograph or film the festival. Information about the organiser’s use of identifiable images, applicable legal bases and privacy rights is provided in the festival privacy notice.

Admission does not constitute blanket consent to every use of a visitor’s image. Separate permission will be sought where required.

Respect other people’s privacy. Do not photograph or film people receiving medical assistance or in vulnerable situations without an appropriate lawful basis.

​

11. Trading, promotion and care of the site

Selling goods, tickets, food or drinks; fundraising; and distributing promotional material require the organiser’s permission.

Use the bins and toilets provided. Do not litter, damage the grounds or interfere with festival equipment.

Respect local residents when arriving and leaving. Follow published parking arrangements and keep neighbouring entrances and emergency access clear.

Hand found property to festival staff. Report lost property through the organiser’s published contact channel.

​

12. Refusal of entry and removal

Entry may be refused, or a person may be required to leave, for a serious or repeated breach of these rules, invalid access credentials or conduct creating a safety risk.

Action will be proportionate to the circumstances. A warning may be given where appropriate, but immediate action may be necessary for serious misconduct or danger.

Where lawful and justified, access credentials may be withdrawn for the remainder of the event. Suspected criminal offences may be reported to the police.

A person refused entry or removed because of their own serious or repeated breach will not normally receive a ticket refund, to the extent permitted by law. This does not remove mandatory consumer rights or the right to challenge an unjustified decision.

Questions or complaints may be sent to the organiser using the contact details above.

​

13. Liability and visitor rights

Take reasonable care of yourself, other people and your belongings. Visitors remain responsible for damage they cause to the extent provided by law.

The organiser’s liability is determined by applicable law. Nothing in these rules excludes or limits liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited, including applicable liability for death or personal injury.

These rules do not remove statutory consumer rights.

Cancellation, postponement, programme changes and any resulting refund arrangements are addressed in the applicable ticket conditions, subject to mandatory law.

​

14. Publication and changes

These rules are published on the official festival website and made available at the entrance. They should be read together with the applicable ticket conditions and privacy notice.

The organiser may introduce proportionate measures required by law or reasonably necessary for safety. Changes will be communicated as promptly and clearly as circumstances allow.

Operational decisions remain subject to applicable law and do not prevent visitors from exercising their legal rights.

Belgian law applies, without prejudice to any mandatory protections applicable to the visitor.