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British festivalgoers say they are being forced to wear face masks to cope with the 'apocalyptic' plumes of dust.
The UK has just been through one of the driest spells of summer on record, leaving the ground parched.
As a result, festivals across the country have seen huge clouds of dust kicked up by crowds – with attendees complaining of itchy throats, sore eyes and difficulty breathing.
Taking to TikTok, one woman who had attended Bassfest in Belfast revealed how the dust had 'made everyone green'.
Over in London, an attendee of Maiden Voyage compared the host venue, Burgess Park, to the 'set of Dune 3'.
And at Boomtown in the South Downs National Park, shocking footage showed huge plumes of dust during the Vengaboys' performance.
'Thought I'd got a tan but it was just the dust,' one participant said.
To cope with the dust, many festivalgoers have taken to wearing face masks, with TikTok full of videos on how to style the coverings.
Festivals across the country have seen huge clouds of dust kicked up by crowds – with attendees complaining of itchy throats, sore eyes and difficulty breathing
Taking to TikTok, one woman who had attended Bassfest in Belfast revealed how the dust had 'made everyone green'
This summer has been exceptionally dry for both England and Wales.
'England and Wales have provisionally recorded their driest July on record, while southern England has seen its driest month ever recorded in a rainfall series dating back to 1836,' the Met Office said.
'These remarkable conditions come after a summer already marked by several heat records, contributing to drought conditions affecting all of Wales and around half of England.'
This dryness not only increases the risk of devastating wildfires, but also leaves festival sites prone to dust.
Shocking videos across social media show the air full with dust particles, with many attendees forced to leave early as a result.
@feymous revealed how she 'only lasted three hours' at Maiden Voyage festival in London, thanks to the dust.
'I overheated and I couldn't breathe because I was wearing three masks,' she explained in a video on TikTok.
Over at Boomtown, @taunus.tunes posted a video showing just how dusty the ground was, writing: 'This might be the dustiest Boomtown yet.'
Shocking videos across social media show the air full with dust particles, with many attendees forced to leave early as a result
To cope with the dust, many users say that face masks are now a festival must
In response, one user said: 'We're all gonna be in a documentary in 20 years about how the 2026 boomtown dust took years off our lives.'
According to Dr Ricardo Jose, a consultant in respiratory medicine at Royal Brompton Hospital, dust can irritate your lungs – particularly if you have underlying health conditions.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, he explained: 'For someone with healthy lungs, a short period in a dusty environment is more likely to cause temporary irritation with coughing, a sore throat, chest discomfort and possibly brief breathlessness.
'It is unlikely to cause lung damage. However, fine particles such as PM2.5 that can be present in dust can penetrate deep into the lungs, and over time affect lung health and lung function.
'In people with lung disease such asthma or COPD, dust and PM2.5 can aggravate already vulnerable airways and trigger wheezing, breathlessness or an exacerbation requiring medical treatment or urgent care.'
To cope with the dust, many users say that face masks are now a festival must-have.
On one Reddit thread ahead of Boomtown, one user said: 'Highly recommend you pickup several ffp3 masks. And make sure you have a fresh inhaler with you.'
Another added: 'I'm bringing FFP2 masks, a bandana and saline spray to clear my sinuses out.'
While wearing a mask to a festival might seem extreme, Dr Jose says it's definitely something to consider
And one joked: 'You don't have to wear a mask, the same way you don't need to wear sunscreen or wear a seatbelt.'
While wearing a mask to a festival might seem extreme, Dr Jose says it's definitely something to consider.
He explained: 'If it is visibly very dusty, and people have underlying lung disease I think a well–fitting FFP2 or equivalent N95 respirator is a sensible additional precaution, particularly for someone with asthma.
'I wouldn't suggest that every healthy festival goer needs to wear one continuously, and people with significant lung disease should be aware that respirators can make breathing feel harder, particularly in hot weather.'
Although it's not always possible, the expert also advises staying away from the dustiest areas in festivals.
He added: 'The most important thing is reducing exposure. Avoid the dustiest areas and visible dust clouds, particularly around dry tracks and moving vehicles, and if possible take breaks somewhere with cleaner air.'
If you have asthma and are attending any festivals this summer, Emma Rubach, Head of Health Advice at Asthma + Lung UK, advises following your asthma action plan, and having an inhaler on you at all times.
She shared Asthma + Lung UK's free summer health guide, and told the Daily Mail: 'People with lung conditions like asthma often find dust particles triggering as they can irritate and inflame their airways, making it harder to breathe.
'Avoiding breathing in dust can be difficult as the particles are so small and masks are not always reliable.
'If you're experiencing breathlessness or other symptoms, it can be helpful to go to a less crowded area or find shelter in a nearby café or shop.
'People should also follow their asthma action plan and have their reliever inhaler on them at all times, in case they experience symptoms.
'If your symptoms do not improve after following your asthma action plan and taking your reliever inhaler you should always seek urgent medical attention.'