What is Event Accreditation?

Accreditation (also called event accreditation) is the process of approving who can access an event's restricted areas, such as backstage or the media pit, and issuing them a pass or wristband to prove it. Festivals, concerts and conferences accredit artists, crew, staff, press, suppliers and guests before the event opens.

How accreditation works

Accreditation usually runs in five stages, led by an accreditation manager working with security, production and the press office:

  1. Set categories and zones: decide who needs access (artists, crew, media, suppliers) and which areas each group can enter, often colour-coded, such as All Areas, Backstage, Production and Photo Pit.
  2. Collect requests: artist teams, suppliers and journalists submit names, roles, organisations and dates, often through an online form.
  3. Approve and allocate: each request is checked against the artist advance, crew rotas or the press list, then given the right zones and days.
  4. Issue credentials: approved people receive credentials such as laminates, wristbands or digital passes, usually collected with photo ID at an accreditation desk.
  5. Control access on site: stewards and security check passes at each zone entry, and lost or misused passes are cancelled.

For example, a photographer may be accredited for the photo pit for only the first three songs of each headline set. Festivals handling hundreds of requests often manage accreditations in Crescat rather than in spreadsheets.

Accreditation vs credentials

Accreditation is the approval process; a credential is the physical or digital pass that results from it. Someone is accredited for an event, then wears a credential that shows which zones and days that accreditation covers.

Common accreditation categories

  • Artist: performers and their touring party, usually with backstage and dressing room access
  • Production and crew: technicians, stage crew and contractors working the build and the show
  • Staff and volunteers: bar, catering, stewarding and site teams, limited to their work areas
  • Media: journalists, photographers and broadcasters, often with photo pit or press area access
  • Suppliers and traders: vendors and delivery drivers, sometimes restricted to set delivery times
  • Guests and VIPs: sponsors, industry guests and VIPs with hospitality access

Frequently asked questions

How do you get press accreditation for a festival?

Apply through the festival's media or press page, usually several weeks or months before the event. Most festivals ask for a letter of commission from an editor, links to previous coverage and audience figures for the outlet. Places are limited, so apply early and say exactly what you plan to publish.

Who manages accreditation at an event?

Larger festivals and conferences have an accreditation manager or team, often within operations. They work with the press office for media, artist liaison for artists, the production manager for crew, and security for on-site checks. At smaller events the production or operations manager often handles it alongside other duties.

What is the difference between accreditation and a guest list?

A guest list gives people free entry to audience areas, usually as a favour from the artist or promoter. Accreditation gives working access to restricted areas, such as backstage or the photo pit, to people who have a role at the event.

Related terms