How to get the 20% PayPal food and drink discount at Download Festival

Download Festival kicks off today, and attendees can take advantage of a massive 20% discount on food and drink (including alcohol!) across the Donington Park site.

However, the last-minute reveal, made via the festival’s Instagram story just hours before the event opened, has left some fans worried they’ll miss out. The exclusive 20% discount is available only to those paying with a physical or virtual PayPal Debit Card, connected to their new PayPal+ loyalty programme.

If you are currently sitting in your tent trying to figure out how to get cheaper pints and pizza, don’t worry. Securing the discount is a straightforward process you can complete on your phone right now.

Step-by-step: How to claim your 20% discount

To access the cheaper prices, you don’t need a physical card mailed to you. You simply need to generate a virtual card in your digital wallet.

1. Open the PayPal App: Ensure you have the latest version of the PayPal app downloaded on your smartphone.
2. Join PayPal+: Navigate to the rewards section and enroll in PayPal+. This is PayPal’s free loyalty programme (with no fees or caps), and enrollment is required to trigger the festival rewards.
3. Request a Debit Card: Follow the prompts to request a PayPal Debit Card.
4. Add to Digital Wallet: Once approved, you will immediately be issued a virtual debit card number. Tap the option to add this directly to your Apple Pay or Google Wallet.
5. Tap and Save: When buying food or drink at participating vendors across the Download arena, simply pay using the virtual PayPal Debit Card via your phone’s digital wallet. The 20% discount will automatically apply to your transaction.

Please note it’s “only at participating vendors”, which Paypal say will be identifiable on site. We’re waiting to see just how many are taking part, but as the terms reference alcohol and “participating food and bar vendors”, we’d hope the main bars are included. You can find the full terms and conditions on the official offer page here.

Does this work at Parklife too?

Yes! If you have mates heading to Heaton Park this weekend instead of Donington, let them know. The exact same 20% PayPal+ discount applies to Parklife Festival, operating under the exact same terms.

Which other UK festivals are included?

If you are planning out your summer festival season, getting this set up now will save you money down the line. PayPal has confirmed that their debit card holders will receive discounts at several major events later this year.

If the discount does not apply automatically at the point of sale this weekend, the festival advises attendees to speak to the vendor or contact customer services. Stay hydrated, and enjoy the music!

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What about the free VIP upgrade?

PayPal+ Black tier members, whatever that is, are eligible for free VIP upgrades to their general admission tickets, for themselves and one guest. However, you can only do this for one festival each summer, and you must request the upgrade in the app at least one month before the festival.

So while it’s too late for Download, you can still request a VIP upgrade for Wilderness, Camp Bestival, Creamfields, Reading or Leeds. Full terms here (pdf link).

Image credits: Sam McMahon, Andrew Whitton
In this article: Download Festival, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Wallet, Donington Park, Leicestershire, Limp Bizkit, Guns N’ Roses, Linkin Park, Instagram, Mastercard, Parklife Festival, Heaton Park, Isle of Wight Festival, Reading and Leeds Festivals, Creamfields, Wilderness Festival, TRNSMT, Camp Bestival, United Kingdom. Generated by Wikidata Schema Link Builder.
Disclosures: TheFestivals is funded through advertising and sometimes earns a commission on purchases made through links on this website, including in this article: None

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