The annual Sziget Festival is Budapest’s biggest party – but similarly to any party, guests should comport themselves well by following certain protocols of proper behaviour throughout this week-long bash. As at any festival, Sziget situations require graceful consideration, but simply refer to our unofficial rules of conduct to learn decorous approaches to its unconventional norms.

Create a convivial campsite

Be courteous with your campground neighbours, and consider arranging your tents in such a way to create a small village with them. Not only does this foster a sense of camaraderie among your fellow Sziget campers, but this also reduces the likelihood of random drunks falling all over your tent.

Share sips communally

Rather than posing with your mixed drink in an attempt to look cool, why not share a bucket cocktail with friends or strangers, get more for your money and join in the festival spirit.

Mind the mud

When completely coated in mud, please only make full-body contact with other festivalgoers who are also completely coated in mud. (This rule does not apply to mud-free people carrying free hugs signs.)

PDA message

Public displays of affection should be limited to occur only during nighttime, daytime, breakfast time, lunchtime, dinner time, playtime, peacetime, showtime, meantime, bedtime, summertime and anytime.

Never drink and ride

If you’ve already had a few drinks and don’t have a stomach of steel, always refrain from Sziget attractions that involve rapid jerking motions, lest you end up being the sap who tosses his cookies over somebody's sandals.

View pointers

If you are hoisting a friend onto your shoulders at a concert, be respectful of people behind you and please go to an area where you won’t block their views. If you are someone who brings giant flags, signs or view-obstructing inflatables to a concert and then holds them overhead through the entire show, please stand way back from the masses.

Close encounters of the loud kind

When in your tent, try to avoid disturbing your neighbours with any unnecessary moaning, screaming, shrieking, spanking, slurping or other acts likely to create awkward noises.

High time for hygiene

To avoid catching any illness and emitting unpleasant bodily odours while enjoying Sziget festivities, make sure to keep clean by bathing regularly with plenty of soap. Feel free to save water by washing with friends.

Ground control to major qualm

If you find yourself occupying an alternate universe of your own surreal creation while aimlessly wandering the Sziget grounds, please refrain from shouting alien-language obscenities at fellow festivalgoers; there is always a chance that they may be familiar with the native tongue of that distant dimension, and might take offence.

Pass out responsibly

In your final moments of consciousness, try to pick a place to pass out where your sprawled body will not obstruct foot traffic around the festival, such as pathways, stages or the main entrance. Also try to avoid passing out in puddles of God-knows-what.