Police have discovered a “sizable” stash of drugs buried at the site of the upcoming Creamfields festival.

During the first week of pre-event searches, Cheshire Constabulary recovered “large bags” containing MDMA, ecstasy and ketamine, alongside 204 canisters of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, from Cheshire’s Daresbury Estate, according to Manchester Evening News. Images released by police show the recovered tablets included green “Cornetto” and brown “It’s Coming Home” pills.

The searches are being carried out by specialist teams ahead of the 20th edition of the electronic music event, which will welcome an estimated 80,000 attendees over the bank holiday weekend, running from 27th to 30th August. Police anticipate finding more drugs hidden around the estate in the days running up to the festival.

“Every year we remind those attending Creamfields that there is a zero-tolerance policy regarding drugs and, every year, we counter a number of brazen individuals who think they can outsmart us by concealing drugs from view or burying them at the site months in advance”, police superintendent Andy Blizard said in a press statement. 

“We fully expect to find further quantities as our searches continue, leaving many of those who chose to bury these items very much disappointed to find them no longer where left them when they arrive at the festival to dig them back up.”

Creamfields’ 2026 line-up includes Calvin Harris, Amelie Lens, Fatboy Slim, Disclosure, East End Dubs, Martin Garrix, Chloé Caillet, Carl Cox, and many more.

The festival was recently voted No. 7 in DJ Mag’s Top 100 Festivals poll 2026, climbing two places from its 2025 ranking. Find out more.

Last year, Creamfields unveiled a new 360° “mega stage” for the 2025 festival.