Is Starfields Worth The Hype?

By Katie Rockefeller

Starfields— highly anticipated by freshers and returning students alike. If you missed the biggest event to kick off Martinmas, don’t sweat it! I’m sure you will find an academic family another way.

The renowned, “Coachella of The Bubble,” was no easy feat to put together, especially when the Scottish sky is offended when students venture outdoors with their hair freshly done. Regardless, the talented student committee behind the scenes made a point to focus on everything they could control: music, booze, and even extra confetti.

Maia, on the Beauty Team and Ceci the Creative Assistant embracing the rain

Carefully curated by the St Andrews Charity Fashion Show (FS) committee, Starfields has been, and continues to be a great success. A non-profit established in 1992, FS has been supporting an array of charities like Genetic Alliance UK (2023, 2024), Scottish Women’s Aid (2025), and the British Heart Foundation Scotland (2026). Not only has this student-run organisation raised over £635,000 for charity, FS events have been a crux in the social scene of St Andrews.

When asked how she felt about this year’s Starfields, logistics director – Rosa – says, “I’m feeling amazing, I’m so excited, everything has gone so well.” As such a colossal task as Starfields is, comes to fruition year after year, it is gratifying to notice its growth. “It’s the first time we’ve sold out this quick,” Rosa exclaimed, telling us how it was the, “biggest Starfields ever.”

Starfields a few hours into the afternoon - you can see just how packed the tent became

With the increasing student buzz for this prominent event, the FS committee must account for increasing the event’s capacity, enhancing student satisfaction, sourcing the iconic grandiose tents, performers, and media coverage. The lasers, flashing lights, confetti popping, and pure electric energy is what students look forward to all summer. “The atmosphere was incredible, there’s good music, there’s people dancing,” says student and Starfields attendee Freddie Coughlin. What more could you possibly need? While the committee is not liable if you decided to wear eight inch pumps on the grass, they did do everything they could to provide a fun, and safe environment; regardless of sudden curveballs.

Yes, the torrential downpour at the start of the event was less than ideal… that is to say students, and more importantly the DJ and sound system, were left completely unharmed because of the tents. Whoever increased the tent budget, kudos to you.

The beginning of Starfields - you can see just from this picture the incredible design and structure of the tent itself

Of course Starfields starts early and ends early, but FS wouldn’t want you to be put out in the rain (literally). If you missed it, there was an afterparty at Forgan’s on Market Street. While you may have been here for the occasional Cèilidh, it provided a great location to keep the party going… and even migrate from shots of tequila to a cheeky espresso martini.

As a perfect precursor to the first week of classes, the essence of Starfields is held fondly by students, now left hungover and satisfied. A success in every sense of the word, congratulations to everyone behind the scenes of Starfields and at FS. What an incredible appetiser to the main course: the St Andrews Charity Fashion Show, 2026.