Starfields 2026: An Iconic Entrance
As a fourth-year that has attended Starfields every year, this year’s event was, in my experience, the best one yet. I felt it was the perfect end to my last ever fresher’s week, and the best start to the semester. As I heard someone say upon entering, ‘the vibes are 10/10’.
Starfields is an annual charity event run by FS, and each year the funds raised through tickets and sponsorships go to a different charity; this year raised money for Young Lives vs Cancer. When buying a ticket, you are therefore donating to a meaningful cause and having a great time reuniting with everyone after the summer break. It lands on the Saturday of Freshers' Week every year, an ideal weekend event before classes start.
A huge crowd of students entered the event at 5:30 p.m., arriving at Sallies Quad in the centre of town, which saves everyone from needing to wait for coaches. You were immediately greeted with a spacious tent where the DJ booth was located, three different bars underneath a large cover and multiple food stands, along with signposts to where everything is located. Additionally, there was a braids and hair tinsel stand by Spoiled Hairdressing where you could get this done for free. It was like a mini festival that you could experience with only students, at the end of summer- the atmosphere was special.
Throughout the event people were found all around the venue, making it feel more like a festival, and the bar areas were busy but an improvement from previous years. This year they had more space and faster service which the people around me were especially happy about. In my opinion, the main tent where the DJ was played the best music yet. There were three different acts that took turns during the event: Supernova, Sasson and Alex Culross. These were different types of house music artists who were also experienced DJs, and this variety meant that the music never got repetitive.
In terms of fashion, the Starfields style is unique: festival outfits done in a St Andrews way. There were wellies, colourful mini dresses, denim skirts and jeans paired with sheer ponchos, flowy boho two-piece sets, statement jewellery, sequins and bandana tops. There are few St Andrews events where most people dress this way, making Starfields a unique opportunity to sport an informal summer outfit.
The churros, burgers, fries and tacos stands were busy all night, and could be taken around the venue; people often sat on the hill and had a short food break. The event conveniently coincided with the sunset, adding to the end of summer, end of fresher’s week atmosphere. A newly joined postgraduate student on the hill sat with us and said how friendly and happy everyone is, and how excited Starfields has made him for future events. I think that with being the first big event of the year, attracting many first years, it is one of the most sociable St Andrews events.
Some people had also brought their home friends to it who were staying with them, and arguably it is the perfect event for this, as there is a lot to do, and it requires no previous understanding of St Andrews culture, making it easy to adapt to. Its versatility and its consistent timing have kept huge amounts of students returning every year and has created a sense of loyalty. As my friend justified: ‘you have to go because you always have a good time and it is where you get to see everyone again’.
Later into the evening the dance floor got more crowded, and confetti were continually released into the crowd. The lighting grew more creative, which drew everyone in before the event ended. People left by about 10:00 p.m. and either got ready for an after-party or went home. Starfields leaves the later evening free, giving you the option to carry on into the night or experience it as a day event.
Starfields combines being an end of summer celebration and an event that holds anticipation for the year ahead. This year’s creative director Cecilia Hohenlohe along with other new roles enhanced the event, in particular improving the queues for the bar and the music. If you have any opportunity to go in the coming year, I encourage you to go, to bring your home friends, and wear something sheer!
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