Your wristband that you receive at the gate to Shambhala Music Festival can now act as a digital wallet using RFID technology. Just tap it to pay for anything at the festival.

1. Pre-Festival Registration (Online): You will register a Shambhala RFID account online and create a custom 4-digit PIN that will be used later for purchases. Be sure to enter the phone number that you will be using on the farm. After that, you can link a credit card to your account. 
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2. Wristband Distribution (On-Site): Receive your Shambhala Music Festival wristband upon arrival on the farm. Your festival wristband will have RFID technology.

3. Activate: At your first point of purchase, provide your phone number and 4-digit PIN to the vendor. This links your account to your physical wristband’s RFID chip (a one-time process).

4. Tap In: Once activated, wristbands work instantly at any payment point on the farm. Simply tap and enter your 4-digit pin to complete a transaction. All charges are processed via the linked payment method.

5. Review: At any time, you can log into your RFID account to view real-time spending history, update or replace card details, and manage account settings from a mobile-friendly dashboard. Receipts and balance updates are available via the user portal.

All major credit cards are accepted, including Visa Debit. However, standard debit cards are not compatible with the RFID system and cannot be loaded onto the wristband.

Yes, RFID registration is optional!

Vendors will still accept physical credit or debit card or phone tap payments, however, we highly recommend registering for RFID to ensure you can pay seamlessly across the entire festival.

The following payment methods will be accepted on the Farm:

- RFID (use is optional)

- Credit Cards (domestic and international)

- Debit Cards (domestic and US)

- Visa Debit Cards

- Payment via Apple Pay and Google Pay.

When guests do not have access to credit or debit cards and there is no other method, the festival will continue to accept cash in person at the RFID Help Tent. Cash can be loaded in exchange for credit onto the RFID Wristband, where absolutely necessary. The use of cash is discouraged as it is less secure than other payment methods available. 

Please note: RFID and cash will not be accepted at the gate. Please bring an alternative payment method for Early Entry and Parking Upgrades.

When guests do not have access to credit or debit cards and there is no other method, the festival will continue to accept cash in person at the RFID Help Tent. Cash can be loaded in exchange for credit onto the RFID Wristband, where absolutely necessary. 

There will be no ATMs on-site this year, so if you plan to use cash, be sure to bring it with you.

The use of cash is discouraged as it is less secure than other payment methods available. Cash balances are not protected by a PIN. For this reason, we strongly recommend using an alternative payment method. If you do load cash and happen to lose your wristband, please come to the RFID Help Tent immediately. We’ll confirm your identity, cancel your lost wristband, issue you a new one, and transfer your cash balance over.

Payment method options may vary by vendor. Some artisan vendors may still accept cash, but all food vendors are cashless.

You can set it up before you even receive your wristband at the gate! Create an RFID account here and add a payment method in advance. It takes just a couple of minutes. You will link your wristband to your account during your first payment on the farm.

Step 1: Set up your RFID account, choose a 4-digit PIN, and link your credit card. Use the phone number you'll have on the farm.

Step 2: Get your RFID-enabled wristband when you arrive.

Step 3: Activate - At your first purchase, give your phone number and PIN to link your wristband to your account (one-time setup).

Step 4: Tap to Pay - After activation, just tap your wristband and enter your PIN to pay. Charges go to your linked card.

Step 5: Manage Your Account - Log in anytime to track spending, update payment info, and view receipts.

You don’t need to load any funds onto your wristband. It’s directly linked to your credit card, so payments are processed automatically and there is no credit balance stored on your RFID. Just tap your wristband and enter your PIN - that’s it!

Regarding post-festival balances remaining on your RFID: 

If your wristband is linked to a credit card, you will never carry a balance, as purchases are processed directly to your card. Any necessary credit card refunds will follow standard payment processing timelines.

If you loaded cash onto your RFID and have a remaining balance after the festival, you can claim a refund through our post-event request process. Refunds are not available on-site. Refunds will be issued via PayPal for guests outside of Canada and via eTransfer for guests within Canada.

To claim your refund, please complete the online refund form. Once submitted, we’ll verify your details against our records and process your refund within 7–10 business days. Please note: Your bank or payment provider may apply processing times or fees — Shambhala does not charge fees or keep any portion of your refund.Because we welcome guests from over 30 countries and refund systems vary, we strongly recommend using a credit card or other digital payment method whenever possible for the smoothest experience.

When you set up your cashless profile, your card details are stored securely by the payment provider - not on your wristband or at the sales terminal. Your wristband simply connects to a secure code (called a token) that lets you make payments without exposing your actual card info.

Your PIN protects your wristband - even if it’s lost, copied or stolen, no one can make purchases without your Personal Identification Number (PIN). This applies only to credit cards. 

‍Important note: Cash balances are not protected by a PIN. For this reason, we strongly recommend using an alternative payment method. If you do load cash and happen to lose your wristband, please come to the RFID Help Tent immediately. We’ll confirm your identity, cancel your lost wristband, issue you a new one, and transfer your cash balance over.

You can still set up on-site. Just scan a QR code at the gate or visit a Help Tent.

Multiple people (such as a couple) can add the same credit card to their wristbands. However, any cash balance or promo balance that is loaded onto your band can only be used on your band. Cash balances cannot be transferred to other festival guests.

If you run out of funds, you will have the option to complete payment with a different method.

Yes. The Shambhala Music Festival wristband is waterproof and designed to withstand various weather conditions and activities during the festival.