Are Festivals Falling Out of Favour with Gen Z? New Data Suggests a Slowdown in Live Music Attendance

Well, well, well, it seems like Gen Z might be ghosting festivals in 2025. New research from global insight firm GWI suggests that young people are either cutting back on the number of festivals they attend or ditching them entirely. Yep, that means fewer flower crowns, fewer viral mud-sliding videos, and (potentially) fewer dodgy pop-up tents abandoned in a field come Monday morning.

According to the study, only 39% of Gen Z are interested in going to festivals this year, a noticeable drop from the 46% in 2019. Even more striking, just 29% actively seek out live music in 2025. What’s going on? Are festivals losing their magic, or is something else at play? Let’s investigate.

The Price Tag Problem 🎟️💸

One of the biggest culprits? Cold, hard cash. Or, more accurately, the lack of it.

Festival tickets have skyrocketed in price over the past five years, with some major events demanding £300+ just for a basic weekend pass—and that’s before you factor in travel, food, camping gear, and the inevitable emergency poncho purchase.

And it’s not just festivals. If you want to see a top-tier artist at London’s O2 Arena, you’re looking at £120+ per ticket before the joy of added booking fees. For Gen Z, who are navigating a cost-of-living crisis, balancing rent, groceries, and a £9 iced latte habit, that’s a tough sell.

Growing Up & Growing Priorities

Now, before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s remember—Gen Z are getting older. And while they’re definitely not “too old” for festivals (because, let’s face it, no one is too old for a good time), they’re juggling different priorities.

More of them are focusing on careers, saving for a house deposit, or even starting families—you know, all that responsible adult stuff. Back in their carefree teen years, dropping a few hundred quid on a festival was justifiable. Now? It’s competing with things like rent and the occasional necessity to eat.

Why Stand in a Field When You Can Stream?

Another game-changer? Streaming. Festivals used to be the place to catch your favourite acts in their element. Now, you can watch many of them live from your sofa, in HD, for free.

In 2023, over one-third of the UK watched Glastonbury live on the BBC, avoiding the mud, the queues, and the always-too-far-away loos. If you can experience Arctic Monkeys’ set with a perfectly mixed sound system, zero rain, and a fridge full of reasonably priced beer, why wouldn’t you?

Then there’s the way music consumption has changed. Gen Z are the playlist generation—they don’t necessarily follow one artist religiously but dip in and out of multiple genres. That means crafting a festival lineup with mass appeal is harder than ever. Gone are the days when a single headliner could guarantee a sell-out. Now, festivals have to cater to an increasingly eclectic crowd, making the job of curators way trickier.

Festivals Aren’t Dead—They Just Need to Evolve

Now, before festival lovers start panicking, let’s be clear: live music is still thriving. Just try getting a Glastonbury ticket on release day—you’ll have better luck winning the lottery. The hunger is still there, but the industry needs to adapt.

One fascinating trend? More Gen Zers are attending festivals with their parents—31% of them, in fact. Maybe multi-generational festivals are the future? Imagine your dad raving at Boomtown. Actually, on second thought, maybe don’t.

It’s not all doom and gloom. The festival industry is in flux, and as Gen Z become the major spenders, organisers will have to rethink how they attract and retain them. Whether it’s more budget-friendly ticketing options, hybrid streaming experiences, or lineups that cater to everyone’s ever-changing tastes, the next few years will be crucial in shaping the future of live music.

 One thing’s for sure—festival culture isn’t dead, it’s just evolving. The real question is: will festivals keep up? 🎪✨