Concerts and Festivals: Why Ticket Prices Have Skyrocketed

The concert-going experience used to feel like one of those things you could just buy a ticket for whenever you wanted, throw on a nicer outfit, and go with all your friends. It was something that your bank account didn’t shed tears over—but today, things are a 180-degree difference. Not that long ago, seeing your favorite artist live or going to a festival felt like a fun, non-bank-breaking splurge, not a financial decision that now can require sometimes months of saving up for. However, over the past decade or so, ticket prices have shot through the roof, and for many fans, the accessibility of live music is plummeting. 

One of the biggest and best examples of this major shift today is the well-known Coachella festival. Taking place ritualistically every year in southern California, this highly anticipated event is brimming with celebrities and ultra-famous influencers who go for free, all of their tickets and amenities fully paid for by hot, popular brands. It is now associated with this awesome experience that, nowadays, feels as though only the financially able can afford. Believe it or not, it wasn’t always like this—in earlier years, Coachella was actually considered a relatively affordable festival compared to others of its popularity, especially for students and younger fans who just wanted to experience their favorite artists live in the flesh.

Despite Coachella’s massive success each year from the major artists that headline the shows, the blowup of pricing is a deterrent, and makes it much less of an all-inclusive event. What used to be a $65 general admission ticket in 2001 snowballed to $649 for the first weekend and $549 for the second weekend in 2026. That is a wild ticket price increase of nearly 900% over the course of 25 years. When tickets sold out almost immediately, resale sites increased the prices to anywhere from $800-$2,000. That was just general admission tickets alone, not to mention VIP and multi-ticket packs. 

Today, however, it costs a fortune to be in attendance. General admission passes alone can cost hundreds of dollars, not to mention travel, lodging, food, and other expenses. What used to be a more accessible weekend music festival trip has turned into something that often requires a fat budget. Many fans have come together on platforms like TikTok to discuss their frustration about the shift from casual and come-as-you-are to luxury and members-only. 

However, Coachella isn’t the only culprit here. Concert tickets in general have become significantly more expensive. Major artists now regularly charge hundreds of dollars for very standard seats. High-demand shows can sell out within minutes, with resale sites selling the tickets for massive increases, oftentimes double or even triple the original price. There are a couple of reasons behind this shift. One, the demand for live music has grown dramatically since the pandemic, when concerts were completely shut down. Now that events are back up and running, fans are eager to attend shows again. Companies take advantage of this and jack up the prices like crazy. Two, resale markets are on the rise. Resale sites allow fans to re-publish tickets for whatever price they choose, which can push costs even higher for high-demand, popular events. 

For all fans alike, this trend is frustrating—but to younger fans especially. Live music has always been huge in youth culture because it serves as an expressive outlet, a creative tool, and even fuel to strengthen relationships. As prices continue to rise, the opportunity for people to come together to bond over music diminishes. It shouldn’t be this big of a deal, but people are being forced to pick and choose or skip events altogether because pricing is disincentivizing. 

If festival and concert ticket prices continue to rise at the rate they are now, the future of live entertainment may look quite different. Music events could increasingly become experiences available primarily to those who can afford the growing financial commitment, leaving many loyal, long-time fans unable to participate in what could, unfortunately, mutate into an exclusive privilege.

Desert Dream // Swarming around the stage, thousands of fans sing their hearts out. Coachella really is a magical place where fans’ dreams come true, but at what cost? (Photo by Audrey Hamatake)