Australia’s festival season is heating up, but for music fans, the cost of entry is rising faster than ever. New analysis by Culture Kings of ticket data from 11 major Australian music festivals shows that prices have surged dramatically beyond inflation and are projected to continue climbing over the next decade.
The average festival ticket in Australia cost around $120 in 2004. By 2025, that number has jumped to $334, an increase of 180%, more than three times the rate of inflation.
Based on current trends, Culture Kings predicts the national average ticket price could hit $427 by 2030 and $546 by 2035, representing a further 63% rise within ten years.
Justin Hillberg, Culture Kings ANZ President, said, “Festivals are part of Australia’s cultural heartbeat. They’re where people meet, discover new music, and feel part of something bigger. But when ticket prices rise faster than wages and faster than inflation, it risks turning a shared cultural experience into a luxury.”
Earth Frequency has become Australia’s biggest outlier, lifting its average ticket from $60 at launch in 2007 to $339 in 2025. This 365% increase is the fastest among major festivals studied. At its current trajectory, Earth Frequency could reach an average ticket price of $550 by 2030, rising at an annual rate almost four times higher than inflation.
Other festivals are following similar upward trends. Blues Fest in Byron Bay has moved from an average ticket price of $157 in 2004 to $482 in 2025, while Splendour in the Grass rose from $82 to $327 over the same period. Handpicked Festival and Spilt Milk, both younger events, have also seen steep growth, with average ticket prices more than doubling since their inception.
Several major festivals are expected to join the “$500 club” within the next decade. Lost Paradise, already the highest-priced festival in 2025 with an average ticket of $506, is projected to reach around $660 by 2030. Spilt Milk is forecast to climb from $320 to approximately $500, while Bluesfest could push its average from $482 to roughly $630.
Even festivals seen as more accessible are not immune. Across the dataset, the median festival ticket has been increasing at around 6.7% annually, more than double the inflation rate of roughly 2.7%. This consistent growth suggests that attending live music events will become increasingly costly for Australian fans.
Mr Hillberg emphasised the need for a collaborative approach within the industry. “As demand for live music continues to grow, we want to champion the fans who show up year after year and the festivals that bring these experiences to life. With the right industry support and collaborative focus, there’s a real opportunity to keep live music vibrant, sustainable and within reach for fans across the country.”
He added that without intervention, a $400-$500 festival ticket could become standard within just a few years, raising concerns about access to shared cultural experiences for everyday Australians.
As festival organisers plan for the coming years, ticket pricing is likely to remain a key focus. While premium passes and VIP packages have long been part of festival offerings, the broader trend of rapidly rising base ticket costs poses questions about the long-term sustainability of live music as an inclusive experience.
Australia’s festival landscape is evolving, but keeping events accessible will be crucial to preserving their role as central pillars of the country’s cultural life.
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