Record 23.5m tourists attend UK music festivals and events

UK Music, the industry body, has published research to show the value of concerts and festivals to the economy in each of the UK’s nations and regions and outlined the vital importance of helping the music industry continue to grow everywhere.

In 2024, a record 23.5 million music tourists – up 23 per cent on 2023’s total of 19.2 million – enjoyed live music concerts and festivals in the UK. Of the 23.5 million total, 21.9 million were music tourists from the UK – a 21 per cent rise on 2023. A total of 1.6 million visitors last year were overseas music tourists – up 62 per cent on the 2023 total of one million.

Overseas tourists came to the UK to see the likes of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and attend festivals including Glastonbury, Download and Boardmasters.

In 2024, acts that were notable in attracting music tourists included Charli XCX, who had a breakthrough success with her album BRAT and played arenas for the first time, as well as Sam Fender, Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan, Girls Aloud, The Killers, Doja Cat, Foo Fighters, Burna Boy and Bruce Springsteen.

The much-publicised Oasis Live ’25 Tour, schedule to begin in July 2025, is expected to be a a significant event for musical tourism this year.

During 2024, music tourists supported 72,000 full-time equivalent jobs in the UK live music sector in 2024 – up 16 percent on the 2023 (62,000). The jobs are a key part of the wider music eco-system that also includes the UK’s world class music studios, record labels, music publishers and other music businesses.

Music tourism spending is made up of £5.1 billion spent directly by music tourists attending concerts and festivals in the UK, including the cost of a ticket, on-site spend, travel, accommodation, and meals while travelling to events. A further £4.9 billion was spent indirectly through the value chain, including costs such as fencing and security or a restaurant paying for ingredients.

The Hometown Glory report contains insights and strategies to grow music scenes and industries at a local level across the country.

The report outlines how music has the power to regenerate places, support skilled employment, and promote the UK’s global cultural leadership. It argues that supporting local music can be a key tool in strengthening communities and driving local and national pride, while simultaneously providing the support the music industry needs to thrive.

Local music ecosystems stimulate the economy by boosting footfall, powering the hospitality and retail sectors, and creating vibrant places that attract residents, visitors, and investment. They also provide vital opportunities for those looking to enter the industry to learn their craft.

However, the UK music industry faces a number of significant challenges that jeopardise its world-leading status including the rising cost of touring in the UK and overseas, the threat of more closures to grassroots music venues and the cost-of-living crisis facing many music fans.

According to the Association of Independent Festivals’ 2025 Festival Forecast Report, 250 festivals ceased to operate between 2019 and June 2025. The new research identified 592 music festivals in the UK in 2025, of which 360 are green field festivals and 232 are single venue or multi-venue festivals.

UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl said: “The Local Music Action Charter, launched in this report, will embolden local actors, particularly in the face of change and disruption, to support sustained growth, and enable those that form part of our local music industries to truly fulfil their potential.”

More on the report at ukmusic.org

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