If you’ve been gearing up for festival szn, here’s the tea: festival tickets in Australia have surged by a massive 180% since 2004. Yep, what once cost about $120 is now averaging $334 in 2025, and based on Culture Kings’ deep-dive into two decades of pricing data, we’re on track to see the average ticket hit $427 by 2030. For this study, we analysed ticket prices from 11 major Aussie festivals, standardised across tiers, and compared them with long-run CPI inflation to map out exactly how fast the cost of entry is rising.
Festivals aren’t just events, they’re a core part of Aussie culture. From muddy campsites to discovering your new fave artist, live music hits in a way nothing else does. But with prices rising more than twice the pace of inflation, that iconic festival feeling risks becoming a luxury. As ticket prices keep climbing, the accessibility of these shared moments becomes a real question.
Back in 2004, the average festival ticket sat at roughly $120. Fast forward to 2025 and that number has shot up to $334, representing a 180% increase, more than triple the rate of inflation over the same period. If the current trajectory continues, we could be seeing average ticket prices surpass $546 by 2035. That’s not just a small bump; it’s a major shift in how festivals might shape the cultural landscape moving forward.
Based on a combination of festival-specific compound annual growth rates (CAGR) and inflation modelling, Culture Kings projected the future of festival pricing. Here's how the average ticket could climb over the next few decades:
How Much Will a Festival Ticket Cost in the Future?
| YEAR | PROJECTED AVERAGE PRICE | INFLATION-ADJUSTED AVERAGE |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $351 | $343 |
| 2027 | $369 | $353 |
| 2028 | $387 | $362 |
| 2029 | $407 | $372 |
| 2030 | $427 | $383 |
| 2035 | $546 | $438 |
| 2040 | $697 | $501 |
| 2045 | $891 | $573 |
| 2050 | $1,138 | $655 |
| Festival | First Year | Last Year | Starting Avg Price | Current Avg Price | Avg Price CAGR | Avg Inflation Rate | Total Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blues Fest | 2004 | 2025 | $157 | $482 | 5.49% | 2.73% | 207.01% |
| Bass in the Grass | 2005 | 2025 | $53 | $198 | 6.81% | 2.75% | 273.58% |
| Splendour in the Grass | 2004 | 2024 | $82 | $327 | 7.16% | 2.73% | 298.78% |
| Groovin the Moo | 2005 | 2024 | $52 | $177 | 6.66% | 2.75% | 240.38% |
| Earth Frequency | 2007 | 2025 | $60 | $339 | 10.10% | 2.71% | 456.00% |
| Festival | 2025 | 2030 | 2040 | 2050 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blues Fest | $482 | $630 | $1074 | $1832 |
| Bass in the Grass | $198 | $275 | $532 | $1028 |
| Earth Frequency | $339 | $548 | $1435 | $3756 |
| Beyond the Valley | $380 | $487 | $801 | $1316 |
| Lost Paradise | $506 | $663 | $1139 | $1958 |
| Handpicked Festival | $180 | $282 | $695 | $1712 |
| Spilt Milk | $320 | $503 | $1240 | $3057 |
| Good Things | $270 | $364 | $659 | $1196 |
| Splendour in the Grass | N/A | $495 | $989 | $1975 |
| Groovin the Moon | N/A | $261 | $497 | $946 |
One festival stands out from the rest: Earth Frequency. Starting at just $60 when it launched, its average ticket now sits at $339, a 365% increase. If its current growth continues, Earth Frequency could hit around $550 by 2030, making it one of the fastest-rising festival prices in the country.
Justin Hillberg, Culture Kings ANZ President, summed it up: “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.“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. Culture Kings is proud to support Australia’s festival scene, and we want to see it continue to thrive.”
If you’re planning your next festival fit, we’ve got you covered. Check the latest drops in graphic tees, denim shorts, and headwear at Culture Kings so you can roll in looking fresh without breaking the bank.