New research has revealed the staggering increase in the cost of attending UK music festivals, with the price of a weekend ticket for many major events having more than doubled over the past decade. The study, conducted by WDW Bingo, found that Lincolnshire’s Lost Village has seen the most dramatic price hike, with tickets soaring by 211% from £98 in 2015 to £305 in 2025.
In contrast, Y Not Festival in the Peak District recorded the smallest rise among the festivals analysed, with its ticket price increasing by just 26% over the same period, from £95 to £120. The findings highlight a significant shift in the market, with only Y Not and Parklife now falling under the £200 price point that nearly half of UK fans consider their limit.
Other major festivals with significant increases include Winchester’s Boomtown Fair, which saw a 150% rise to £300, and Cornwall’s Boardmasters, where prices jumped 126% to £269. The trend reflects a move towards larger-scale productions, bigger artist bookings, and more immersive on-site experiences.
Explaining the data, Harrison Score, Head of WDW Bingo, commented: “The significant rise in festival ticket prices isn’t just a simple case of inflation – numerous factors come into play. Artist fees are escalating due to global competition, and the ever-increasing production costs for elaborate staging, enhanced security, and complex logistics contribute to the rising costs.”
Read the official press release in full below:
TICKET TO INFLATION: HOW THE COST OF UK MUSIC FESTIVALS HAS DOUBLED IN A DECADE
New research reveals which festivals have seen the biggest price hikes from 2015 to 2025, with some now costing more than double their original price.
- Lincolnshire’s Lost Village has seen the biggest increase, with prices rising 211% over the past 10 years.
- Y Not Festival recorded the smallest jump, increasing 26% from £95 to £120.
- Only two of the UK’s top festivals now fall under the preferred £200 ticket limit: Y Not Festival and Parklife.¹
The rising cost of festival tickets is hitting music fans hard. Nearly half (49%) of Brits say they wouldn’t pay more than £200 for a weekend festival ticket.¹ But how many events still fall within that price range, and how much have prices really climbed?
The experts at WDW Bingo analysed standard weekend ticket prices across the UK’s top music festivals in 2015 vs 2025, revealing just how much more fans are paying to see their favourite acts.
The UK Music Festivals With The Steepest Ticket Price Increases:
1. Lost Village – 211% price increase.
Lost Village tops the list with a 211% rise in weekend ticket prices, from £98 in 2015 to £305 in 2025. What started as a low-key woodland gathering has evolved into one of the UK’s most immersive and high-end festivals.
The Lincolnshire-based event now blends world-class electronic artists, including Bonobo, Four Tet, Peggy Gou, Bicep, and Fred again.., with interactive theatre, surreal set design, and abandoned villages hidden in the trees.
It’s also become a foodie’s dream, serving up Michelin-starred pop-ups, banquets, and premium street food. With meals now averaging £12-£18 and pints pushing £8.85, it’s far from cheap, but for fans of immersive culture and cutting-edge music, Lost Village offers a festival experience like no other.
2. Boomtown Fair – 150% price increase.
Ranking in second place is Winchester’s Boomtown, which has seen a 150% price increase over the last ten years. Once an underground favourite known for its eclectic line-ups and DIY aesthetic, Boomtown has grown into a full-scale immersive spectacle. The festival’s in-character streets, themed districts, and storyline-led experiences are now paired with major headliners and world-class production.
In 2015, the line-up featured names like Stephen Marley, Friction, and Dub Pistols. Fast forward to 2025, and the bill includes major acts like Chase & Status, The Streets, and Kano. With that growth has come rising costs, both in terms of tickets and on-site spending. Pints now average around £7.50 (up from just over £4 in 2015), while meals have jumped from under £10 to £14-£16.
3. Boardmasters – 126% price increase.
Rounding off the top three is Boardmasters, which has seen a 126% rise in ticket prices over the past decade, from £119 in 2015 to £269 in 2025.
What began as a laid-back surf and music weekender on the Cornish coast has evolved into a major five-day festival, blending world-class music with stunning beachside scenery. With its dual location across Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay, Boardmasters offers the unique combination of live music, surfing competitions, and wellness activities.
The line-up has grown in star power, too. In 2015, acts included Bastille, Catfish and the Bottlemen, and Clean Bandit. By 2025, Boardmasters is welcoming major headliners like Stormzy, Sam Fender, and Raye, reflecting its shift from niche to mainstream appeal. With that scale comes an uptick in costs, but for many, the combination of music, surf culture, and coastal sunsets is worth the price tag.
| Rank | Music Festival Name | 2015 Weekend Price | 2025 Weekend Price | Price Increase % |
| 1 | Lost Village | £98 | £305 | 211% |
| 2 | Boomtown Fair | £120 | £300 | 150% |
| 3 | Boardmasters | £119 | £269 | 126% |
| 4 | Parklife | £90 | £167 | 87% |
| 5 | Download Festival | £168 | £290 | 73% |
| 6 | Glastonbury Festival | £220 | £378 | 72% |
| 7 | Green Man Festival | £165 | £275 | 67% |
| 8 | Wireless Festival | £188 | £306 | 63% |
| 9 | Creamfields | £180 | £290 | 61% |
| 10 | Latitude Festival | £193 | £308 | 60% |
| 11 | Reading and Leeds Festival | £205 | £325 | 59% |
| 12 | Kendal Calling | £135 | £209 | 55% |
| 13 | Isle of Wight Festival | £195 | £290 | 49% |
| 14 | Y Not Festival | £95 | £120 | 26% |
Y Not Festival – Smallest Price Rise at Just 26%
Among the UK’s biggest music festivals, Y Not Festival has seen the smallest ticket price increase over the last decade, up just 26%, from £95 in 2015 to £120 in 2025.
While many major festivals have doubled (or more), Y Not has kept things relatively affordable, maintaining its reputation as one of the UK’s best-value weekends for live music. Held in the Peak District, the festival continues to attract big-name headliners while staying accessible to a wider audience – a major draw for fans priced out of higher-tier events.
In 2015, Y Not hosted acts like Snoop Dogg and Primal Scream. A decade later, its 2025 line-up still delivers, with headliners such as The Wombats, Wet Leg, and Declan McKenna.
Food and drink prices have seen a modest rise too, with most meal options coming in at £9-£12 and a pint averaging £6.50, still under the £7-£8 norm seen at other UK festivals.
Harrison Score, Head of WDW Bingo, comments: “The significant rise in festival ticket prices isn’t just a simple case of inflation – numerous factors come into play. Artist fees are escalating due to global competition, and the ever-increasing production costs for elaborate staging, enhanced security, and complex logistics contribute to the rising costs. Festivals are also constantly striving to offer more immersive and diverse experiences beyond just music, which naturally comes with a higher price tag. The result is a more premium product, but one that’s becoming harder to afford for everyday fans.”
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