Rising costs barricade young fans from attending live music events
Australia’s live music scene is in crisis due to high ticket costs keeping young Australians from attending live events and gigs.
With the additional expense of insurance, operational costs, and dynamic pricing for high-demand events, music ticket prices have reached an all-time high.
Research conducted by The Push Youth Music Organisation in their 2026 report on Young Australian Music Audiences found that 45 per cent of young Australians aged 16-25 have identified cost as the biggest barrier to attending live entertainment.
Addressing the health of the entertainment scene, Live Performance Australia Chief Executive, Eric Lassen, said while consumer affection for live performance stays strong, the industry is under pressure.“We know that consumers are feeling the pinch from a household budget standpoint, and so that has made for an exceptionally challenging environment for the industry in recent years,” Lassen said.
The average ticket price has increased by 3.3 per cent from $111.48 in 2023 to $115.12. The average festival ticket price has reached $334, representing a 180 per cent increase from 2004.
With financial pressures making young fans choose between live experiences and savings, retail employee Jess Boyce, from K-pop retailer IHEARTKPOP in Melbourne, is watching fans struggle in real-time.
“The pricing is astronomical,” Boyce said.
She notes that skyrocketing ticket prices, alongside cost-of-living pressures, are forcing fans to cut back on concert merchandise.
“We are seeing a bit of a dip. Definitely from when we first opened compared to now, it changed this year specifically.”
Across the industry, Live Performance Australia's most recent report shows New South Wales and Victoria account for nearly 70 per cent of all revenue, while other states and territories recorded revenue drops and touring declines.
However, the report notes music revenue varies with international stadium tours. Upstart's 2026 audit found 68.3 per cent of venues in Melbourne host less than one gig a month.
Lassen believes in the importance of accessibility to combat the current stall in the youth live music scene. With the decline in small-venue gigs, this impacts how young people now experience music.
“It used to be the case…people would go out to their local club, and they might [have] paid $10 at the door, and walk out and have made a connection with a small Melbourne-based band. That model just really doesn't exist anymore.”
The City of Yarra is calling on the state government to offer under 25s a "cultural pass" to spend on venues, and support grants to music makers and producers.
“There are some programs in place that offer limited support for venues, and we would absolutely support [the] government…to help venues upgrade and shift to remain viable,” Lassen said.
Despite the barriers, the dedication of young fans shows the demand for live music remains persistent. K-pop group Twice sold 50,000 tickets in Melbourne and Sydney, making it the best-selling K-pop tour in Oceania, The Music reported.
“People do have really good fan bases,” Boyce said. “It's really great to see that people are still wanting to engage in the community… people are still trying to show up for shows, even if it is costing them a lot.”
