Festivals still thriving despite rising costs and boycott pressure, report finds

Festivals face rising production costs, targets for protests, and calls for boycotts, yet are still thriving, according to findings from the European Festival Report 2025. Published by IQ Magazine in partnership with YOUROPE, the report features perspectives from over 220 festivals and includes key insights into how festivals are faring and the successes and challenges the sector faces. 

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Rising production costs remain the most significant challenge for the fourth year in a row, with 28% of established festivals reporting this as the main issue. Protests and boycott calls had affected 33% of respondents, while average day ticket prices had increased by 4 – 11.1% depending on the size of the festival – average ticket prices rose by 5.6% and the average ticket price for a whole event was €203.21. For newer festivals booking artists was cited as the biggest challenge by 31% of respondents, while 80% of festivals drew less than 20% of attendees from outside their home country. 

The report also presents practical examples of pioneering solutions in energy, travel, water, and waste, a deep dive into how independent festivals cope with sector-wide challenges, and an overview of resilience strategies being adopted. European festival culture’s role in shaping global trends in sustainability, accessibility, and artistic innovation amid increasing political pressures is additionally examined. 

You can read the full report here. 

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