Are concert tickets now a luxury item?

When a huge band or singer announces a tour, fans will pay big money to be part of it - and not just because they love the music.

Big tours are also huge social media events - so some people simply HAVE to be seen there.

And that means the world’s top artists can confidently charge top dollar and still comfortably sell out.

But if we simply accept that paying a fortune is part of the deal these days, what does this mean for music lovers?

Is live music now out of reach if you’re on an average or low income?

Have gig tickets become a luxury that most people can’t afford?

And how willing should you be to pay premium prices for a ticket even if you can’t afford it?

Concert tickets really are more expensive these days

If you’re a long-time gig-goer, you might feel you’re paying a lot more to see your favourite act than you were a few years ago.

And you’d be right.

In fact, research by Dark Horse shows that between 2005 and 2025, the price of the average gig ticket rose by a staggering 237%.

But the average wage went up by just 73.8% during this time.

“We're way behind the same musical buying power of the early 2000s,” says Libby Mayfield, head of marketing at Dark Horse.

"Going to see your favourite artists used to be a reliable way to get an evening out and bond with fellow music lovers without the stress of a pay-in-three plan, but the numbers don't lie.”

Tickets for major acts don’t come cheap

We saw it two years ago with the clamour for Taylor Swift tickets.

It happened again with last year’s Oasis reunion tour.

And now in 2026, it’s happened again, with Harry Styles’ tour announcement triggering a huge scrum for tickets and displays of both joy and heartbreak on social media.

Harry Styles is easily one of the biggest pop stars in the world. 

But if you want to see him this summer, you’ll have to pay between £44.10 and £466.25.

And that’s before you look at the VIP packages, which range from £468.85 to £725.25, and resale sites that sell tickets for more than face value.

So if you’re a family of four going to see Harry Styles, you’re still looking at paying almost £200 for the cheapest tickets in the nosebleed seats.

Fans aren’t just paying for tickets

Apart from a one-off gig in Manchester in March, Harry’s UK tour consists of 12 nights at a single venue in London - Wembley Stadium.

So many of the people going to the shows will also have to fork out for travel and at least one night's accommodation.

And on top of that, plenty will want to buy a special outfit for the occasion and then snap up merch at the gig itself.

It’s clear that for big moments like this, people will pay whatever it takes, regardless of the consequences.

“Just like people are willing to pay for designer accessories, people are willing to pay to see major music tours, whether they can afford to or not,” says Libby from Dark Horse.

“A Harry Styles concert might be the Gucci of live music, but he's still selling out tours."

Live music doesn’t have to cost a fortune

At this point, you might despair, but there’s good news and bad news.

The bad news is that big acts can and will charge lots of money - and that’s never going to change.

But the good news is that you don’t have to pay huge sums to enjoy live music.

Check out grassroots venues in your area, such as pubs and clubs, and see what’s on their gig listings.

You’ll find a huge variety of live music on offer and you’ll pay a fraction of the price of a stadium gig for the whole experience.

They might not carry the same prestige and bragging rights as Harry Styles tickets, but it’s supremely satisfying, something you can do regularly, and a great way to discover new music.

And who knows?

You might end up seeing a big act BEFORE they become famous.

Now that’s something to show off about on social media.

“Concerts don't need to become unaffordable,” Libby adds.

“The price to see a bigger artist might be out of reach for many, but there are still ways to get out there and enjoy music in a financially sustainable way.”

Watch out for ticket scams

Tickets for big shows often sell out quickly, so if you miss out when they go on sale, you might be tempted to look online for anyone selling spares.

But if you seem to strike gold and find someone selling a ticket for a gig you want to attend, remember that it could be a scam.

So be vigilant and take precautions to avoid concert ticket scams, such as:

• not rushing your decision
• only buying tickets from trusted retailers
• only using trusted payment methods

And if a gig does sell out, stick to legitimate resale sites like Twickets, as tickets at face value may become available as the day of the gig approaches.