Christopher BarrettHeadliners including Coldplay, Lana Del Rey and Kendrick Lamar helped attract a record 24.7 million music tourists to UK concerts and festivals last year, according to UK Music.
Hugely successful events including the Oasis Live ’25 Tour helped boost the total number of music tourists in the UK by 4.8% from 23.5m in 2024 to 24.7m last year.
The research carried out by the music industry body found that music tourists spent an all-time high of £11.2 billion in 2025 at major festivals and concerts including Glastonbury, Download, Reading, Boomtown and Wireless. The figure marks a 11.3% increase on the previous year’s total spend of £10bn.
Of the 24.7m visitors, 22.6m were music tourists from the UK – a 3.2% rise on the 2024 figure of 21.9m visitors. Some 2.1m visitors were overseas music tourists, up 26.8% on 2024. UK Music said the increase was driven by the large number of overseas music fans heading to popular stadium shows in the UK – some of which were the only 2025 European dates for artists including Coldplay, Lana Del Rey and Oasis.
In the North West, music tourists’ spending rose 15.6% from £1.2bn in 2024 to £1.4bn last year. While in London, music tourism spending increased 27.4% from £2.7bn in 2024 to £3.4bn the subsequent year.
The report found that music tourists supported 74,000 full-time equivalent jobs in the live music sector in 2025 – up 3% on the previous year’s total of 71,760. UK Music suggested that the small increase reflected growth in both direct and indirect employment through the value chain supported by music tourism, particularly at stadium and arena level. However, it suggested that the rise was not necessarily reflective of employment trends across the live music sector, and particularly at grassroots level where employment levels were hit by higher operating costs and NI contributions.
“The record 24.7 million music tourists who spent £11.2 billion to enjoy the experience of seeing their favourite acts live is a tribute to the 220,000 people who work across the UK music industry,” said UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl.
“The billions spent are a huge shot in the arm for towns and cities right across the UK and benefit hotels, restaurants, bars and transport firms and thousands of other businesses.
“However, the Government must support music fans by delivering on their manifesto pledge to tackle the menace of ticket touts who charge exorbitant prices for resale tickets – squeezing the amount of cash fans have to spend on gig-going.
“We need to see long overdue Government and EU action to help UK performers and musicians touring the EU who have to deal with soaring costs and red tape post-Brexit.
“We also need to see music’s grassroots protected and nurtured. This includes the artists, venues, festivals, studios and rehearsal rooms that are embedded in our local communities and who are essential to the future prosperity of our world-leading industry. We must make sure that policymakers recognise their vital economic and cultural value and deliver the support they need.
“With the right support, we can help the UK music industry continue to boost the economy, create jobs and give music lovers some unforgettable experiences.”
Creative Industries Minister Ian Murray said, “These record-breaking figures are a testament to what the UK’s music industry does better than anywhere else in the world. Whether it’s Oasis playing Heaton Park, or an up-and-coming artist finding their feet on a smaller stage like the Dublin Castle or The Troubadour, this is a nation of incredible live performance, with world-renowned venues to support it.
“That’s why this Government is committed to backing the entire music ecosystem in its upcoming plan for music: protecting fans from the exploitation of ticket touts, supporting the grassroots venues and studios that are the lifeblood of our future talent, and working to improve opportunities for UK artists to tour in Europe.”