‘Gigflation’ – cost of seeing your favourite artist live in 2026 has increased at more than double the rate of inflation

The average cost of a UK gig has hit £128, with stadium ticket prices nearly quadrupling since 2000

• New study uncovers the cost of 25 years of ‘Gigflation’, with the average gig or festival now costing £128 per ticket – a 212% increase on prices in the early 2000s
• Music fans today are willing to fork out an average of £417 on gigs each year, with the lifetime cost of enjoying live music now estimated to be over £28,000
• Four in five Brits say they miss the days when gigs were affordable and spontaneous rather than a major financial commitment 
• Santander UK commissioned the ‘Gigflation Index’ to look at the rising cost of live music as it launches its new 8% Regular Saver¹, helping customers save for those moments that matter

LONDON, UK: A ticket for a live music event now costs £128 on average in the UK, with gig and festival prices soaring 212% since 2000² - roughly 120% above inflation.

Santander’s new “Gigflation Index”, commissioned to launch its new 8% Regular Saver account, tracks the cost of attending live music events since 2000. It shows the average UK gig or festival ticket has been driven to over £100 in recent years - up from £41 in 2000 – and that’s before the cost of booking fees, travel, food and drinks are included.

The rise is largely thanks to increased prices for major stadium and arena tours, with fans now routinely paying triple-digit sums to see their favourite artists, including Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, Coldplay and Oasis.

While prices across the UK economy have increased significantly since 2000, the cost of seeing the world’s biggest artists has more than tripled. When asked, 71% of concert goers admitting the rising costs have made them think twice about seeing artists live³. A further 82% of Brits say they miss the days when seeing live music felt affordable and spontaneous rather than a major planned expense. 

However, the fondness for live experience culture means that despite the costs increasing, three-quarters (75%) of concert going Brits still believe that seeing their favourite artist is a good investment and plan to attend an average of three shows a year.

Overall, fans say they’re willing to fork out an average of £417 on gigs each year, with the cost of enjoying live music over a lifetime now estimated to be over £28,000.

Nostalgia also plays a large part in the artists and bands people are choosing to see, with two thirds (67%) enjoying seeing the same bands they did 20 years ago, such as Take That, The Cure and McFly. What’s more, over half (53%) report revelling in those bands their parents saw when they were younger.

In the early 2000s, fans could typically see acts such as Oasis, Coldplay, Madonna, U2 and Robbie Williams for around £30–£45. Today, equivalent stadium tours from global superstar artists frequently cost between £110 and £180 for comparable seats.

Frances Haque, Economist at Santander UK, said: “Live music remains one of the UK’s most valued social and cultural experiences, but the cost of attending major concerts and festivals has increased dramatically over the past two decades.

“While inflation has affected many areas of household spending, ticket prices for the biggest live music events have risen considerably faster, particularly for major stadium tours and globally in-demand artists.

“Despite the increasing financial demands, consumers continue prioritising memorable experiences and cultural moments. Putting aside even a small amount of savings now can help get future you to those moments that matter, which you’ll remember for years to come.”

Santander UK has launched a Regular Saver Account, paying 8% AER/ variable for the first 12 months, allowing customer to save up to £200 a month towards those moments that matter.

More details, and how to apply, can be found online: Regular saving | Savings accounts | Santander UK

ENDS

The information contained in our press releases is intended solely for journalists and should not be used by consumers to make financial decisions.

Notes to Editors

1. The Santander UK Regular Saver pays 8.00% AER/gross (variable), which includes a 5.00% AER/gross (variable) bonus for the first 12 months, available to all Santander current account customers, including its fee-free Everyday current account customers. After 12 months, the interest reduces to 3.00% AER/gross (variable), helping customers build up their savings for the long-term. 
2. Santander UK's Gigflation Index compares the cost of attending live music events in the UK between 2000 and 2025, combining the estimated average consumer spending on concert and festival tickets, booking fees, food and drink, transport and merchandise to calculate the cost of a typical live music night out. Ticket price comparisons exclude VIP packages, resale tickets and dynamic “platinum” pricing. Historical pricing benchmarks were compiled using publicly available ticket archives, festival pricing histories and UK inflation data.
3. Online survey to n=2,000 (UK) adults aged 18+ years old planning on seeing their favourite artist(s) live this year, completed between 12th and 16th June 2026. The survey was conducted by 3Gem Research and Insights to their in-house panel of "double opt-in" respondents and was compliant with the Market Research Society code of conduct.

Santander UK is a financial services provider in the UK that offers a wide range of personal and commercial financial products and services. The bank serves its customers via a nationwide branch network, telephone, mobile and online banking. Santander UK is subject to the full supervision of the FCA and the PRA in the UK. Santander UK plc customers’ eligible deposits are protected by the FSCS in the UK.

Banco Santander (SAN SM) is a leading commercial bank, founded in 1857 and headquartered in Spain and one of the largest banks in the world by market capitalization. The group’s activities are consolidated into five global businesses: Retail & Commercial Banking, Openbank, Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB), Wealth Management & Insurance and Payments. This operating model allows the bank to better leverage its unique combination of global scale and local leadership. Santander aims to be the best open financial services platform providing services to individuals, SMEs, corporates, financial institutions and governments. The bank’s purpose is to help people and businesses prosper in a simple, personal and fair way. At the end of 2025, Banco Santander had €1.4 trillion in total funds, more than 180 million customers, 7,100 branches and 198,000 employees.