Bad news for anyone who wants to go to a festival this summer: ticket prices have become significantly more expensive again. Most multi-day Dutch festivals have increased the ticket price for their upcoming edition. Compared to 2023, ticket prices are on average almost nine percent higher. The higher labor costs in particular are the culprit.
The same song sounded last year.
Paying more for a festival again
An inventory by the press agency shows that you can open your wallet this year ANP. This includes 24 festivals. The news agency compared the regular prices, including service costs and, where possible, camping. Where there were different options, such as early bird, regular and late, regular was chosen.
The three-day Paaspop, which kicks off the festival season in Schijndel today, increased the price for a weekend ticket with camping by thirty euros to 233.50 euros. “Comparatively speaking, it is not a lot of money for a three-day festival,” responds festival director Peter Sanders, who also indicates that a large number of the tickets for the sold-out festival were sold for a lower price in the early bird phase.
Sanders says that the ever-increasing prices for security and personnel, among other things, are to blame for the price increase. “Most festivals complain about that, and rightly so. I recently discussed our mobility plan and we have already lost half a million euros for that alone.”
MOJO: ‘Minimum wage has been increased’
Pinkpop, Zwarte Cross and Mysteryland, among others, have also been more expensive, as have the Lowlands and Down The Rabbit Hole festivals organized by MOJO. A ticket for Lowlands costs 325 euros this year, 25 euros more than last year. Down The Rabbit Hole added 15 euros to the 2023 price and now costs 270 euros.
The increase in labor costs in particular has caused ticket prices to increase, explains Bente Bollman of MOJO. “The minimum wage was increased last year, as were many collective labor agreements. In addition, wages for artists have also increased. We compete worldwide for larger acts, for example with festivals in Asia and America; artists can only be in one place at one time and in that sense have become a scarce resource.”
The ten-day Terschelling theater festival Oerol has increased the price for an entrance wristband this year by 5 euros to 47.50 euros. “Since the corona period, fixed costs have increased enormously, sometimes by as much as twenty percent,” says Carola Poleij on behalf of the festival. “Think of simple things, such as renting Dixies, but also personnel costs.”
To reduce costs, the festival collaborates with other events on the island, such as the film festival and the marathon. “We purchase things together, which saves costs and is also more sustainable,” says Poleij.
Not all festival tickets are more expensive
By the way, not all festivals have a higher price tag. Milkshake, Concert at Sea and Dauwpop, among others, did not or hardly increase their prices. A ticket for the latter event in Hellendoorn costs 149.50 euros this year, comparable to last year, except for a few tens of cents.
“We are on top of it and are trying to tackle it smartly. For example, by renting things locally and concluding multi-year deals,” explains festival director Rob Telgenkamp. “We have also been in a transition from a one-day to a two-day festival for the past three years, so we also want to invite people to come. We especially want to keep the festival accessible and friendly.”
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