We all do it, but now it’s got a fancy name and is shaping up to be a hot travel trend for 2025. Gig tripping…where the music moves you to travel.
What is gig tripping?
Grabbing a bunch of your best mates and travelling to explore a new city, country or destination with the primary purpose of catching the latest concert, music festival or beloved artist.
We never need an excuse to jet off and explore, but getting your hands on hot tickets for festivals, gigs or events gives travellers a set date in the calendar and is often the catalyst for the planning of a trip, especially amongst younger generations.
Why we love the good vibes
Gig tripping is a chance to immerse yourself completely in a new city, which, let’s face it just might just be teeming with other music enthusiasts just like you.
Take Coachella 2024, where visitors swarmed the magnificent Empire Polo Club in the Colorado Desert’s Coachella Valley. This event is an annual institution, a place to connect, set up camp, meet new people and just have a blast!
When Taylor Swift performed in Australia for her Eras Tour, Australian travellers and those from New Zealand flocked to Melbourne and Sydney to see sold out shows, contributing 'an estimated $170m to the local tourism economy'*.
So many iconic locations are founded on music, think Nashville, Austin, Manchester or Detroit. Seeing your favourite artist in a new city gives you a chance to explore its vibrant and diverse music scene.
Spending up big
Today’s travellers, particularly Gen Z are spending up big prioritising experiences, like concerts and gigs over material possessions. According to a recent report by Ticketek’s FanDX in Australia “throughout the 2024/25 summer season, the average ticket price was $242. Gen Z spent the most, averaging $256, followed by Gen X at $244 and Millennials at $238.”**
With that kind of spending just on event tickets, it’s a strong indicator that live events are a deeply valued part of people’s lives. It’s not surprising then that extending that once in a lifetime concert into a trip or longer stay goes hand in hand.
It can often be the case that it works out to be more cost effective to travel to see headline artists perform. According to ‘A 2024 report by Skyscanner, it revealed that 60% of people would consider traveling to another country to attend a concert or festival, especially if it led to cost savings.’***
Planning your gig trip
Our advice for planning an incredible gig trip includes:
- Book your event tickets early
- Secure your preferred accommodation well in advance, keeping in mind sold-out shows also equal sold-out hotels
- Plan and book your transportation including any flights, transfers or car hire
- Go all in! During your gig trip explore the local dining scene, book in a tour and some pampering, to get the full immersive experience
- Get front row fever and make it encore worthy!
As gig tripping continues to gain momentum, it reflects a broader trend of travellers seeking unique, experience-driven journeys that combine personal passions with the allure of exploration.
Ready to book a once in a lifetime music trip and need help with all the planning? Contact our expert luxury travel team below.
References:
*** https://www.skyscanner.net/news/gig-festival-tripping-2024
