Vivid Seats Report Reveals 2025’s Hottest, Fastest Growing, and Most Popular Music Festivals

Vivid Seats, a leading online ticket marketplace, has released its comprehensive 2025 Trending Music Festival Guide, offering key insights into consumer preferences and market dynamics based on extensive ticket data analysis. The guide highlights which festivals are commanding the highest prices, experiencing rapid growth, generating the most buzz, and attracting national audiences as the 2025 season approaches.

The analysis points to a vibrant and evolving music festival landscape, where new entrants are challenging established giants and specific lineups are driving significant consumer interest and travel.

Decoding the Hottest Ticket

Emerging at the top of the list for premium pricing, the inaugural Sand In My Boots festival, set to debut in May in the picturesque setting of Gulf Shores, Alabama, has been designated the ‘Hottest Music Festival’ by the guide. This new event commands the highest average ticket price among those analyzed, reaching an impressive $945. This figure notably surpasses the average ticket prices for long-standing, high-profile festivals such as BottleRock, which averaged $933, and the iconic Coachella, with an average ticket price of $734, signaling strong early demand and perceived value for the Gulf Shores newcomer.

Rapid Ascents and Market Momentum

The guide also identifies festivals experiencing significant surges in popularity and price. Montana’s Under the Big Sky festival is highlighted as the fastest growing festival, demonstrating remarkable market momentum. Its average ticket price has seen a substantial year-over-year increase, jumping by a staggering 107%. This exponential growth underscores the festival’s rising profile and increasing demand among attendees.

Separately, CMA Fest is recognized for its significant online presence and discussion volume, earning the title of ‘Most Buzzworthy’. This metric reflects the intense anticipation and widespread conversation surrounding the country music staple.

Lineup Power and National Reach

Lineups remain a critical driver of festival interest and ticket sales. According to the Vivid Seats guide, Lollapalooza Chicago boasts the ‘Best Lineup’ in 2025. The announcement of its artist roster, featuring major names such as Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, and Tyler, The Creator, generated an exceptional response. The lineup reveal on March 18 led to a dramatic 2,320% spike in site traffic for Lollapalooza on the Vivid Seats platform, illustrating the immediate and significant impact of headlining talent.

Beyond its compelling lineup, Lollapalooza Chicago also solidified its status as the ‘Most Popular’ festival nationally. This distinction is based on its ability to attract attendees from the widest range of states across the United States, highlighting its broad appeal and widespread geographic draw.

Travel Trends and Value Propositions

The guide also examined attendee travel patterns. The When We Were Young festival, known for its focus on rock and emo music, sees its attendees traveling the farthest on average, covering a distance of 1,159 miles. This indicates a dedicated fanbase willing to undertake significant journeys to attend the event.

For those seeking value, the Country Stampede in Kansas is listed among the ‘Best Festival Deals’. With an average sold price of just $83, it offers an accessible entry point to the festival experience, contrasting sharply with the higher-priced events highlighted elsewhere in the report.

Conclusion

Vivid Seats’ 2025 Trending Music Festival Guide provides a detailed snapshot of the current ticketing landscape, revealing consumer enthusiasm for both established and emerging events. The data underscores the factors driving demand, from high-profile lineups and unique locations to perceived value and fan dedication willing to travel great distances. As the 2025 season approaches, these trends offer valuable insights for the music industry and festival-goers alike, pointing to a dynamic market where data-driven insights are key to understanding evolving attendance patterns.