Festivals are a cherished summer tradition, offering an opportunity to enjoy an array of incredible bands and acts at a reasonable price. While festivals may initially appear to be a great value, those considering purchasing tickets solely for the headliners may want to pause before hitting the “buy” button.
Although festivals generally provide significant savings due to the multitude of performances, attendees primarily interested in the headline acts might discover that attending individual concerts is a more cost-effective option.
The table below showcases the ticket prices for selected festivals, the headline acts, and the approximate value of seeing those acts in individual concerts:
| Festival Name | Ticket Price (All Days – General Admission) | Headline Act 1 | Headliner 1 Concert Value | Headline Act 2 | Headliner 2 Concert Value | Headline Act 3 | Headliner 3 Concert Value | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Festival | £286.20 | Sam Fender | £41.95 | The Killers | £223.77 | Billie Eilish | £234.14 | £213.66 |
| Leeds Festival | £286.20 | Sam Fender | £41.95 | The Killers | £223.77 | Billie Eilish | £234.14 | £213.66 |
| Boundary Brighton | £52.25 | Sub Focus | £47.78 | Pendulum | £77.25 | Ben Hemsley | £103.92 | £176.70 |
| Bloodstock Open Air | £172 | Killswitch Engage | £53.36 | Meshuggah | £113.88 | Megadeth | £132.99 | £128.23 |
| Parklife | £149.50 | The 1975 | £99.54 | Aitch | £42.85 | Fred Again | £113.88 | £106.77 |
| Creamfields | £240 | Swedish House Mafia | £113.88 | Calvin Harris | £97.15 | Tiesto | £83.62 | £54.65 |
| Forwards | £114.34 | Erykah Badu | £66.89 | Bonobo | £50.17 | Ezra Collective | £39.02 | £41.74 |
| Download Festival | £300 | Metallica | £217.40 | Bring Me The Horizon | £62.91 | Slipknot | £31.85 | £12.16 |
| TRNSMT Festival | £200.10 | The 1975 | £99.54 | Sam Fender | £41.95 | George Ezra | £50.65 | -£7.96 |
| OUTBREAK Fest | £148.50 | Denzel Curry | £25.48 | Death Grips | £39.75 | Bane | £73.26 | -£10.01 |
| Boardmasters Festival | £259 | Lorde | £67.69 | Liam Gallagher | £71.67 | Florence + The Machine | £89.99 | -£29.65 |
| Green Man | £235 | DEVO | £60.52 | First Aid Kit | £54.15 | Self Esteem | £77.25 | -£43.08 |
| Isle Of Wight Festival | £225 | Robbie Williams | £79.50 | George Ezra | £53.90 | The Chemical Brothers | £41.55 | -£50.05 |
| We Out Here | £207 | Ezra Collective | £39.02 | Knucks | £39.82 | Róisín Murphy | £77.25 | -£50.91 |
| NASS Festival | £165 | Wu-Tang Clan | £47.74 | Chase & Status | £22.50 | Little Simz | £39.82 | -£54.94 |
| Glastonbury | £335 | Elton John | £113.88 | Guns N’ Roses | £62.01 | Arctic Monkeys | £95.56 | -£63.55 |
| Wireless Festival | £248.30 | Travis Scott | £70.55 | Playboi Carti | £54.95 | D-Block Europe | £39.82 | -£82.98 |
To assist festival-goers in making informed decisions, we have compiled a comprehensive table comparing ticket prices and the respective concert values of the top headliners for various festivals. By examining this data, readers can identify which festivals truly offer value for money.
The results are as follows:
Top 5 Festivals with the Greatest Savings:
- Reading Festival: +£213.66
- Leeds Festival: +£213.66
- Boundary Brighton: +£176.60
- Bloodstock Open Air: +£128.23
- Parklife: +£106.77
Bottom 5 Festivals with the Greatest Losses:
- Wireless Festival: -£82.98
- Glastonbury: -£63.55
- NASS Festival: -£54.94
- We Out Here: -£50.91
- Isle Of Wight Festival: -£50.05
Our team at Love Discount Vouchers has meticulously researched and analysed the data to determine the festivals that offer the best and worst value for money. Festivals marked in green on our table indicate that the ticket price is lower than the combined cost of seeing the top three headliners individually in concert, making them a worthwhile investment. On the other hand, festivals marked in red have higher entry prices compared to the cost of attending the headliners’ concerts individually.
For readers looking to maximise savings, we recommend opting for festivals with the greatest value for money. However, keep in mind that attending individual concerts may be a more budget-friendly alternative. By choosing the option that suits their preferences and wallets, readers can ensure a memorable and cost-effective summer experience.
To delve deeper into our findings and discover the surprising results of our research on the value of tickets for the UK’s top festivals and headline acts, read our full article. This comprehensive analysis of 17 highly anticipated festivals across the country could potentially save readers hundreds of pounds this summer.
