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UK Festival Awards shares census insights before 2018 event

The 15th edition of the annual UK Festival Awards takes place this Thursday, 6 December, at Troxy in east London, with a 10% discount available for IQ readers

By IQ on 03 Dec 2018

New York Brass Band perform at the UK Festival Awards 2017

New York Brass Band perform at the 2017 awards


image © UK Festival Awards

Ahead of the 15th UK Festival Awards on Thursday 6 December, organisers have shared insights from this year’s UK Festival Market Report before its release in 2019.

The festival census, which surveys 15,000 people annually, reveals trends in consumer demographics, preferences and behaviour. The 2017 report can be read here.

Key findings of the 2018 Festival Market Report include:

  • One in four festivalgoers think ticket prices this year were overpriced for what they delivered, compared to the same in 2017, 21% in 2016 and 20% in 2015)
  • The uncertain economic climate has had an impact on festivalgoers, with 47% having attended fewer festivals, opted for a day ticket or spent less on alcohol during their visit
  • As competition gets fiercer, consumers are more concerned with the overall line-up at festivals, with 64% now considering this to be a major factor influencing ticket purchase, compared to 43% in 2017
  • With line-ups becoming more important, the biggest downer at festivals this year was consumers’ ‘favourite bands clashing on the running order’
  • Over half of festival attendees (57%) expect the festivals they visit to take a stance on social justice by raising awareness or taking action, such as addressing the gender balance of line-ups. However, there remains a third of attendees who said they would prefer festivals to be neutral and not have a stance on such issues (34%)

“The UK festival census, conducted annually in conjunction with the UK Festival Awards’ public voting process, allows us to gain deep insights into festivalgoers’ behaviours and attitudes towards various aspects of live events,” comments awards manager Michael Baker.

“In early 2019 we’ll be releasing these findings in the form of the UK Festival Market Report, and on 6 December we will acknowledge the British public’s favourite festivals at the 15th annual UK Festival Awards at the Troxy in London.”

To take advantage of a 10% discount on Festival Awards tickets for IQ readers, follow this link or enter the code UKFA10 at checkout.

 


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