LPA Ticket Attendance and Revenue Report 2017

Photo: WOMADelaide 2017, Tony Lewis

Festivals (Multi-Category)Click for more info

Festivals (Multi-Category) infographic (PDF)

In 2017, Festivals (Multi Category) ticket sales revenue decreased by 3.5% to $54.6m, despite an increase in attendance by 20.5% to 1.87m. The average ticket price decreased by 7.5% to $36.62 in 2017. Festivals (Multi Category) contributed a share of 2.9% to the total revenue and 8.1% to the total attendance. SA and WA generate the majority of revenue and attendance in Festivals (Multi Category), with a combined 69.1% market share of revenue and 71.3% market share of attendance in this category.

Festivals (Multi Category) in SA experienced a decrease in revenue by 2.8% despite an increase in attendance by 18.2%, primarily attributed to the fall in average ticket prices. Major festivals in SA include Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide Festival, Adelaide Cabaret Festival and WOMADelaide. Tasmania also experienced a decrease in revenue (16.3%) despite a significant increase in attendance (179%), primarily driven by an increase in attendance at the MONA festivals (Mona Foma and Dark MoFo).

WA, NSW and NT all experienced increases in revenue and attendance. WA experienced an increase in revenue by 23.5% and an increase in attendance by 5.8% in Festivals (Multi Category). Major festivals in WA include Fringe World Festival, Perth Festival and Falls Festival (Fremantle) which took place for the first time in 2017. NSW also experienced a significant increase in revenue (107.4%) and attendance (39.2%) when compared to 2016, primarily attributable to the growth of Sydney Festival with shows such as the musical Ladies in Black.

Victoria and ACT recorded declines in revenue (by 55.9% and 86.9% respectively), and attendance (by 5% and 92.1% respectively), primarily due to less festival events recorded in 2017. Queensland recorded an increase in revenue (16.6%) despite declining in attendance by 8.2%.

Data was not provided for Falls Festival held in Lorne (VIC) and Byron Bay (NSW) in 2017, and attendance and revenue for Festival (Multi-Category) will be lower as a result.

Close Table

Festivals (Multi-Category) - Revenue and Attendance (2004–2017)

Revenue ($) Growth (%) Total Attendance* Growth (%) Average Ticket Price ($)** Growth (%)
2004 $14,842,476 483,858 $32.26
2005 $5,170,934 -65.2% 157,228 -67.5% $39.13 21.3%
2006 $9,633,454 86.3% 201,711 28.3% $56.72 44.9%
2007 $9,318,441 -3.3% 294,296 45.9% $44.09 -22.3%
2008 $21,615,824 132.0% 551,810 87.5% $52.11 18.2%
2009 $10,642,917 -50.8% 431,061 -21.9% $33.60 -35.5%
2010 $9,570,915 -10.1% 263,464 -38.9% $43.12 28.3%
2011 $11,777,244 23.1% 242,222 -8.1% $57.02 32.2%
2012 $12,916,787 9.7% 260,623 7.6% $59.58 4.5%
2013 $25,622,029 98.4% 786,530 201.8% $34.59 -41.9%
2014 $47,805,136 86.6% 1,059,806 34.7% $48.41 39.9%
2015 $62,162,178 30.0% 1,486,599 40.3% $50.32 3.9%
2016 $56,641,751 -8.9% 1,549,007 4.2% $39.57 -21.4%
2017 $54,635,677 -3.5% 1,866,148 20.5% $36.62 -7.5%

*Based on both paid and unpaid tickets

** Average Ticket Prices are calculated based only on paid tickets

State/Territory Breakdown Close Table

Close Table

Festivals (Multi-Category) - by State/Territory (2017)

State/Territory Revenue ($) Market Share Proportion Market Share Change from 2016 Attendance Market Share Proportion Market Share Change from 2016
NT $131,905 0.2% 0.1% 3,704 0.2% 0.1%
TAS $5,195,042 9.5% -1.5% 248,178 13.3% 7.6%
ACT $56,322 0.1% -0.7% 777 0.0% -0.6%
SA $24,076,447 44.1% 0.3% 920,261 49.3% -1.0%
WA $13,678,110 25.0% 5.5% 410,115 22.0% -3.0%
QLD $3,088,592 5.7% 1.0% 87,307 4.7% -1.5%
VIC $4,126,099 7.6% -9.0% 138,036 7.4% -2.0%
NSW $4,283,159 7.8% 4.2% 57,770 3.1% 0.4%

Photo: Taylor Mac - Melbourne Festival, Sarah Walker

Individual Category Results