Love on tour: Aussies spend an average of $5.5bn on gigs, festivals and shows per year

Gigs are firmly back on the agenda with new research from the Afterpay Gigs Guide revealing Aussies spend an average of $5.5bn on gigs, festival and shows per year, with four in five (79%) Aussie Zillennials planning to attend up to six gigs in the next 12 months. But when it comes to gig related expenses, four in five (82%) Aussies cite the cost of tickets as one of their biggest barriers, and almost half (41%) plan their budget around when tickets go on sale. 

With an exciting line-up of local and international artists, comedians and sports matches set to hit Aussie shores this year, two in three Aussies are looking at spending up to $300 on festivals, gigs and shows in 2023. To help balance their budgets, Aussies are employing various tricks and hacks, with almost half (47%) eating beforehand, two in five (39%) avoiding buying drinks, and a third (32%) catching public transport to avoid parking fees. 

Katrina Konstas, EVP, Country Manager at Afterpay says, “After several years of gigs and shows being cancelled, Aussies are looking forward to getting out and enjoying the scene, whether it’s their favourite sports team, an up and coming comedian, or Harry Styles’ world tour. In fact, Afterpay’s Gigs Guide research has found Aussies spend an average of $277 on gigs each year, using creative hacks and tricks to get their dollar to stretch further. 

“Thankfully, attending your favourite gig doesn’t need to be stressful, with Afterpay offering customers the ability to budget for their gig-related expenses and pay in four, fortnightly instalments. Whether it’s tickets, accommodation or that must-have gig outfit, Aussies can take in their favourite show while sticking to their budget.” 

To help Aussies plan their upcoming shows, Afterpay has created the Gigs Guide, showcasing the top upcoming gigs, festivals, shows and sports matches for Aussies around the country in 2023. Afterpay is available in-store and online. Customers can budget for their gig expenses and pay it off in four, fortnightly expenses without incurring interest, ever. Customers can head to the Afterpay website (www.afterpay.com.au) or the Afterpay app to see where Afterpay is accepted. 

Afterpay Gigs Guide     

To help Aussies plan their 2023 live events, Afterpay has created the Gigs Guide, showcasing the top upcoming gigs, festivals, shows and sports matches across a number of different merchants for Aussies around the country in 2023.     

WORLD PRIDE EVENTS: 

• Homo XL
  2 Mar | NSW 
• Where Love Lives
  4 Mar | NSW 
• Choir Boys
  22 Feb - 11 Mar | NSW 
   

FESTIVALS 

• Ocean Film Festival World Tour
  28 Feb – 3 Mar | QLD 
• Adelaide Festival
  03 Mar – 19 Mar | SA 
• SONICA Music Festival
  17 Mar | VIC 
• Knotfest Australia
  24 Mar – 26 Mar | VIC, NSW, QLD 
• Touch Bass
  7 Apr & 9 Apr | SA, NSW 
• Boardwalk Country Music Festival
  18 Apr - 27 Apr | NSW, SA 
• Bassinthegrass Music Festival
  20 May | NT 
• Legends On The Lawn
  20 May, 5 Aug | QLD 
• Sydney Elvis Festival
  4 Aug – 6 Aug | NSW 
• SXSW Sydney
  15 Oct - 22 Oct | NSW 

CONCERT 

• The Backstreet Boy
  25 Feb – 9 Mar | NSW, VIC, QLD, WA 
• Rod Stewart
  11 Mar – 29 Mar | WA, SA VIC, NSW 
• Beck
  06 Apr |NSW 
• Ice Cube, Cyprese Hill & The Game
  22 Mar – 28 Mar | VIC, SA, NSW, QLD 
• Michael Bublé
  1 Jun – 21 Jun | WA, NSW, VIC, SA, QLD 
• Lewis Capaldi
  8 Jul – 15 Jul | NSW, VIC, WA, SA 
• Luke Combs
  11 Aug – 26 Aug | QLD, NSW, VIC, SA, WA 
• Delta Goodrem
  29 Sep – 7 Oct | VIC, SA, WA 
• Sam Smith
  28 Oct – 8 Nov | NSW, VIC, SA, QLD 
• Robbie Williams
  16 Nov – 23 Nov | NSW, VIC  

THEATRE 

• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
  15 Feb – 16 Apr | NSW 
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
  15 Feb – 9 Jul | VIC 
• Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour - Madama Butterfly
  25 Mar - 23 Apr | NSW 
• XANADU
  8 Apr – 16 Apr | WA 
• Lost In Music Tickets
  26 Apr – 13 May | SA, VIC, NSW, QLD 
• Celtic Illusion
  10 May | NSW 
• COUNTERPOINTE - The Australian Ballet
  8 Jul – 13 Jul | SA 
• Moulin Rouge
  20 Aug – 22 Oct | VIC 
• Swan Lake
  7 Oct – 14 Oct | SA 
• Galileo
  20 Dec - 23 Dec | VIC  

COMEDY 

• Kevin Hart: Reality Check Tour
  23 Mar – 29 Mar | NSW, QLD, VIC, WA 
• Michael McIntyre: Jet-Lagged and Jolly
  29 Mar – 31 Mar, 13 Jun – 22 Jun | SA, WA, VIC, QLD, NSW 
• Anh Do
  23 Mar, 29 Mar | SA, QLD 
• Melbourne International Comedy Festival
  29 Mar - 23 Apr | VIC 
• Circus Oz
  7 Apr – 23 Apr | VIC 
• Perth Comedy Festival
  24 Apr – 21 May | WA 
• Jo Koy World Your
  24 May - 4 Jun | WA, QLD, NSW, VIC 
• Julia Morris
  1 Jun – 8 Jun | QLD, SA, NSW 
• Kitty Flanagan Live
  9 Aug – 20 Aug | QLD 
• Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase
  25 Aug | NSW 

KIDS & FAMILY 

• Sharks
  16 Feb - 25 Apr | NSW 
• Emma Memma
  12 Mar – 20 Mar | NSW, ACT, SA, VIC, TAS, QLD 
• Jurassic Creatures Live
  31 Mar – 23 Apr | VIC 
• The Wiggles
  3 Apr - 16 Apr | QLD, SA 
• Sydney Royal Easter Show
  6 Apr – 17 Apr | NSW 
• Possum Magic
  27 May, 26 Oct | SA, NSW 
• Lightscape Perth
  16 Jun – 30 Jul | WA 
• Cirque du Soleil CRYSTAL
  21 Jul – 17 Sep | QLD, NSW, VIC, SA, WA 
• Monster Truck Mania Live
  25 Aug – 26 Aug, 8 Jul – 9 Jul | VIC, SA 
• Hiccup!
  30 Sep – 7 Oct | SA 

SPORT 

• Freestyle Kings
  11 Mar - 15 Mar | QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC 
• Unleash Hell
  13 Mar | NSW 
• Knees of Fury
  18 Mar | SA 
• Formula1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2023
  30 Mar – 02 Apr | VIC 
• Aleague Women: Perth Glory v Adelaide United
  23 Apr | WA 
• Ampol State of Origin
  31 May, 21 Jun, 12 Jul | SA, NSW, QLD 
• Sydney Swans v St Kilda
  8 Jun | NSW 
• betr Darwin Triple Crown Supercars
  16 Jun - 18 Jun | NT 
• PBR Origin III Cairns (Professional Bull Rider)
  22 Jul | QLD 
• VALO Adelaide 500
  23 Nov – 26 Nov | SA