Climate Change Impact on Festivals: Fan Hesitation
The extreme weather and Climate Change impact on festivals an live music is real. Fan hesitation is causing some to delay buying tickets as others choose to attend few outdoor shows overall.
Climate Change impact on Festivals: Fan Hesitation
A new survey showed 34% of fans are cautious buying festival tickets due to extreme weather and climate change. 13% say they are attending fewer events because weather.
The survey was conducted in Australia. But promoters tell Hypebot that weather-based fan hesitation and fear is a global phenomenon.
Heat is a Non-Starter
68% of fans surveyed said they had experienced extreme heat at a festival. 33% avoid an event if the forecast hit 95° or higher. 66% said they stay home at 104°C, and any higher is a non-started for 84%.
Worst Weather-Related Festival Disasters
While climate climate change appears to be accelerating the phenomenon and causing fan hesitation, extreme weather related problems at festivals are not new.
Some of the worst weather-related festival disasters:
- Glastonbury Festival (2005): Torrential rain turned the festival grounds into a muddy swamp, causing widespread flooding, power outages, and the cancellation of some performances.
- Woodstock 99: While not solely weather-related, heavy rain contributed to the festival’s chaos and contributed to the mud-related problems.
- Pukkelpop Festival (2011):. A sudden and severe thunderstorm caused stages to collapse, leading to injuries and fatalities.
- Indiana State Fair Concert (2011): A powerful storm caused a stage to collapse during Sugarland’s performance, resulting in the deaths of six people.
- Burning Man (2023): Thousands of attendees were stranded in the Nevada desert due to heavy rains and deep mud.
- Ultra EDM Music Festival (2024): Severe weather conditions forced organizers to cut short the festival’s first day in Miami.
Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, a Berklee College Of Music professor and founder of the Skyline Artists Agency
Find the latest Music Business News under BUSINESS NEWS and Live Music Industry News under LIVE INDUSTRY NEWS tabs above.
