Going back to the times before the Middle Ages, festivals have always been a big part of Western culture, but where it used to be more of a community thing where everyone could attend, it has developed into something that only people who can afford it can be a part of. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Booking the best artists and giving the best experience to the spectators requires a lot of money, and a large part of that has to be earned by selling tickets. From being a word-of-mouth invite to buying tickets online, festivals have certainly evolved into something else than they used to be, but what is the state of the festival culture today? Let’s take a look at how festival culture has evolved.
A multitude of different festivals
Before getting into how festival culture has evolved, it has to be said that festivals come in many shapes and sizes. Some are free, and some cost money. Some are local and limited to small communities in rural areas, whilst others are national and attract thousands of people from all over the world. Festival culture is diverse and inclusive because of the many types of festivals that exist, but not all are run like businesses, and do not depend on making a profit. So, to examine how festivals have evolved requires a focus on the biggest festivals.
Glastonbury is the best basis for comparison
Being the biggest festival in the UK, Glastonbury is the best example when it comes to measuring how festival culture has evolved. The festival that started humbly in the 70s with around 1500 people paying £1 (including free milk) to get in has evolved into a festival that is visited by roughly 200.000 people every year. That is a remarkable transformation, but also a story of how vision and hard-working employees, and volunteers are the backbone of it all.
The journey toward inclusiveness
The commitment to inclusion and accessibility is something that defines Glastonbury, and at the same time, something that other festivals take inspiration from. Dedicated camping areas for disabled attendees and free personal assistant tickets are just a small part of it. BSL interpreters offer services for the hearing-impaired attendees, sensory zones, and dedicated platforms for all to be able to enjoy the concerts and all the other performances available.
Inclusiveness has also been a focus point in terms of ensuring an artist line-up that speaks to all age groups and genders. The only area that has not seen the same development in terms of being inclusive is in the ticket prices, which have just gotten higher and higher. From £1 tickets in 1971 to £378 tickets in 2025 is, in most eyes, a natural development when thinking of the quality of artists and the experience in general. But one can not ignore that the ticket prices of today exclude a lot of people with a lower income. So to conclude, yes, festival culture has gotten more inclusive for most people, just not those on lower incomes.
