The survey shows that 69% of young adults actually find music festivals too expensive. Nevertheless, they did not stay home in 2025: 74% of those who find festivals too expensive still attended during the 2025 festival season, and an equally large group plans to do so in the upcoming festival season.
More frequent festival attendance: targeted saving
Central to the research is the question of how young adults manage their festival expenses. Of the festival-goers, 42% said they specifically saved for the 2025 festival season. Those who attended festivals more often also saved more intentionally for them. This can involve various expenses, from tickets to outfits and from potential accommodation costs to expenses on the festival grounds themselves.
Also read: Visa Payment Monitor: 1 in 4 Dutch people feels financially vulnerable
How young adults pay for their tickets
Most young adults financed their tickets in 2025 from their current monthly income (59%) or from savings (30%). Additionally, 17% received a ticket or money for a ticket. At the same time, a quarter (25%) used forms of borrowing: 14% paid afterwards or in installments, 11% borrowed money from friends or family, and 8% went (temporarily) overdrawn for the ticket. Some combined multiple options. Young adults who attended more festivals were more likely to pay afterwards or in installments, borrowed more often, went overdrawn more frequently, and also received tickets more often; they financed relatively less often solely from their monthly income.
Keeping control over expenses on the festival grounds
During the last festival season, 51% of festival-goers often or always paid attention to not overspending; 42% set a maximum amount in advance, 29% agreed on a budget with the group, and 27% set a budget through their banking app with notifications. Those who applied these strategies more often were also more successful in sticking to the budget.
Also read: Financial behavior in the Netherlands: figures from last year
Smart saving: free water and conscious choices
To reduce costs, 45% of festival-goers often or always got free water. Additionally, 38% consciously chose cheaper food and 35% cheaper drinks, 30% occasionally skipped a round, 30% brought their own food or drinks, and 27% bought fewer rounds than the rest of the group. Frequent attendees employed these saving strategies more often.
Prefer card payments over tokens
The traditional tokens are disappearing at more and more festivals and are being replaced by card payments at the bar. When asked about their preferences, 44% of young adults prefer to pay by card at the bar with a card or phone; 23% choose tokens, and 30% have no strong preference. In many aspects—such as the convenience of getting a round, control over expenses, and fairly dividing costs within the group—paying by card wins according to young adults over tokens. The two payment methods score almost equally when it comes to keeping track of expenses.
More information
The full research can be found at www.rabobank.nl/kennis
Also read: Flemish StampMedia partner in youth platform NewZroom of #UseTheNews
