Music Festival VIP Packages What’s In and What’s Out for 2026.

Every music festival irrespective of their size has a VIP offering for festival-goers seeking the added benefits that money can buy. The sales of VIP packages can make up a significant portion of overall sales revenue for organisers so they need to ensure they offer deals that meet festival-goer expectations. What is trending for festival VIP packages for next year?

Festival-goers who opt for a VIP package are looking for something that is exclusive whilst combining increased levels of comfort and convenience. They are seeking an experience that could potentially be a once in a lifetime moment, and music festival organisers will usually offer a range of VIP package deals to appeal to different budgets. Tastes and expectations constantly change, and festival organisers need to fully understand what is trending so they can offer packages that maximise sales revenue and customer satisfaction.

The Festival VIP Package.
Typical music festival VIP packages will include luxury accommodation, exclusive backstage access, preferential stage viewing, luxury bathroom facilities and high-end dining experiences. Every festival will offer a variety of these services depending on space availability and the costs involved. Festival audiences and demographics are always shifting, and this can drive demand for different aspects of package offerings. There may be a shift away from flashy excess towards real experiences and this could influence what is and is not included in a VIP package in the future. Organisers are also under significant pressure to make their events more sustainable and eco-friendly initiatives do not always match with a potential VIP offering.

What's Trending In?
Festival-goers purchasing a VIP package are looking for a more personalised experience rather than being grouped together with other VIP package buyers. They are seeking a home from home experience where comfort and hygiene are a priority so air-conditioned bathrooms with flushing toilets are an expected standard. Dedicated wellness zones with comfortable seating that offers complimentary phone charging and hydration stations away from the crowds. Stage viewing platforms and dedicated viewing pits are becoming a key element of audience zoning with more demand for front of stage positioning rather than a simple raised side stage platform. The VIP zones are increasingly providing complimentary all-day dining and bar access without given schedules and no need to redeem tokens in exchange for meals and drinks. Organisers are now offering dedicated concierge services that can cater to the needs of VIPs which may include arranging on-site transport to obtaining merchandise for example. VIPs now expect to get fast track access to the festival site and other zones without queues or delays. Organisers are carefully considering the range of VIP services they offer and moving away from a tiered ticket system (typically 3 levels) towards a pick and mix menu system for those interested in purchasing a package, services can be tailored to the specific needs of each individual, one size does not fit all.

What's Trending Out?
The side stage VIP viewing platform is slowly disappearing as organisers design dedicated front of stage zones with easy access for VIPs, so they get a real live performance experience without the inconvenience of intensive crowds. These zones need to consider VIP viewing in a way that doesn’t create a “wall” or negative crowd dynamic between VIPs and the general admission festival-goers. The food and beverage options in VIP dedicated zones are moving away from full price paid bars, these are now expected to be free flow with no restrictions. Generic swag bags containing cheap plastic novelties and souvenirs are no longer popular, VIPs now expect exclusive gifts made with sustainability in mind.

What this means for Festival Organisers.
Giving more thought to planning of VIP package offerings can potentially increase sales revenue by changing how VIP services are made available to festival-goers. A more modular pick and mix approach can be more appealing than the traditional standard 3-tiered systems. Different approaches can be tested in marketing campaigns to understand which works best for ticket sales revenue. Organisers should move towards advertising language that emphasises experiences that are sustainable rather than a focus on materialistic elements.

For festival organisers planning their next event using a software management platform like Festival Pro gives them all the functionality they need manage every aspect of their event logistics. The guys who are responsible for this software have been in the front line of event management for many years and the features are built from that experience and are performance artists themselves. The Festival Pro platform is easy to use and has comprehensive features with specific modules for managing artists, contractors, venues/stages, vendors, volunteers, sponsors, guestlists, ticketing, site planning, cashless payments and contactless ordering.

Image by Bru-nO via Pixabay

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