60% Of Festival Attendees Financed Coachella Tickets

It’s no longer a choice between paying bills or seeing your favorite band—at least, not with the rise of payment plans. More festivalgoers are using installment options to afford high-priced event tickets, and Coachella is leading the trend. This past weekend, Samuel Flores and Daniela Figueroa were among the crowds at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. But like over 60% of attendees this year, according to Forbes.com, they didn’t pay for their tickets all at once—they used a payment plan.

With prices skyrocketing from $429 in 2020 to $649 in 2025, the festival has become a bigger investment than ever. For Flores and Figueroa, the payment plan was the only realistic option.

“For someone, just like an average person that is on a budget, then yes, definitely you can go for the payment plan,” said Daniela.

But there are drawbacks. Many fans commit to the ticket before the lineup is even announced—something Daniela says takes away from the excitement. “The only disadvantage is that you don’t know who’s performing,” she shared. “You are blindly buying your ticket.”

Additional service fees also surprised the couple. “They have three service fees that they may end up charging you twice or three times,” added Samuel.

Coachella has grown immensely over the years, with more influencers and corporate sponsors becoming part of the scene. For long-time fans, the shift is obvious. “It used to be a community… for the people and by the people. But now it’s just a transaction,” Daniela said. Despite that, the allure of the experience still holds strong for newcomers. For Samuel, attending Coachella—regardless of cost—was worth it. “At least once it’s worth going… it’s a really good chance to meet people and just have a fun time.”

Coachella introduced the payment plan option back in 2009, when only 18% of attendees took advantage of it. Now, with participation rising by 42%, it’s clear that installment plans have become a mainstay in festival culture. For more information tune into NBC Palm Springs.