New Airbnb data shows 'groupie getaways' and festival travel are driving a surge in US concert tourism, with Gen Z fans travelling between cities and booking shared stays around major music events. Robbie Hodges reports

Concert tourism in the US is entering a new phase as fans increasingly plan entire trips around live music, with trends such as “groupie getaways” and “show hopping” reshaping how people travel. New figures from Airbnb suggest that demand for festival travel and concert-led trips is rising sharply, particularly among younger audiences.

One of the most visible shifts is the rise of “show hopping”, where fans travel between multiple cities to follow their favourite artists on tour. This behaviour is driving a triple-digit increase in accommodation searches linked to major performances. In Boston, for example, searches surged significantly in the two weeks following tour announcements for several high-profile artists. BTS saw an increase of almost 600%, while Noah Kahan and Ariana Grande both recorded rises of around 200%. Searches for Ed Sheeran climbed by nearly 170%, and Bruno Mars saw an uplift of more than 130%.

This level of demand reflects a broader return to large-scale touring, with many artists embarking on headline tours for the first time since 2019. As a result, fans are treating these events as rare opportunities, prompting them to travel further and attend multiple dates.

Alongside this, Gen Z is driving the growth of “groupie getaways”, a trend where fans plan shared trips with friends centred around concerts or residencies. This is particularly evident in the New York and New Jersey area, where searches linked to Harry Styles’ upcoming residency have risen by more than 200% among Gen Z travellers. Group travel searches in the same market have increased by nearly 300%, highlighting a preference for shared accommodation and social travel experiences.

Rather than booking separate hotel rooms, these travellers are opting for larger properties where they can stay together, cook meals and spend time as a group. This reflects a shift towards more collaborative and experience-led travel, where the social aspect of the trip is as important as the event itself.

Festival travel is also playing a central role in this trend. Across the US, interest in major music festivals is growing, with many travellers planning trips before lineups or dates are confirmed. Gen Z accounts for the largest share of searches for events in destinations such as Palm Springs, Chicago and Miami, reinforcing its influence on travel patterns.

Searches for Coachella have increased by more than 70%, with over half taking place in September when the lineup was announced. Lollapalooza has seen a rise of more than 40%, including a significant increase in searches from out-of-state travellers before any official details were released. Ultra Music Festival has also recorded steady growth, with international searches up by around 15%.

These patterns suggest that festival travel is becoming less dependent on specific artists and more focused on the overall experience. Events themselves are acting as strong travel motivators, encouraging visitors to explore destinations beyond the festival grounds.

Airbnb is responding to this demand by promoting services and experiences that extend the trip beyond accommodation. Travellers can book additional features such as private chefs, in-home massages or local activities designed to fit around festival schedules. In Palm Springs, guests can arrange private catering or book tarot readings, while in Chicago they can access chef-prepared meals or explore neighbourhood food offerings. In Miami, visitors attending electronic music events can book beauty services or take part in DJ lessons.

The company is also focusing on tools that simplify planning for groups, including shared wishlists, detailed review systems and flexible booking options. These features are designed to reduce friction in organising trips that often involve multiple people and changing plans.

As music events continue to influence travel decisions, the rise of groupie getaways and festival travel points to a more fluid and experience-driven approach to tourism. Rather than building trips around destinations alone, travellers are increasingly using concerts and festivals as the starting point for their journeys, shaping where they go, when they travel and how they spend their time.