Festival index · Rankings
Ranked views of the U.S. festival register
Five orderings, each answering one stated question under one stated rule. A festival appears in a ranking only when it holds the inputs that ranking requires, and a ranking that no record qualifies for is published empty rather than filled with the records that came closest.
Rankings are recomputed from observations; they are not curated and cannot be adjusted by hand. Where a ranking is empty, the register has not yet completed a collection round for the inputs it needs — the methodology page lists exactly which observations are outstanding.
Highest first
Best lineup value for the money
Which festivals return the most programming value per dollar of admission?
Ordered by Festival Value Score, which requires an official lineup, a verified checkout total and sourced standalone prices covering most of the qualifying artists.
No register record currently holds the verified inputs this ranking requires, so it is published empty. Zero of 12 records qualify.
Highest first
Most affordable admission
Which festivals cost a buyer the least to get in?
Ordered by Festival Affordability Score. Lineup plays no part in this ordering.
No register record currently holds the verified inputs this ranking requires, so it is published empty. Zero of 12 records qualify.
Lowest first
Lowest cost per programming day
Where does a day of live music cost the least?
Checkout total divided by verified programming days. Requires both to be observed.
No register record currently holds the verified inputs this ranking requires, so it is published empty. Zero of 12 records qualify.
Lowest first
Lowest cost per qualifying artist
Where does each substantially billed artist cost the buyer least?
Checkout total divided by artists billed at middle card or above. Retained as a diagnostic: it treats a fortieth-billed act as equal to a headliner.
No register record currently holds the verified inputs this ranking requires, so it is published empty. Zero of 12 records qualify.
Lowest first
Lowest mandatory fee burden
Which festivals add the least to the advertised price before payment?
Mandatory fees as a share of advertised face value, from a single observed checkout.
No register record currently holds the verified inputs this ranking requires, so it is published empty. Zero of 12 records qualify.