Millenials want yoga and spas at music festivals, poll shows

Most important factor when choosing a festival was line-up, closely followed by cost and location

Fans cheer at Glastonbury in 2017 (Getty)

Music-loving millennials are giving mud the thumbs down and want spa treatments, ski lodges and yoga at festivals instead, according to a new poll.

The survey of 2,000 festival-goers revealed the tradition of watching band after band in a field is no longer what people want.

Seven in 10 said they wanted activities to get involved with rather than just music to listen to.

Dining out experiences and local tours were among the things respondents said they would like to see, suggesting they’re after more of an overall holiday experience.

One in 10 were bucking the trend for summer festivals and would prefer a winter event now.

“While a lot of people go to a festival to see their favourite bands, many also go for the atmosphere, a new location and other activities to take part in," said Cosmin Sarbu, head of Admiral Travel Insurance, which commissioned the survey. “It’s important for festival goers – particularly those choosing their first festival – to find the right one for them to fully enjoy the experience.

“For an event which lasts on average a few days, there’s a lot of planning beforehand such as how to get to the festival, what to wear, and how much to budget.”

When not watching bands, some of those polled said they would like to learn skills such as playing an instrument, cooking and even skiing.

Six in 10 said the perfect festival includes a mix of activities in the day and parties into the night.

The most important factor when choosing a festival was the line-up, closely followed by cost and location. Uniqueness of the experience and the key theme were also factors.

Instead of a tent, a hotel was named the ideal place to sleep, closely followed by a log cabin.

Three quarters would prefer a festival with a comfortable bed to go back to at night, with the average festival goer considering 12.47am as the perfect time for their head to hit their pillow.

Rain, litter and insects were among the aspects respondents did not want to see and for most the perfect festival would last four days and have no temporary toilets in sight.

In total, 38 per cent choosing the UK for their perfect festival, followed by the USA and Spain.

“Festivals are no longer just for music – there’s huge diversity in festival types, from skiing and comedy events to food and literature festivals," Mr Sarbu said. “All this choice makes it even more important to make sure you’re heading to the right festival for you – location, atmosphere, cost and activities on offer are all part of the experience."

SWNS