Your Guide to Music Festival Ticket Tiers: What’s Worth It?

Summer’s here, and music festivals are lighting up every month. It’s so many this year that I can’t even keep track of all of them! South by Southwest kicked things off in March, followed by Coachella in April. Essence Festival was just two weeks ago. My favorite, Lollapolazzo, is coming up in August. And in September, Burning Man closes out the summer.

One of my life goals is to attend as many major music festivals as possible. So far, I have been to Essence, Rolling Loud, OneMusic, Lollapalooza, Lil Weezyana and The Roots Picnic. I had tickets to attend Bonnaroo in June, but the event was canceled due to heavy rain and flooding that caused a huge mess. I was so bummed out because I reallyyyyy wanted to see Tyler the Creator perform, as I had skipped out on his tour. Ugh, it’s just always something?!

Oh, and last year, I had tickets to the Lovers & Friends music festival in Las Vegas, and it got canceled too. I went all the way to Vegas, and my Uber driver told me about it while driving me from the airport! I thought he was joking – all little dry humor maybe? But, no. It got cancelled during my flight. Like seriously?

But wait, there is one more! My hometown had its first-ever music festival, South Star Festival, and it got canceled for the same reason as Bonnaroo! TLC was gonna be there, and they are my absolute favorite girl group. I never got a chance to see them perform in their prime (R.I.P. Left Eye), and I was so excited, only to be let down again. Vanessa Carlton and Gwen Stefani were also going to be performing!

So, I wrote all that to explain the reasons why I’m taking a break this year. My poor heart can’t stand any more musical disappointment. But, I’ll be back in the crowds, looking for the cleanest port-a-potty, in 2026.

Earlier today, I was going through my junk drawer, and I came across my old wristbands from past music festivals. I realized that I have been in every tier! And to quote Drake, “I started from the bottom now I’m here!” I have been in general admission, in the pits, fighting for my life, and then moved up to VIP, where there were masseuses and I was driven around in a golf cart.

Since I’ve rambled enough, I’ll go ahead and break down the tiers to help you decide which one to purchase for your next festival experience!

General Admission (GA)

The most popular and affordable tickets. You’ll enter through the most crowded entrance and will most likely get to know others in attendance because you’ll be in line for a while waiting to get in. In GA, you will just be waiting. Period. You’ll be waiting in long lines to purchase music festival merchandise, use the restroom, and buy food and drinks.

On the other hand, you can get close to the stage if you wait it out and stay at one stage, rather than skipping around to different stages. I’ve seen people doing this a lot when they come to a festival to see their favorite artist. I got lucky doing this at OneMusic and was near the stage gate for Kendrick Lamar in general admission. It was hell trying to exit after the show was over, but it was worth it.

General Admission Plus (GA+)

This ticket tier is for when you have a little extra to avoid being in the GA area, but not enough to upgrade to VIP. It’s actually my favorite music festival tier. But I’ll explain to you later.

So, with GA+, you get all the perks of GA, but a tad bit more. Some people say it’s not worth it, but it depends on the festival – some offer better benefits than others.

With GA+, there is a separate line for admission, which is slightly quicker than GA, but not by much. It’s still a popular choice, so it just depends on when you arrive. The best perk is that there is a private seating area for GA+ attendees. You’ll be able to find a seat to watch the performances. In regular GA, there are no seats; you’d better have on comfy shoes because you’ll be standing all day.

Also in the sitting area are upgraded air-conditioned restrooms with running water. There is also a bar and food, so you really have no need to leave the area. You can sit back and enjoy the show without the huge crowds of people.

The negative is that the area is first-come, first-served, and the seating is limited. At some music festivals, the GA+ area is often located far from the stage, which can detract from the overall experience.

VIP

“VIP is always better” – Anna Delvey.

This is gonna sound crazy. However, I’m unsure how I’ll be able to return to GA or GA+ for my next musical festival. Like, once you have a taste of the good life, how do you go back?

Being in VIP is an extremely different experience! It’s incredibly comfortable and relaxing. It’s honestly like a picnic in the park with your favorite artists performing. There are no lines, no crowds, no safety issues. It’s just the best.

There is a dedicated line upon entering the festival. You can flow right through, with no waiting. Once inside, it’s a lounge with air conditioning and stacks galore. There are lockers where you can store your items and festival merch, and even charge your phone.

When it’s time to see the performances, a dedicated area is available right in front of the stage. The area is spacious and not crowded at all. Also, when it’s time to get to another stage, there are golf carts to take you to and from. You get to experience and enjoy all of the music festival without breaking a sweat.

If it’s in your budget, I highly recommend it. It’s honestly like night and day. I have a friend who refuses to attend music festivals and concerts unless it’s a VIP experience. At first, I couldn’t comprehend why, but now I totally understand.

Platinum

I have a personal love/hate for Platinum.

If you’re a drinker and partier, it’s just unrealistic. One of the main benefits and differences between VIP and Platinum is that Platinum has an open bar area with complimentary drinks. And it’s where I went wrong and have very few memories of my time in the Platinum area. I had way too many drinks and don’t even remember how I got back to my hotel. But, enough about me.

Platinum has all the perks of VIP.

The amenities offered at different music festivals can vary. I’ve only experienced the Platinum tier at Lollapalooza. Not only did they have open bars with free drinks. They also offered complimentary all-day dining, featuring chef-curated lunch, dinner, and snacks. I think I passed by a coffee stand too, which was odd because it was so hot out.

And check this out! The meals were served in a lounge directly facing the stage, where you could watch the artist perform! I was sitting down, under the AC, eating a BBQ sandwich while watching Victoria Monet at a music festival. Isn’t that wild?

But before all that, I got a massage and got my face adorned with glitter while my friend got her hair braided. There was also a team of hospitality staff and people all around to help; it was a surreal experience, coming from the chaos of general admission. Who knew all this was happening behind the velvet ropes?

I’m not even sure how to recommend the exorbitant cost of a Platinum tier ticket. It’s truly an experience, whether you have the means to spend or splurge – do it at least once in your life if music festivals are your thing.

I’m willing to create a support group once it’s all over and we’re back in general admission 😭

*I’m not even going to talk about the Insider tickets that cost more than a new Honda. Like, who, what, how, why? They always sell out the tickets, though, so who knows?

In Conclusion

One of the most significant differences in ticket tiers is comfort. GA is the least comfortable, and VIP/Platinum is the most comfortable. The fact that you will spend all day out in the sun ( or rain) is a factor to consider.

Organizers sell music festival tickets in tiers. There are typically up to five tiers, with the first tier being the least expensive. If you’re looking to save money, definitely try to get a ticket in the first tier. Be sure to sign up for the festival email/text communications! There are sometimes early bird specials, too.

Overall, my favorite realistic ticket tier is GA+. It’s a mix of interacting with people, and then you can take a break in the private area. The festival is more fun in general admission, even though it’s chaotic, I still enjoy it lol.

Well, that’s all I have for now; it’s way past my bedtime. Drop your comments, questions or tips below 🙂