Outrageous prices, endless digital queues, and residency tours
Fan reactions to Harry Styles’ tour prices is a wake-up caIl.
Earlier this month, Harry Styles announced that his new album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally will release on 6 March 2026, kick-starting the beginning of his third solo tour, Together, Together Tour with a staggering 10 day stay in Amsterdam.
Styles is breaking records left and right for the longest time an artist has spent in one location – Wembley stadium will accommodate Harries (the name of Styles’ fandom) for an unparalleled 12-day-long stay, while the singer shocked fans with an unprecedented 30-day-long residency at Madison Square Garden.
While the residency format has not been too popular with fans, what frustrated them the most were the ticket prices.
‘It’s even more diabolical when he is expecting his fans to travel to see him for this tour as opposed to him going to them.’
@DustlandFairytale_ on Reddit
In the UK, seated tickets range between £44.10 and £466.24 according to fans who joined the presale. VIP packages were sold for up to £725.45 which left many fans feeling disappointed after exiting Ticketmaster without any affordable tickets. Unfortunately, for many, these are not the kind of prices they can spend without consequence; be it their rent for the month or clearing their credit cards.
With more than half of UK concertgoers being between the ages of 18–24, these prices become even more unrealistic. So, the fans’ reaction is understandable. Many of them have devoted years of their lives to supporting Styles and have probably anticipated this tour for just as long – they feel betrayed by the artist for not making his shows more accessible and accuse him of being ‘greedy.’
X (formerly known as Twitter) has been filled with frustrated posts and memes about the situation. Some fans have taken a more serious approach, tagging the artist directly,
‘Hey @Harry_Styles as someone who’s loved you for almost 14 years and went to all the tours, I’m at a loss for words over how much you/your team seem to have lost touch with reality in terms of residency shows and ticket prices. Music should be accessible. Remember how you started.’ @itsemiliaanna on X
While other posts are more light-hearted and filled with sarcasm, hinting that while fans are still upset, it will not deter them from attending the tour.
‘sorry kids you’re not going to collage because mommy had to see harry styles 30 times at madison square garden.’ @idthrowrose on X
However, while Harry Styles is experiencing all the criticism at the moment, this increase in prices has become a well-known pattern within the music industry.
Bad Bunny was under heavy fire by fans after his 2024 Most Wanted Tour announcement was accompanied by startling prices. With nosebleed tickets ranging between $150 and $250 and floor seats topping $1,000, fans were outraged and threatened to boycott the tour if prices were not reduced. After serious consideration, the artist and his team reduced ticket prices significantly – reports by fans showed a $500 ticket dropping to $250.
In this case, fans’ concerns and criticism were taken into consideration by the artist and management in question, but it is still unclear if this will also be the case for the Together, Together Tour.
Either way, people believe they should not have to take to social media and threaten to boycott their favourite artists in order to be able to afford concert tickets.
‘Harry’s album should’ve been called capitalism all the time, music occasionally.’
@kitkat4475 on X
There is a real danger of losing a fundamental way in which people fall in love with music. Concerts are not spontaneous and accessible anymore. They have become a luxury few can afford.
Casually attending a concert has become virtually impossible – the current system benefits only dedicated fans who are able to clear their calendars and spend the equivalent of a month’s rent on tickets.
Alongside the disappointment caused in live music enjoyers, artists are also impacted long-term by ticketing decisions. They are losing casual fans who sustain them in between album releases and have the potential to become ‘full-time’ enthusiasts.
In order to maintain a healthy and loving fan-artist relationship, music lovers are hoping for more accessible concert ticket prices in the future – although artists and their teams are the main arbitrators, the government can also help.
The Australian Consumer Law protects their citizens’ right to enjoy accessible live music by providing a framework regarding ticket pricing, primarily by ensuring transparency, prohibiting misleading conduct, and restricting unauthorized scalping.
It would be hugely beneficial for those interested in live music if the UK government could adopt similar regulations and give them a chance at experiencing their favourite artists live.
Tickets for the Together, Together Tour are available for general sale on Friday 30th, 1pm GMT. For more information, visit the official Harry Styles tour website.