Electric Picnic 2025: Festival Costs Estimated Between €25m and €30m

The Electric Picnic festival, a cornerstone of Ireland's cultural landscape, is set to return in 2025 with an estimated staging cost of between €25 million and €30 million. Laois County Council has officially granted the license for this year's festival, allowing for an expected attendance of 80,000 daily at Stradbally Hall from August 28 to August 31, 2025. This represents an increase from the 75,000 tickets sold for the previous year’s event.

The lineup for the 2025 festival has drawn significant attention, with headliners including Becky Hill, Sam Fender, Fatboy Slim, and Kings of Leon, as announced by festival organizers. Melvin Benn, CEO of Electric Picnic, emphasized the festival's role in boosting the local economy, stating, "Every year, Electric Picnic supports a substantial number of local businesses and traders who sell their products at the festival." This sentiment is echoed in the 2023 report by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), which highlights the economic impact of major festivals on local communities.

According to the local council, the licensing approval came with 51 conditions aimed at ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations. However, some local businesses have expressed concerns regarding access to the festival for local food and drink suppliers, particularly in light of competition from festival sponsors. David Walsh Kemmis of Ballykilcavan Brewing Company urged the council to enforce conditions that would prioritize local vendors. Despite these concerns, the council stated that decisions on vendor participation remain the purview of the festival promoters.

The first Electric Picnic was held in 2004, attracting around 10,000 attendees. Since then, it has evolved into one of Europe’s largest and most anticipated music festivals. The prominent role of Electric Picnic in enhancing the local economy was outlined in a 2022 study published in the Journal of Cultural Economics, which quantified the fiscal benefits of such events on regional growth.

Looking ahead, the demand for tickets remains high, as evidenced by the rapid sell-out of tickets for the 2025 edition, which went on sale on August 21, 2024. This year’s festival marks a significant return to its traditional timeline, reinforcing its status as a key player in the summer festival circuit in Ireland.

In conclusion, the Electric Picnic festival not only showcases a vibrant lineup of artists but also represents an essential economic engine for local communities, balancing the interests of promoters, local businesses, and festival-goers alike.