Over the past ten years, the Electronic Dance Music (EDM) scene has been dominated by massive festivals that are as much about the experience as the music. But when it comes to money, which festival earned the most? After analyzing the numbers, one clear winner emerges: Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC). With consistent nine-figure earnings, its total gross revenue over the decade is estimated to be over $1 billion.
- EDC's Financial Dominance: Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) in Las Vegas has grossed over $1.1 billion from 2015-2024, making it the highest-grossing EDM festival of the decade.
- Revenue Diversification: Major EDM festivals generate substantial revenue from ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, and on-site spending on food, drinks, and merchandise.
- Scale and Attendance Matter: EDC's consistent ability to attract massive crowds exceeding 400,000 attendees contributes significantly to its financial success compared to festivals with smaller attendance figures.
The Top 3 EDM Festivals
The global EDM market has three main players: Tomorrowland, EDC Las Vegas, and Ultra Music Festival. Each has a huge following and generates massive revenue, but they operate differently. 1
Tomorrowland, held in Boom, Belgium, is known for its fantasy-like themes and detailed production. Organized by the Belgian company We Are One World, it has a reputation for creating a unique experience that causes its tickets to sell out almost instantly. Because it’s a Belgian company, its financial records are public, making its revenue figures transparent. 2
Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) is North America’s largest festival by scale. It turns the Las Vegas Motor Speedway into a massive carnival that attracts hundreds of thousands of people. EDC is the main event for Insomniac Events, which is owned by Live Nation, the world’s largest live entertainment company. This connection gives EDC access to significant resources and a powerful position in the market. 3
Ultra Music Festival in Miami is a long-running event that kicks off the festival season during Miami Music Week. It has successfully expanded its brand globally with “Ultra Worldwide” events. As a privately owned company, its financial details aren’t public, so revenue figures are based on industry estimates.
How These Festivals Make Money
The business model for a major festival is about more than just selling tickets. Revenue comes from several key areas that work together to generate hundreds of millions of dollars over a single weekend.
- Ticket Sales: This is the biggest source of income. Festivals use tiered pricing, where early bird tickets are cheaper to create initial buzz. As tiers sell out, prices go up. VIP packages, which offer better amenities, add another high-profit stream. The fact that tickets often sell out in minutes creates a fear of missing out (FOMO), which helps guarantee revenue months in advance.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Major brands pay large fees to connect with the 18-35 age group at these events. This can include sponsored stages, VIP lounges, or other on-site brand experiences. Sponsorships are a critical part of the budget, helping to cover the high costs of production and artist fees. 4
- On-Site Spending (Ancillary Revenue): Once attendees are inside, all their spending on food, drinks, and merchandise creates another major revenue stream. Branded merchandise like t-shirts and hoodies are popular souvenirs that also serve as free advertising. Some festivals, like Tomorrowland, have even turned their merchandise into a year-round fashion brand.
The Financial Numbers: A Head-to-Head Comparison
Comparing the finances of these festivals can be tricky because of differences in financial reporting. Tomorrowland’s revenue is publicly reported under Belgian law, while figures for EDC Las Vegas and Ultra Miami are based on consistent industry estimates.
The data shows that EDC Las Vegas has been the most consistent earner. Its massive attendance, which regularly surpasses 400,000 and hit 525,000 in 2024, gives it a scale that’s hard to compete with. This large crowd provides a strong base for ticket sales and on-site spending, keeping its revenue high year after year. 5
Tomorrowland’s revenue shows high peaks, especially in 2022 when it expanded to three weekends to make up for pandemic cancellations, attracting 600,000 people and earning a record €164.2 million. However, in standard two-weekend years, its attendance is around 400,000. Ultra Music Festival has maintained stable attendance of around 165,000-170,000 people, leading to consistent but lower overall revenue compared to the other two.
All figures are estimates unless otherwise noted. Totals are for active years only.
| Year | Tomorrowland (Revenue in M USD¹) | EDC (Revenue in M USD²) | Ultra Miami (Revenue in M USD³) |
| 2015 | N/A | $143.3 | $75.0 |
| 2016 | $110.9 | $143.3 | $75.0 |
| 2017 | $119.8 | $143.3 | $75.0 |
| 2018 | $125.2 | $143.3 | $75.0 |
| 2019 | $125.9 | $143.3 | $75.0 |
| 2020 | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| 2021 | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| 2022 | $173.5 | $143.3 | $75.0 |
| 2023 | $139.7 | $143.3 | $75.0 |
| 2024 | N/A | $143.3 | $75.0 |
| Total | $795.0 | $1,146.4 | $600.0 |
Sources:
- https://www.brusselstimes.com/1165490/tomorrowland-returns-to-profitability-following-turbulent-covid-19-years
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Tomorrowland/comments/cjhu59/revenue_of_tml/
- https://www.sparklymaidmiami.com/blog/how-much-money-does-ultra-festival-make
- https://theelectrichawk.com/music-festivals-and-revenue/
Understanding the Money: Revenue vs. Profit
It’s important to know the difference between gross revenue, net profit, and economic impact. Gross revenue is the total money brought in from all sources. Net profit is what’s left after all costs—artist fees, production, staff, marketing—are paid. Economic impact is the total money spent in the host city by attendees on things like hotels and food, which is often much higher than the festival’s own revenue.
Mega-festivals have huge costs. Headlining DJs can cost millions, and building the stages and tech is also a massive expense. Because of these high costs, even a festival that grosses over $100 million might have a relatively small profit margin. This makes having multiple revenue streams essential for success. 6
The Winner: EDC Las Vegas
Based on the available data from 2015 to 2024, EDC Las Vegas is the highest-grossing EDM festival, with an estimated total revenue of over $1.1 billion. Its success comes from its huge scale, its strong relationship with Las Vegas, and the powerful corporate support of Live Nation. While Tomorrowland and Ultra are financial powerhouses in their own right, EDC’s ability to consistently draw the largest crowds has made it the financial leader of the decade.
- https://mcewanstudio.com/blogs/festivalraveblog/exploring-4-of-the-world-s-biggest-edm-festivals ↩︎
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomorrowland_(festival) ↩︎
- https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/electric-daisy-carnival-produces-1-3b-impact-on-las-vegas-economy/ ↩︎
- https://edmmaniac.com/edc-las-vegas-has-estimated-economic-impact-of-322-million/ ↩︎
- https://lasvegasweekly.com/ae/2017/jun/15/how-does-edc-take-over-vegas-let-us-count-the-ways/ ↩︎
- https://tseentertainment.com/music-festival-economics/ ↩︎
* generate randomized username
- COMMENT_FIRST
- #1 Lord_Nikon [12]
- #2 Void_Reaper [10]
- #3 Cereal_Killer [10]
- #4 Dark_Pulse [9]
- #5 Void_Strike [8]
- #6 Phantom_Phreak [7]
- #7 Data_Drifter [7]
- #8 Cipher_Blade [6]
