ArdorComm Media News Network
December 12, 2025
India is no longer just consuming entertainment — it’s packing its bags for it. According to BookMyShow’s Throwback 2025 report, music tourism witnessed an exceptional upswing this year, with more than 5.6 lakh Indians travelling across cities to attend concerts. This surge created booming micro-economies around each event, driving business for airlines, hotels, cabs and local eateries.
Premium live experiences also saw a major leap, with attendance nearly doubling in 2025. Fans increasingly favoured VIP zones, elevated viewing decks and curated hospitality, signalling a clear shift toward experience-driven entertainment.
Several state governments helped fuel this rise. BookMyShow inked MoUs with tourism departments in Assam, Telangana, Gujarat and Delhi to attract global artists, improve event infrastructure and generate local employment—cementing live entertainment as a growing economic contributor.
Live events on the rise
Overall, live entertainment consumption grew by 17%, with more than 34,000 events—from concerts and comedy shows to cultural festivals—held nationwide. Tier-2 cities like Visakhapatnam, Vadodara, Indore, Shillong and Rajkot recorded explosive triple-digit growth, highlighting a widespread appetite for diverse experiences. Notably, solo attendance soared, with 1.8 million people choosing to enjoy events on their own.
Cinema continues to unite India
Despite the live-event boom, cinema retained its position as India’s favourite collective pastime. Regional films strengthened their presence, while nostalgia re-runs brought 58 lakh viewers back to theatres. Hyderabad shone as the re-release hub, with Interstellar leading the revival wave after selling out multiple runs.
The Dussehra weekend delivered the highest footfall of 2025 with 6.8 million tickets sold. Kantara: A Legend Chapter–1 became the year’s biggest repeat-watch title, drawing more than 6 lakh returning fans. Meanwhile, Coolie topped advance bookings with 2.4 million pre-sold tickets.
BookMyShow notes that 2025 marked a year of deliberate engagement—Indians didn’t just watch entertainment; they pursued it, travelled for it and made it a part of their weekly lifestyle.
Source: Economic Times