As Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) continues to reshape consumer habits across industries, it’s making waves in an unexpected place—music festivals. Coachella, one of the world’s most iconic events, is seeing a major uptick in fans opting for installment plans to snag their tickets.

Flexible Payments for Festival-Goers

This year, nearly 60% of Coachella attendees chose to purchase tickets through the festival’s own installment plan. With general admission passes starting at $499, fans could reserve their spot for as little as $19.99 upfront, plus a $41 enrollment fee. While that low entry point opens the door for more attendees, it’s also a serious revenue generator—bringing in over $4 million in fees, shared between the promoter and ticketing provider.

Coachella’s Version of BNPL: A Prepay Twist

Unlike traditional BNPL providers like Klarna or Affirm, Coachella’s installment plan is not financed through third parties and doesn’t allow attendees to pay after the event. Instead, the full cost must be paid off before the festival weekend. If a payment is missed, the ticket is canceled—but fans are given a credit toward next year’s event.

Interestingly, this prepay model isn’t new—it’s been in place since 2009. However, with the rise of mainstream, fee-free BNPL options, there’s growing debate around how long this model will remain appealing.

What This Means for the Future of Event Payments

As younger consumers continue to embrace flexible payment options, the lines between traditional installment plans and modern BNPL services are starting to blur. Festival organizers and event promoters are now rethinking how to offer flexibility without relying on third-party financing—and how to strike the right balance between accessibility and profitability.

With BNPL adoption booming in retail, travel, and now live entertainment, it’s clear: flexible payments aren’t just a trend—they’re becoming an expectation.

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Read the original article here: https://www.paymentsjournal.com/many-coachella-attendees-are-buying-tickets-through-bnpl/