The scale of modern concert tours has never been bigger. However, new research suggests that accessibility may not be keeping up.
A new global study looking at major music tours shows a widening gap between artists who travel widely across different continents and those who choose to perform in residency-style shows focused in large cities.
The study, conducted by hotel chain Premier Inn, ranked some of the world’s biggest performers based on how widely they tour, analysing the number of countries, cities, tour dates and performances outside capital cities.
The results offer a snapshot of how global touring is evolving, and why fans are travelling farther than ever before to attend concerts.
Coldplay leads the global stage
Topping the rankings as the easiest artist to see live is Coldplay, whose Music of the Spheres tour achieved a touring score of 77.8 out of 100.
Running between 2022 and 2025, the tour spanned 42 countries and 80 cities across five continents, with 225 performances overall, more than half staged outside capital cities.
The band’s approach combined scale with accessibility, bringing performances to regional audiences often overlooked by major tours.
The tour also drew attention for sustainability efforts, incorporating renewable energy initiatives, kinetic dance floors and tree-planting programmes aimed at reducing touring emissions by 50%. Reports indicate the band may return to the road in 2027, with additional shows expected.
Following closely behind is Travis Scott, whose Circus Maximus Tour earned second place after travelling through 28 countries and 73 cities, with most shows staged beyond capital hubs.
Doja Cat secured third position thanks to a globally dispersed tour spanning six continents, while Yungblud and Metallica rounded out the top five, each reaching dozens of cities and prioritising non-capital venues.
At the opposite end of the list is Bon Jovi, whose upcoming Forever tour recorded the lowest accessibility score.
With just 14 shows planned across four cities, nine of them at New York’s Madison Square Garden, the tour reflects a residency-focused model that limits geographic reach despite strong demand.
Other major stars ranking among the hardest to see includes Beyoncé, Ariana Grande and Harry Styles, all of whom have adopted more concentrated touring schedules centred on major global cities.
Insights emerging from the research point to a growing trend known as ‘gig tourism,’ where concerts become travel experiences rather than local nights out.
A spokesperson for Premier Inn noted that tour location now matters as much as tour scale, explaining that concentrated performances may create memorable events but can also widen what they described as a ‘gig gap’ between audiences with easy access and those forced to travel long distances.
Previous data referenced in the study found hotel bookings can rise by between 40% and 80% during major concert weekends, evidence that fans increasingly plan trips around live performances.
Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp Channel for content worth tapping into! Click here to join!
Also read:
3 atmospheric live music venues outside the cities for your next roadtrip
Picture: Filip Andrejevic/Unsplash
