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Report cover for Live Performance Industru in Australia 2024, with image of ballet dances during a performance

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Western Australian growth in revenue and attendance

LPARR 2024 report shows growth in both Western Australian revenue and attendance beyond pre-COVID levels. The report notes:

  • WA had its ‘second highest ever recorded revenue and attendance’ in 2024, with attendance at 2.9 million
  • while the 2024 figure of $249.6 million in total ticket revenue is below that of 2023, it far exceeds the previous record of $211.4 million in 2018
  • over the past 15 years, trendlines show an increase in both revenue and attendance in Western Australia.

 

A line graph showing total audience numbers over the years from 2010 to 2024, with a steadily increasing trend line

 

LPARR 2024 also shows key areas of growth in 2024 for Western Australia. For example, theatre saw a rise in both revenue (112.1%) and attendance (70.4%). WA was also the second largest contributor to nationwide festival (multi-category) revenue ($14,523,202) and attendance (395,667). 

National context 

Across Australia, LPARR 2024 identifies that the industry reached its highest levels of both revenue and attendance in 2024, with $3.4 billion in ticket sales revenue from 31.4 million tickets. 

While nationally total attendance grew by 4.6% from 30.1 million in 2023 to a record high of 31.4 million in 2024, WA, along with ACT and Tasmania1 recorded a drop in attendance. 

In 2024, states such as NSW, Victoria and Tasmania  recorded a year-on-year growth in revenue. However, Western Australia recorded the highest year-on-year decline in revenue in 2024 at 20%.

While this drop from 2023 to 2024 may seem concerning, it is important to put these results in context. 

Data variations year-to-year

The Live Performance Attendance and Revenue Report can tell us a lot about the supply of events year-on-year, but it is unable to tell us about yearly changes in demand. The supply of blockbuster events and international tours varies greatly each year, and this drives significant fluctuations in attendance and revenue. 

Year-on-year variations often reflect whether WA hosted blockbuster events or international headliners. For example, while 2023 saw major events in Perth, including performances by Coldplay, Ed Sheeran and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, there were less international headline contemporary music tours to WA in 2024.

There are also some limitations that should be considered in relation to this report. The authors note that the information is based on ticketing sales submitted by data providers and may be incomplete. They point out that while they are working to improve inclusion, the report excludes or under-represents:
  • some events in regional areas
  • contract-fee performances by National Performing Arts Partnership companies
  • small to medium companies and independent theatre 
  • festivals, particularly those that are self-ticketed
  • pubs and club venues.

Additional data providers are included each year which can lead to more complete data, however it can also lead to inconsistencies from year-to-year, with the dataset changing each year. For example, while in 2023 data was included from Cirque du Soleil’s tour, it was not included in 2024.

Finally, the data is not disaggregated to determine findings for Western Australian arts organisations and artists. This limits the ability to draw specific conclusions at the local level.

Reference

1 While Tasmania recorded an increase in revenue in 2024, they also recorded the greatest year-on-year decline of attendance to 0.4 million (-19.2%).

 

Page reviewed 01 July 2025
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