LGBTQ+ Attendees Redefine Romance at Music Festivals

Music festivals have long been portrayed as wild, carefree escapes filled with late-night dancing, glitter, and hookups. But new insights suggest that for many attendees—particularly those in marginalized communities—festivals are becoming something far more meaningful: intentional spaces to find romance, forge connections, and build community.

With festival season in full swing, DatingAdvice.com surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults to better understand how romantic expectations are shifting among festivalgoers. The findings reveal that LGBTQ+ individuals, Gen Z, and Black attendees are at the forefront of redefining what it means to fall in love at a festival.

A New Kind of Festival Culture

While Gen Z leads in attendance—with over half having been to multiple festivals—Black attendees also represent a robust presence in festival spaces. Often underrepresented in mainstream marketing, Black festivalgoers are participating in these cultural events at high rates, with 37.4% saying they’ve attended multiple music festivals.

Men were more likely than women to say they attend festivals (42.1% vs. 34.6%), but the motivations for showing up are increasingly diverse. While some still come for the music and spectacle, others, especially Gen Z and LGBTQ+ festivalgoers, are looking for something more emotionally grounded.

Finding Love in the Crowd

Music festivals are often romanticized as places where spontaneous connections happen under the stars. And while casual encounters still occur, many festivalgoers are seeking—and finding—genuine relationships.

Nearly 13% of Gen Z attendees reported going to festivals with hopes of meeting someone special. Meanwhile, LGBTQ+ respondents had the highest success rate in forming romantic connections at festivals, with 43% saying they’ve met someone at an event. Even more notably, LGBTQ+ attendees were 38% more likely than their straight male counterparts to turn those connections into long-term relationships.

Dating apps tied to specific festivals are also gaining popularity. About 11% of Gen Z, LGBTQ+, and Black respondents reported using these platforms to meet like-minded attendees.

Hookup Culture or Something More?

Despite the lingering perception of festivals as hookup havens, the data tells a more nuanced story. Most respondents aren’t going to festivals specifically for sex. Only 5% of straight women admitted to attending with hookups in mind, while a striking 100% of straight men said they don’t go for that reason—even though 22% still packed condoms.

Among LGBTQ+ and Black festivalgoers, there was a greater openness to preparing for intimacy—25% of LGBTQ+ and 22% of Black respondents said they pack for potential hookups. Gen Z wasn’t far behind at 20%. Rather than suggesting hedonism, these findings point to a growing culture of sexual responsibility and literacy, as many attendees bring condoms, wipes, and wellness products not necessarily with intent, but in recognition that connection may arise.

Community, Connection, and Cultural Shift

Beyond music, lights, and late-night parties, festivals are evolving into affirming environments for identity, intimacy, and connection—especially for those historically marginalized. For LGBTQ+, Black, and Gen Z festivalgoers, these events offer more than just good vibes—they’re building blocks for relationships, self-expression, and shared experience.

As the survey shows, this shift is not just anecdotal; it’s statistical. Romance is alive and well at music festivals—but increasingly, it’s on the terms of those who have long been excluded from the mainstream narrative.

In the end, it seems that for many, love and music really do go hand in hand.