Mumbai’s appetite for live entertainment sharpened further in 2025, with consumption in the city growing 18% year-on-year, underlining its position as one of India’s most mature and resilient entertainment markets, according to BookMyShow’s year-end report #BookMyShowThrowback2025.

The growth comes amid a broader national shift where entertainment is no longer impulse-led but an intentional lifestyle choice. Across India, live entertainment consumption rose 17% in 2025, but Mumbai stood out for its consistency and scale, driven by concerts, comedy shows, theatre and premium experiential formats.

From cinema city to live-events powerhouse

Long regarded as India’s cinema capital, Mumbai in 2025 reinforced its status as a year-round live events hub. High-frequency gigs, international tours, stand-up comedy circuits and immersive cultural formats ensured that stepping out for entertainment became as routine as dining out. BookMyShow’s data suggests that for urban consumers in Mumbai, live events have now found a permanent slot on weekly calendars.

This behavioural shift mirrors the national trend highlighted in the report: Indians are planning entertainment with purpose, tracking pop culture closely and opting for in-person, global-scale experiences within the country rather than viewing them as occasional splurges.

Premiumisation and solo audiences

Mumbai also reflected the broader premiumisation of live entertainment. Across India, premium live experiences—VIP pits, elevated decks, lounges and hospitality zones—saw nearly twofold growth in footfalls, and Mumbai was among the strongest contributors to this trend. The city’s audience increasingly opted for comfort, exclusivity and curated experiences, signalling a maturing, experience-led market.

Another notable shift was the rise of solo attendees. Nationally, over 1.8 million people attended events alone in 2025, a trend that played out strongly in metros like Mumbai, pointing to growing confidence in independent entertainment consumption.

Live events as economic drivers

The momentum in Mumbai is part of a larger concert economy that is now firmly embedded in India’s growth narrative. BookMyShow hosted 34,086 live events nationwide in 2025, with music tourism emerging as a significant economic driver. Over 5.6 lakh fans travelled to another city for concerts, benefiting airlines, hotels, restaurants and local businesses.

State support has further accelerated the sector. During the year, BookMyShow signed MoUs with multiple state tourism bodies to ease the entry of national and international acts, strengthen infrastructure and develop local talent—signalling that live entertainment is increasingly viewed as an economic catalyst rather than a discretionary indulgence.

Commenting on the shift, Anil Makhija, COO – Live Entertainment & Venues, BookMyShow, said that live entertainment in India had moved “from a moment to a movement,” with audiences making deliberate choices—planning ahead, travelling across cities and investing in experiences—marking a clear transition from casual consumption to considered participation. He added that growing alignment between audience intent, industry execution and state support is making this phase of growth scalable and sustainable, while music tourism and premium live formats underline the sector’s coming of age.

Cinema still anchors Mumbai’s cultural rhythm

While live events roared ahead, cinema continued to anchor Mumbai’s entertainment ecosystem. Nationwide, re-releases alone drew 58 lakh moviegoers, highlighting nostalgia as a powerful theatrical driver. Big-ticket weekends such as Dussehra delivered record footfalls, and single-screen cinemas remained relevant, reinforcing the city’s diverse exhibition landscape.

Entertainment, lived—not just consumed

BookMyShow’s 2025 report positions Mumbai as emblematic of a wider cultural shift. Entertainment is no longer episodic; it is lived, planned and prioritised. For the country’s financial and cultural capital, the 18% growth in live events consumption is less about a rebound and more about a recalibration—where experiences, not just screens, define leisure.

As India steps into 2026, Mumbai’s trajectory suggests that the city will continue to be both a testing ground and a trendsetter for how Indians choose to step out, spend and experience entertainment.