With Coachella weekend two just around the corner and warmer weather finally arriving, concert season is officially heating up. As festival-goers head outdoors and tours ramp up, CivicScience took a closer look at one key question: do Americans prefer indoor or outdoor concert venues?

According to ongoing CivicScience data, preferences are mixed. 33% say they prefer indoor concerts, while 26% favor outdoor venues, and the largest share—42%—say it depends (among those with an opinion).

Preferences vary across demographic groups. Gen Z is most likely to have a strong opinion, often split between the two formats, while Baby Boomers lead in preferring indoor concerts. Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X report similar levels of interest in outdoor shows. Men are more likely to prefer outdoor venues, while women lean toward indoor concerts. Geography also plays a role: city residents and those in the Northeast favor outdoor concerts, while rural residents and Midwesterners are more likely to prefer indoor settings.

But demographics aren’t the only thing separating indoor and outdoor concert fans. CivicScience data reveal distinct behaviors and preferences between the two groups:

• Skateboarding: Those who prefer indoor concerts are more than twice as likely to say they skateboard (27% vs. 11% of outdoor fans).
• Arrival Time: Outdoor fans are nearly 10 points more likely to say they arrive before the concert opener, while indoor fans are more likely to show up after the opener.
• Capturing the Moment: Outdoor concertgoers are more likely to document the experience—22% say they take photos and videos all the time at shows, compared to 13% of indoor fans, who are more likely to say they never take pictures at concerts.
• Knowing the Lyrics: Indoor concert fans are less likely to admit pretending to know the words to songs they don’t actually know.
• Date Night Preferences: When it comes to cultural outings, indoor concert fans are more than twice as likely to choose a ballet or dance performance for a date, while outdoor fans are more likely to opt for a comedy show.

As live music season ramps up, the data show that concert preferences go beyond venue type—they reflect different ways of experiencing music, from when you arrive to how you engage with the performance. Whether it’s a packed indoor arena or an open-air festival, Americans are tuning in on their own terms.

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This article’s data comes solely from CivicScience’s database, which contains nearly 700,000 poll questions and 5 billion consumer insights.