Oasis, Styles, and Electric Picnic gives supersonic boost to ticket spending on cards

AIB card data shows boost from high profile music events and Irish Open at Doonbeg

Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher at the UK premiere of Oasis: Don't Look Back In Anger in London in September. Card spending on tickets hit its highest levels in two years last month, driven by high profile event sales including the Electric Picnic and the Oasis concerts at Slane Castle. 

Card spending on tickets hit its highest levels in two years last month, driven by high profile event sales including the Electric Picnic and the Oasis concerts at Slane Castle. 

The latest AIB Spend Trend published on Saturday showed card spending on tickets increased by 125% compared with August and by 22% compared with September of 2025. The strongest day for ticket sales in the month was September 4, when tickets went on sale for Electric Picnic 2027, followed closely by September 14 when tickets for Harry Styles three-night run in Croke Park in August next year went on offer, and September 25th to 27th, when tickets for Oasis 2027 gigs in Slane were released. Together, these five key ticket sale days accounted for half of total ticket spend in the month.

Overall card spending - both instore and online - in September was up 4% year on year, with 75.2m card transactions carried out by AIB customers.

The Amgen Irish Open in Doonbeg also drove spending in Co Clare. Restaurant, dining, and pub spend in the county was 58% above the September daily average during the tournament. On the busiest day, spend at Clare service stations was 25% above the monthly average, while accommodation spend in The Banner County during the championship rose 64% compared with the same period last year.

Customers also splashed out for the National Ploughing Championships. Held near Tullamore, the number of card transactions at local accommodation providers was up 6% on those from the Ploughing in 2025. In store restaurant spending (including fast food) in Tullamore saw a 44% increase compared to the 2025 championship. However, spending in pubs in the area was down 27% from last year.

Overall restaurant, dining, and pub spend nationally increased 5% year on year, with restaurant spend up 9%. Grocery store and supermarket spend increased 3.5% year on year while service station spend was up 11% year on year and 4% month on month, while electric vehicle charge spend was up 95% year on year.

“September’s spending shows how major events can deliver a real boost for businesses, both nationally and in the communities that host them," said AIB head of consumer Adrian Moynihan. "Music fans drove the strongest month for ticket spend in two years, while the National Ploughing Championships and the Amgen Irish Open brought a clear uplift for accommodation, hospitality and other local businesses."

"Overall spend was up 4% year on year, and the continued rise in EV charging, up 95%, also points to changing consumer behaviour. This information is valuable for businesses as they plan for busy periods and respond to what their customers need.”

Spend on digital games increased 17% compared with August and was up 4% year on year. The category recorded its highest spending day of 2026 on 25 September, the release date of EA Sports FC 27, with men accounting for 75% of spend.

Education spend rose 58% compared with August but was down 1.8% year on year. Colleges and universities accounted for two-thirds of education spend, while primary and secondary school spend increased 8% year on year.