From Oasis’ reunion to multiday festivals in Cardiff Castle, summer 2025 has brought a wave of large-scale events to the Welsh capital. Beyond the music and footfall, a quieter shift is happening as Cardiff’s housing and rental market is feeling the impact.
What concerts have taken place?
This summer, Cardiff transformed itself into a hotspot for live events and music. With over 30 major concerts across venues like the Principality Stadium, Blackweir Fields and Cardiff Castle, the city has drawn hundreds of thousands of visitors from across the world.
Oasis kicked off their reunion tour in July at the Principality Stadium with a sold out double header, bringing nearly 150,000 fans to the stadium. The hotly anticipated Blackweir Live was introduced to Cardiff this year. Held in Blackweir fields, a section of Bute Park, the event hosted global stars like Stevie Wonder, Alanis Morissette, Slayer and Noah Kahan. These events attracted thousands of concertgoers, with 63% of attendees coming from outside Cardiff.
Alongside Blackweir Live, DEPOT in the Castle returned bigger than ever, hosting 55 different musicians over the summer and selling more than 170,000 tickets.
What has this done for Cardiff?
Cardiff’s transformation into a live events capital is a win for tourism, culture, and the city’s brand. Cardiff Council and tourism bodies have reported a significant economic boost, with the Cardiff hospitality sector seeing an unbelievable increase in tourism spend. Hotel occupancy reached over 90% during various headline weekends, with some late bookings hitting prices of over £500 per night.
But the question remains: how does this surge of event-driven demand affect the people who live, rent, and buy in Cardiff year-round? Renters and buyers will need to stay agile in a city where the rhythm of summer festivals is starting to shape the housing market.
What impact has this had on renters, buyers and homeowners?
With hotel capacity stretched to its limits, short-term rentals like Airbnb have become vital to accommodating the influx, but this brings challenges. Short-term lets can decrease available housing stock and increase competition for renters, making it harder to find stable, affordable housing in the city.
While property prices in Cardiff have seen growth in recent years, event-driven demand can accelerate this trend in particular areas. Homes with good transport links, especially close to the city centre, are seen as prime locations and investors are increasingly eyeing up properties near venues which can be bought and turned into lucrative short-term rental assets.
The summer events have been largely positive but the longer-term consequences are yet to be realised. There has been some local backlash, with Blackweir Live in particular facing criticism for disrupting green spaces and daily life in adjacent neighbourhoods, such as Cathays and Pontcanna.
At Thomas H Wood, we stay on top of trends to keep you informed about the local market. We use this knowledge to ensure you have a smooth property journey, whether that’s finding the right property for you or securing a successful sale. Find out more by calling us on 02920 626252, visiting https://thomashwood.com/ or popping in to see us in our Whitchurch and Radyr branches.