As summer arrives in the UK, so too does a whole slate of live events. From England Test cricket to Wimbledon, Silverstone, Royal Ascot and a summer of musical festivals and stadium tours; Brits will be traversing across the country to enjoy themselves. However new data from JustPark reveals that parking infrastructure around event venues is still massively failing to keep pace with demand.
JustPark’s survey of over 1,500 UK adults who attend ticketed events has revealed that parking is not just a driver frustration, it is a measurable drag on attendance, revenue and the overall event experience. For venues, operators and local authorities, the data presents both an urgent operational challenge and a clear commercial opportunity.
Key findings include:
- More than two-thirds (70%) say parking concerns influence whether they drive to an event at all, however 88% said they would use pre-booked parking if available.
- A huge 91% of drivers say they would be more likely to attend events if parking was simple and affordable.
- Over one in five (22%) have missed the start of an event due to parking delays.
- More than half (57%) of event-going drivers rate parking as stressful.
- Nearly half (48%) have left a ticketed event early due to parking — down from 56% in 2025, but still nearly half of all event-going drivers.
- 68% cite long exit queues as a major issue, even more than last year’s respondents (61%).
This summer’s packed events calendar amplifies parking pressures as millions of fans travel across the UK for major sporting events, festivals and concerts with Harry Styles, Take That, Bruno Mars and many more big name artists touring the UK.
Jonathan Hampson, Chief Commercial Officer at JustPark said: “Parking might seem like a small part of the day, but it has a disproportionate impact on how people experience events. So whilst the demand to drive to events is clearly there, the realities of finding a quality parking space is then putting people off. When parking systems work well, it ensures people get through the gates earlier, it reduces congestion and improves the overall flow of the day. When it doesn’t, it creates stress and friction from arrival through to exit, and that has a knock-on effect on attendance and spend.”
From friction to missed revenue
The data makes a direct commercial case. When parking fails, venues lose more than goodwill.
Nearly half of UK drivers (49%) of drivers have had difficulty finding a parking spot at an event. While 22% of drivers have missed the start of an event, reducing dwell time and in-venue spend.
Beyond the driver experience, inefficient parking operations also create sustainability challenges. With 41% of drivers spending more than 20 minutes searching for parking, venues and local authorities face increased congestion, traffic flow issues and avoidable emissions in surrounding areas.
Pre-booking offers one of the clearest opportunities to improve the event-day experience. Awareness of pre-booked parking has risen considerably, from 77% in 2025 to 89% in 2026, yet regular usage remains relatively low, with fewer than one in five drivers routinely reserving a space in advance.
The gap between intent and behaviour suggests the issue is not necessarily a lack of parking availability, but a lack of visibility within the wider ticketing and event journey. While 88% of drivers say they would use pre-booked parking if offered, many are still not being presented with parking options at the point of ticket purchase or through pre-event communications.
For venues and operators, this represents a significant opportunity to better connect event-goers with available parking inventory ahead of arrival, helping to both increase revenue and create a more seamless event-day experience.
JustPark has rapidly expanded its UK event parking capabilities over the past 12 months, including the acquisition of BigParking, adding more than 120 locations near major stadiums and venues nationwide. The company’s pre-bookable EventPass technology, first introduced in the UK at The O2, is now being rolled out more widely, enabling venues and operators to offer guaranteed parking in advance, improve event-day flow and unlock new revenue streams. For more information on JustPark’s suite of event parking technology visit JustPark.com
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Author: Elouise Mugridge
Elouise Mugridge is Group Sales Manager at Event Industry News. With over 14 years’ experience spanning conferences, exhibitions, festivals, and corporate events, she helps brands connect with event professionals through strategic sales and marketing campaigns. Passionate about event technology and industry innovation, Elouise specialises in creating opportunities that raise visibility and build meaningful connections.
