Dying to catch a Beyoncé or Taylor Swift show? Some fans are traveling overseas — and saving money

As the cost of tickets to see Beyoncé and Taylor Swift strut their stuff onstage soars to absurd heights, some Americans are dropping the coupon codes and picking up their passports.

So-called concert tourism, in which people venture abroad to attend live shows, was gaining traction among Americans even before the pandemic, ticket sales data show. But with prime tickets to popular shows hitting four digits, some music fans are heading overseas to catch their favorite acts.

Beyoncé superfan Shelby Messing said she saved at least $1,000 by heading to Spain to see Beyonce perform during her stop in Barcelona on her sold-out Renaissance world tour. She estimates laying out between $2,500 and $3,000 for her two-week trip. That includes the cost of a round-trip flight from Atlanta to Barcelona, accommodations, one $227 general admission concert ticket and a bonus excursion to Mallorca.